Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-22

per Co., all the paper companies in Bel
lows Falls in the tax matters growing
out of the state boundary line con.
trovcrsy. the Dcericld Lumber corpora
ion as general counsel the Central Yer
mont and Boston & Maine railroads in
various matters, the Peoples National
bank the Vermont National bank, the
Brattleboro Trust Co., the Vermont
Savings bank, the Estey Organ Co., the
White River Chair Co., the ). a. Smith !
Mfg. Co., the Fort Dummcr Mills, the |
Hooker, Corspr & Mitchell Co. and many !
other firms, institutions and individuals. |
He was successful in prosecuting the
claims Of many poor persons against
large corporations, and he consistently
declined propositions from number Of
corporations to become their general
counsel, which would prevent him from
bringing actions against them.
Mr.. Fits was one of the founders of
the immense power system which now
serves so large a part of New England.
When in 1902 the idea of building a
dam across the Connecticut river at
Brattlcboro was revived after having
lain dormant since 1888, Mr.. Fits was
one of the most enthusiastic believers
in the project and appeared as counsel
for n local committee at several hear
ings before the Legislature of that year
from which a charter was secured after
much difficulty. He also represented
Brattleboro at hearings before the
New Hampshire legislature early in
1903 when a similar charter was pro.
cured in that state.
After this enabling legislation had
been secured Mr.. Fits was made coun-
sci for the local committee whose task
was to interest outside capital in the
venture AS representative from Brat
tlcboro in the legislature of 1904 he
secured important amendments to the
original charter, and it was largely
through his instrumentality, in the face
of much skepticism that the Chace-
IInuiman interests were induced to
undertake the project. Legislation
which made the construction of the
Connecticut river dam possible was
finally secured from the New Hamp-
shire Legislature in March, 1907, and
the work of building began early that
summer. Mr.. Fits was the directing
head of all the legal work incident to
the formation of the corporations which
furnished funds for the enterprise
and during the progress of these nego
tiations he had constantly in mind the
welfare of Brattlcboro. His connec
/ ton with the power project continued
after the completion of the Vernon de
/ velopment. Upon his shoulders fell the
task of making legally possible the
construction of the immense storage
reservoir at the head of the Deerfeld
river in the town of Somerset, and tn,
building of series of power plants oil
| this stream between Wilmington anC
the Hoosac tunnel.
Mr.. Fits believed that Vermont ;,
hope of future industrial development
/ lay in the conservation of the state :,
water supply, and with characteristic
enthusiasm he never lost an oppor
tunity TO preach this doctrine. He wa
anxious to see established at the head
waters of every important watercours,
n storage reservoir which would equal
izc the stream s flow throughout tn,
year and minimize periods of drouth
Largely through his efforts the las
legislature passed a bill empowern,
the governor to appoint a commission
with authority to investigate feasible
locations for such reservoirs and re
port to the general assembly of 1917.
The benefits that have come t,
Brattlcboro during the past 10 year
through the Thomas Thompson funC
were made possible largely by reason o
Mr.. Fits s connection with this case
When the terms of this now famou
will became operative upon the dealt
Of Mrs Thompson in 1899 Mr. Fits, il
company with Judge f. l.. Waterman
and DR.. II. ID. Iiolton, was appointe,
to represent the Brattleboro bcnefici
aries. IL, took an active part in tn
litigation which resulted after nearl,
two years in n decree in the suprem
judicial court of Massachusetts where
by Brattlcboro secured two-thirds o
the income of the estate after the con
I, testing heirs had been placatcd with
, sum of 100000.
The welfare of the towns in tn
West river valley was always close I
. Mr. Fitts's heart and he never neg
lected an opportunity TO interes
himself in any movement which had t
, do with the development of that SCI
ton. He was firm believer in tn
/ feasibility of an extension of the Yves
4 River railroad to provide an outlet 70
I the immense timberlands in Stratto
5 and Somerset and although this pre-
5 cct never matcrialized his interest i
it no doubt had much to do with tn
= changing of the road from narrow t
standard gauge in 1908, the year whe
, 5000 acres of timber in the towns mel
q toned We're sold through Mr.. Fits
+ office to Boston capitalists.
In 1912 he helped form the Yves
p River Valley association, throug
which greatly improved train servic
{ on the West river road was brough
! about and an increased interest in tn
advantages of that locality as a sun
mcr resort was awakened.
Mr.. Fitts's active connection wit
the negotiations which finally resulte
d in Brattleboro s new union passenge
, station and Vernon street improve
mcnts dated from 1908, when the tow
: named a special committee to handl
this important project. He was coui
sci for this committee when it appeare
; before the legislatures of 1910 and l9l
! and handled the legal details connecte
with each step leading to the consun
nation of the proposition. ThrOughOu