Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-01-15
GREATER VERMONT
Its Men Awake 10 the Retaliation of
Their Agricultural md Indus
trial Opportunities.

Vermont and Ncrmontcrs are speed
Ing up" More commercial and civic or
PLANTATIONS formed in 10 months than in
the preceding - years; five agricultural
expert advisors hurrying on motor cycles
or automobiles from farm to farm in five
counties; tours of inspection made by COM
mercial association parties at times a
hundred men or more, who study hydro
electric plants, roads, and farms, and fac
tories; building associations formed by
business men to meet tho need Of homes
for the employees Of rapidly growing in
dustrlos weekly luncheons given by
boards OF trade whose members seldom
met formerly. but now get together every
week, So 100, 80 strong; a military sum-
mer school for college studcuts-one OF
four such schools established by the war
Northumberland in tho state; a noun
tain trail constructed along the Green
mountain range for $50 miles; these are the
signs OF the times in Vermont These
are the evidences that the New Vcr-
mont" or the "Greater Vermont" each
meaning a moro united aggressive YER
mont, is being realized in larger and
larger measure.
The story of Greater Vermont" is in
part. n story of the growth Of the COM
mcrcial and civic organizations of the
state. Vermont first seriously set about
forming boards of trade in the year 1901,
and became deeply interested during the
year 1909 Then in 1912 and 1913 more
organizations We're formed than in all the
years preceding. 1t was during the
months of February and March. 1872 that
. .trr
seemed for the first time to master Yer
mont New organizations appeared, one
after another though the groups Of men
creating them were unaware of one an
others plans. Then too, policies were
broadencd. ana the fields Of operation
were enlarged Hartford Forward, or
ganized on February 2d. sought the well
fare of town the West River Valley
association on March Sth began to work.
for the development Of group of towns;
the Bennington County Vermont Improve
ment association on March 18th took the
first steps in carrying out an elaborate
program Of county improvement. But on
February nth there had been formed an
organization which proposed to work in
even more extended field.
\ number Of gentlemen from different
parts Of Vermont who were in conference
at Burlington formed an association,
which, as an organization Of citizens and
of commercial and civic bodies, was to
work for the development Of the state as
a whole. This Greater Vermont associa-
tion Is NJ once a State development asso-
citation of citizens and a state board OF
trade with commercial bodies as mem-
bors. It aids in the formation of boards
of trade ana Improvement societies that
the state may be completely organized.
Il co-oporatcs with all local organizations
in planning and carrying ont programs for
local and State development. The asso-
cation's officers and directors. it men,
hers and committees are cndcavoring to
make Vermont "Greatcr'' in team work
and efficiency, in the profitableness and
the enjoyableness of life.
Such new Statewide work in n COM
monwealth with the undeveloped resour-
ces and the possibilities of Vermont offers
the attractions of an adventure and the
risks of an experiment. After a generous
period devoted to perfeCting its Organiza-
tion the association during the last few
months has been outlining Its program
and conducting its initial campaigns.
me most important TASK mas o"en 10
make three score organizations acquMnt-
ed with one another I" introduce the
ancient board of trade dating from 1893
to the boosters club OF 1913. to Ion in
fellowship two business mems associa-
uonS Wn''h seem I" ne almost absolute
~ cut OF from ea'h o'her ny the par
rler or the Green Mountain range 10 re-
veal 10 merchants associations ana COM
iher'lal cluos "hlch emphasize commerce
ana trade the broad interests ana poIl-
'!es ~ town ana county Improvement
associations recently formed. This ac-
| quhutanc' Is being erected through the
publication OF list Of commercial and
civic "rGahIZa'on7' when gives the names
ol ''' executive oiII'ers' the dates OF or
Gafh"luoh' ana the hummer or members
The list includes the vermont associations
III other states for the Greater Vermont
association looks upon the thousands of
graduates OF the Green Mountain state
as mon and women who regard their ma
tlv" commonwealth aS an alma mater
TO be watched, praised, and aided In every
possible way Acquaintance among the
constituent organizations or the asSoc'a-
tion Is increased through the publication
| in the state papers of "Greater Vermont
Notes. which reflect the plans and ac-
! tiviies OF commercial bodies, and de-
scribe the new ideas and the aggressive
moves In the business and civic life OF
the state. Although the association has
as yet 10 official paper or magazine OF