The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-02-21
BOOM NEW HOTEL
At TRADE BOARD
NE ETIN G
Enthusiastic Addresses at An
nual Banquet Last Night
TALK BY MAX L. POWELL
Owner of Hotel Vermont Says Ben
nnston Is Neslecting Masnifi.
cent Opportunity
TALK BY MAX L. POWELL

The Bennington board Of trade
held its annual meeting ana banquet
at Apollo hall Friday evening. There
was an attendance of over a hundred.
4 summer hotel for Bennington is
the next undertaking of the board
and this project was the topic Of he
evening. A more enthusiastic gath
ering has not been held in Dennmg-
ton in years. During the evening It
was indicated that a hotel which
would meet the requirements here in
Bennington would cost in the vicili,y
Of Sl50.0O0. When the meeting adj
journed Walter II. Berry, proprietor
CT the Walloomsac Inn announced
that he would be one OF l50 men 10
subscribe $1,000, one of 70 men to
subscribe $4,000, one Of 50 men to sub
scribe $4,000 or one OF 80 men to sub
scribe $1,000
mony might be presented Il the meet
ing, the board had secured for 1he
principal speaker, ex-State Senator
Max L. Powell, builder and propIie-
tor of the Hotel Vermont ct Burning.
Ton. Probably no better choice Of a
speaker for this particular occasion
could be made Many of those in Mr.
Powelrs audience are familiar to a
certain extent with the history OF the
building Of his hotel a. Burlington.
They knew Of the intelligent and Wig
orous competition against which ne
had TO contend and the success chat
he has attained. According to his
figures. as given last evening, Hotel
Vermont had cost over 100000. It
has been running but a comparative
ly short time and yet he has been
offered an opportunity of a long time
lease that would pay y per cent on
the investment
The speaker endeavpred to con
vince his audience that there had
been mighty change in the hotel
business in recent years. To quote
his own words it has been revolut-
icnized by the automobile" and where
as in the past many hotels had not
been paying investments today good
hotels, particularly of the tourist
class, had become as good income
producers as business blocks. The
automobile traffic is increasing every
year and in his own case he realizes
that he is in need Of about 20 more
rooms.
Mr.. Powell stated that he had ar
rived in Bennington early in the day
and that he had been given his first
opportunity to become ,realy ac-
quainted with Bennington He had
never before realized the extent OF
the different industries here but he
was nevertheless thoroughly Impress
ed with the fact that the communl-
tvs greatest need was a modern
hotel. While on his tour of inspec-
ton he had been shown the Root
property on South street which is
conceded by many interested persons
to constitute the most desirable site
fer hotel of the kind proposed lie
said that it made him enyious. IN
building Hotel Vermont he had no
such opportunity His site was so
cramped that he couldn't even put on
a piazza until he reached the top
floor.
In Mr.. Powells opinion. Benning-
ton at the present time has the best
opportunity in the state for tourist
hotel. The town is the southern gate
way to what he believes is the most
beautiful land on the face OF the
earth. lie has made ten trips to The
cid world and has visited the famed
resorts Of Europe but has returned
each time mistaken in his conviction
that the Champlain valley surpasses
them all.
In many respects. said the speaker.
Bennington has the advantage of Bur
liugton. The southern town Is locat-
Cd on the Ideal tour and is closer 40
the BIG oenters. Il has more historic
attractions than any other locality in
the state and the scenery is unequal
led-except BY the view OF Lake
Champlain a Burlington.
Mr. Powell was convinced that q
hotel with 100 rooms. with the con
veniences demanded by the tourist
traffic. could be built for $4,000 and
pay dividends on the invest ment u
Burlington could support three hotels
such as are being conducted in that
city at the present time be could see