Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-12-26
a Com unication.


a substantial interest was shown that
augured well fol- the future of the or
ganization. Several points were brought
up by the three gentlemen who had
kindly volunteered to come to town for
the purpose of helping the formation of
the board of trade, and each gave his
ideas relative to the work necessary in
order to get the best results. Many of
the ideas brought out, however, were
based upon experiences in the largest
communities of the state, and would
not all be necessary to a town of this
size, requiring in some cases some modi-
fication to suit our needs.
Many of those attending the meeting
of last week were of the opinion that
the dues of the members of a Middle
bury board of trade should not be over
Sc per annum, fifty cents a month being
considered plenty to maintain an organ
ization here, as the work of a board
would not be of the scope necessary in
larger community. If the dues of
such an organization are so large as to
be prohibitive to substantial number
of worthy people, one of the very ends
for which board is formed, would be
defeated, and the whole movement
would fail of its purpose. Men of
means have stated that it would be
better to start the board of trade with
a nominal amount of dues, making the
membership so large and representative
that there would be sufficient funds for
the work in hand, leaving it to the
good will and energy OF the member
ship to carry on the work well and
eXpeditiously, 1t is considered that
good will and hustle in this matter are
of more Importance than fat treasury.
In the past three or four years there
have been four or more manufactures
seeking a site for operation in Middle
bury. Three of these have located in
the State, in towns not nearly as well
situated in many ways as we are; and
very little money would have been
needed to have placed one or more of
these factories her.. These inquiries,
being addressed in a general way to
Secretary of Board of Trade" or
similar title, went to no organization,
as there was none, and the correspond
ence could MT receive the attention
possible with a board of trade, the
N tt,r hat
featuring concerns, receiving a much
warmer welcome and assistance from
boards in other communities, found a
home there, much to the benefit of the
towns receiving them. Fair Haven,
Springfield and Richmond benefited in
this way, one of these towns having no
railroad connections.
Another fact has been brought out in
the discussions following the meeting of
last week; There must be a substan-
tial number of farmers in the board of
favored with an unusual number of
highly intelligent and capable men,
who pursue agriculture along modern
lines, many being experts in various
branches of this unnecessary calling.
A board of trade without good proper
ton of these gentlemen would fall
short of its aims. One of the speakers
at the meeting stated that the roads of
Vermont were very good; but his ex-
perience was more likely over the
principal roads, the trunk lines used by
Mr.. Powell that, while there had been
some improvement on the side-roads,
there is much remaining to be done be-
fore the Vermonters may congratulate
themselves over the condition of the
roads. In this vicinity the experience
is that many of the roads outside of the
village are in better condition than
those actually in the village, though
this condition is being remedied as fast
as our means will permit. The Oranges,
corn shows, cow testing associations
and the educational features of the
county fair have done, and are doing,
notable work in agriculture; but one of
the functions of a Middlebury board of
trade could well be to foster wider
interest in agricultural pursuits; and to
this end the farmers should be espec-
tally welcomed into membership. A
county advisor for Addison county could
easily be arranged for if Vergennes,
Bristol and Middlebury would work to-
gether to that end; and this feature
alone would add an impetus to the up
building of the county, more than has
been done in many years.
In Rutland and Burlington the ''busi-
ness mems lunches" are held frequent
ly and it is likely that an occasional
function of this kind, on possibly a
simpler scale, would be found to be of
advantage; but in Middlebury there
exists no such a necessity for these
occasions as in those larger commune
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