The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-10
BOARD OF TRADE MEETING.
Montpelier's Organization Looks Back
Upon Year of Great Success.

The Montpelier board of trade held
its annual meeting last night and elect
ed officers as follows for the ensuing
year: President, Willard c. Cotton; vice
president, Arthur d. Farwell; secretary,
Fred Z. Gleason; treasurer, James FL.
Kelleher; directors, w. c. Boutwell,,
james NJ. boutwell,, George L. Blaneh-
ard Joseph A. DeBoer, Andrew j. Sib-
| ley, l.. ID. Taft.
| All the committee reports showed
that the board had been prosperous dur
| ing the year past and had done its
share in the upbuilding of Montpelier
The secretary, Fred Z. Gleason, had
very comprehensive report, in which he
stated that there had been gain Of ID
during the year in membership and
loss OF 10. The present enrolment is
$50. -Four members OF the board died
during the year. Among the things for
which Montpelier is indebted to the
board of trade is the securing of va
rious conventions for meetings, and when
the associations leave well pleased with
the courtesy extended to them, it is
just so much of an advertisement for
others to come. Another innovation for
Montpelier is the rest room, which was
made possible through the cooperation
OF the Woman's eluh with the board of
trade, the assistance of merchants and
the sanction of the city officials. This
has proved very successful.
TO the board Of trade may be ascribed
the increased railroad facilities in
measure, as they have sought improve
ment in that line, as well as others.
Through the generosity of one member
OF the board, benches were provided and
placed in the different parts of the city
for the benefit of all. The Columbus
and Labor day parades and exercises
were the result of the activity of the
board, which also advertised the state
by furnishing the made in Montpelier
slips. The meetings held for the bene.
fit Of the farming interests in and about
Montpelier have proved SO popular that
efforts are being made to continue them
One OF the Recommendations made
in last years report was for an inn
proved fire department. which is prac-
tically in working order now. Anoth-
er recommends ton, not vet carried out.
but which must be if Montpelier is TO
continue her progress. is properly
equipped school building Still other
matters which should be attended to are
the improvement of the streets and side
walks and the installing OF an ade-
quate sewer system. As a whole the
board feels well satisfied with the work
OF 1911, and determines to accomplish
still more in the future
w. H. Crockett of the conventions
on,t, ulo1aJ that pfuna ha oop,rla
tion of the city hall the state teachers
convention, the Vermont Horticultural |
soeiety's annual meeting, the state |
grange and the Poultry association had |
been held there, and that the state |
bankers, the Knights OF Columbus, the |
grand lodge of the Eastern Star and the (
state federation of woman's clubs have
been secured for meetings this year. up /
to date.
L. B. Brooks, chairman of the real |
estate committee, reported that building I
activities for the year past had been up 7
to the average. The committee had a
totement to present, as follows; 1--WE /
believe the present system of manage
ment of municipal affairs is wasteful I
and that the taxpayers money is not
expended to the best advantage and good
Of the city under the form of govern
nent existing. The system under which
we work is antedeluvian The tendency
Of the times is toward commission
form of government Your committee
believe it the duty of the board repre-
senting the active business men Of the
city to appoint a committee to revise
our charter and see TO it that our rep
resentative next fall irrespective of
party, shall be pledged to every endeav-
Dr. to carry through such changes. There
IS not enough disposition to encourage
building and the investment of moneys
hat create taxable properties. Instead
he taxation laws tend to favor by near
" 200 per cent. investors in stocks,
bonds and moneys that find circulation
n other sections than Vermont"
The agricultural committee reported
hat three meetings for the benefit of
he farmer had been held, one pertain
ng to corn, another to apples and a
bird to potatoes.
A. J. Sibley, for the power commit
.ee. reported that the Cory Deavitt-
Frost had a moderate amount OF sur
illus power which can be procured in
mall units for manufacturing or other
purposes. The Consolidated reports a
lew turbine of 1000 horse power to
" installed soon. 1000 h. p, to be held
n reserve for present consumers and
900 h. p. to be available for new in
Iustries. making a surplus of about
500.