Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-10-25

ueW queSuOnS OF the business con-
Germs to become impressed with the fact
that Brattleboro is enjoying an excep-
tional era of good times and prosperity.
Or If he isn't satisfied with the informa
ton he obtains let him undertake to hire
help or try to get something done. it
is not an idle statement to say that ev-
erybody is busy. Only those who try to
escape work have nothing to do. EN-
ployes are receiving good pay which
comes regularly, and the mills are I'M
able to find enough workmen of the right
kind. contractor sent to Boston re-
Gently for carpenters. Fifteen came last
week, but by the end Of the week 10
had been discharged as incompetent
Builders are rushed and new houses are
going up all the time, most of the tene-
ments being rented in advance. The out
put of the factories has increased notice
ably the past year. and there has been
marked increase in the wholesale and
retail trade There never was a time
previous to this year when as many
trains went through the local Central
Vermont yard as are going now. The
conditions in the yard have been some
what congested since Valley fair time
but that difficulty is rapidly disappear
ing.
The prosperous conditions are reflect
ed in the post office, telephone office and
telegraph offices. More business in the
factories and stores means more cor
respondence, more toll calls by telephone
and more kilograms. In all these Of
fees there has been a substantial
growth in the volume of matter handled
the past year. Greater activity is re-
ported also by the banks, in all depart
ments. In one of the savings banks
where there has been a healthful in
crease in deposits throughout the year,
a number of deposits have been refused
ON IF hair 10 eli ha Il
been desired to do so this bank could
have increased its deposits an addition
al 100000 this year.
In addition to the industrial develop
ment there has been a substa ntial
growth in population. The inventories
returned to the listers last summer show
ID, AN increase in poll tax payers, but
/th@ most conclusive proof of a larger
number of inha bitants is found in the
scarcity of tenements. There is no
question but that census of the town
would show over $500 persons at the
present time, not including the large
number of temporary residents at work
on the Boston & Maine railroad extern
sion.
LII an effort to answer the question
How is business?" The Phoenix has in
terviewed the heads of various industrial
and commercial firms in town this week,
with special reference to conditions here
in Brattleboro. The information obtain
ed is interesting.
The Durham Brothers company, whole
sale and retail shoe dealers on Main
street are employing so hands in their
wholesale department., including trav-
cling statesmen and seven in the retail
store. George l.. Durham, head of the
concern, said: Our business the past
year has been by far the best we ever
had 1t has shown an increase of a
s.~tA ,,,s11 4
year over what it was for the same pc
riod last year. Collections never were
better"
Our business has shown healthful
growth the past year. said Charles r.
Crosby, proprietor of the wholesale grain
and flour firm of E. Crosby & Co., land
collections have been good. The ex-
ceptionally fine pasturage the past few
weeks naturally has had its effect on
the grain business, but conditions are
excellent all over the country" Crosby
& Co. employ over 20 hands regularly,
and while their new grain elevator on
Vernon street is under construction they
are employing about so persons.
Il have been in business 90 years and
never saw times as good before as they
are now" said D. P. Dewitt, head OF
the Dewitt Grocery company, whole
salers, of Flat street. Usually in a
presidential year trade is curtailed and
times are dull. but our business never
was anywhere near what is is today.
We never have found it so easy to sell
goods or to get our pay. Prices on
certain things may be high, but sugar
flour, canned goods and various other
staple articles are cheaper today than
they were a year ago." The Dewitt
company employs IS hands and handles
certain kinds of drugs, woodenware and
other lines besides groceries. They
cover Windham county, a part of Wind
sor county and some territory in New
Hampshire and Massachusetts. During
the past year the business has shown
an increase every month over the cor
responding month of the year before.
Business has increased at the Estey
Organ plant on Birge street the past
year. although it was good the previous
year The number of employees is APP
proXimately 1885, which is more than the
firm has employed at any other time in
the past 10 years. They work SO hours
week, stopping at Saturday after
moons. Col. j. Gray Estey, president Of
the company, said many of the depart
ments were running overtime and thai
the usual manifestations of dullness il
presidential campaign were lacking
this year. The pipe organ department
has grown rapidly and the cottage organ
department is very active. Both the
domestic and export trade are excellent
About $50 hands are employed in tn,
overall factory of the Hooker, Corser &
Mitchell company on Frost street, thu
larger proportion being young women
The present schedule is As hours a week
President William II. Proctor said bust.
ness had been good the past year ant
that the number of employees never wa.
larger than now.
. When asked as to the conditions a
oNthe White River Chair company's fac
tory on Vernon street Manager f. A
Thompson said: I'VE have 165 hands OF
the pay roll which is more than at an,
other time since we gave up making
cabinet goods and confined ourselves t
the manufacture of chairs. We woult
put on 20 more hands If we could ge
them. Both our export trade and HON,
trade are increasing and even II we die
T not receive single new order we would
be kept busy until Jan. ! filing order.
now on hand. This is not on accoun
of the Christmas season, as that makes
practically no difference with us. GU