Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-11-13
WILLIAM A. SOMERS ELECTED
President of Norwich Chamber of Commerce-Frank G.
Aubrey Vice Observation-Disclosures H. Cruickshank Retir-
ing President, Reviews Work of Past Year, c.
Jewett Describes Activities of County Improvement
League.

scheme to the benefit of the investors
and a permanent asset to our CITY
growth. Although in no spirit OF
prophecy, at the last census, nell
decade ago, the then Norwich Bust
ness Mems association put the popu-
lation of the town of Norwich to be
worked for till 1920 at $4,000. There
are five years more to the next census
go to it. Get results.
1t will not be amiSs to emphasize at
this time, the Importance of continued
attendance at our State Chamber
meetings by our state director, our
delegates to annual conventions, or
whatever occasion may call.
There was never a state directors
meet-(and I was fortunately able to
attend nearly every one)-When there
was not some valuable idea to bring
back to our local chamber.
There was never a more gratifying
circumstance to a president, than be-
ing the leader of your seven delegates
that went up % Windsor on October
21st and who placed in nomination our
fellow member of this chamber Jo-
seph T. Cruttenden, and afterward
elect him to the second vice 'pres1-
dents chair.
In closing wish to say that I feel
a sense of personal obligation to every
member. director and officer who has
contribut11 to the support or work
during the past year of the Norwich
Chamber of Commerce, and trust you
new president during the year to
come.
- Respectfully submitted by
WIN. H. CRUICKSHANK,
Secretary Pearson Reports.
Secretary c. w. Pearson then sub
mitted his report, which. showed tie
year to have been an unusually active
one The report showed that during
the past year, which is the first year
as a chamber of commerce, seven
meetings were held. while the board
of directors have held II meetings dur
ing the same period. George F.
Hughes of the Read & Hughes COM
pany and John H. Scott of the Scott
& Clark corporation, comprise the
death toll for the year. The report
touched upon the membership taken
out in the National Chamber of Com
merce the activities of the Eastern
Connecticut Development committee
the Farm Bureau, the Norwich Build
ing & Loan association, the collection
department, the eastern Connecticut
banquet at the Wauregan house last
April and other matters that have
come up at the various meetings. In
conclusion Secretary Pearson said:
Our president has as all our past
presidents have, been very attentive.
scented our chamber with good grace
and his counsel in the future will be
very valuable. If not reelected, adding
him to the past presidents will make
that number six, a class, as it grows
each year, which should be more val
liable as the chamber is entitled to
their past experience. Let US hope
for a class of leaders, not Las beens."
The board of directors at each r~sJing
have had good attendance. 1 beg ~
r Nd fhn for oil
courtesy shown your secretary.
Both reports were accepted and or
dered placed on file.
Mr.. Pearson then submitted his re-
port as treasurer. The report showed
the financial condition of the cham
Der to be excellent. 1t was approved
and ordered placed on file. The re-
port of the auditors, Otto E. Wulf and
John H. Tanning, showed that the
treasurer's accounts were found cor
rect.
Secretary Pearson read the report of
Attorney A. J. Bailey as counsel for
the chamber, which was accepted and
ordered placed on file:
What Improvement League Does.
E. c. Jewett of the New London
County Improvement league. was call
ed upon for a report, which he made
as follows:
Less than two years ago H. R.
.
appointed w. o. Rogers, C. l. Smith
and myself as a Farm Bureau COM
mittee. We added to that committee
John E. Vaughn and w. E. Manning
and after most careful investigation of
the work in other states unanimously
agreed that we should lose no time
in organizing and so reported to this
body with the result that on March z,
1914, the first Improvement league in
the state was duly. organized with a
director elected from every town in
the county who elected c. D. Whitman
a prosperous and up-to-date farmer of
Waterford, president; G. 1. Smith,
treasurer, and /. having served as sec
rotary of your committee, was appoint
ed secretary Of the league.
The board of directors secured for
the first county farm agent, Murray
D. Lincoln, who grew so fast that
in eleven short months he left New
London county to accept a position
with the Plymouth County Trust COM
pany, of Brockton, Mass, at more than
double the salary we had at that time
at our command.
1t takes considerable time for an
agent in a new territory to become
familiar with the various conditions
that exist and have to be faced in
every community and we were obliged
to change agents at most critical
time. During April one of the most
important months in the year to the
average farmer, We were without an
agent and it was on May 1st. that Fred
&C.: Warner, of Sunderland, Mass, took
up the work of county farm agent. He
is a graduate of MassachusettsfAg ri-
cultural college and came to us with
six years of practical experience in va
rious places. including Panama. Min
nesota, Washington, D. c., Kansas and
Florida Mr. Warner has now been
with us, only six months and is al
ready proving valuable man for the
county. During this time he has COM
pleted the successful inauguration of
the Connecticut Dairy Herd Improve
ment association No. 2, begun by Mr..
Lincoln, and to illustrate how fast this
work is growing in Connecticut, will
state that the last association of this
sort organized is No. Z.
The county agent has returned so
Farm Survey Records, taken 20 new
ones in the Lebanon area, successfully
inaugurated National Achievement
clIlb UOrlz in New london schools and