Connecticut western news., 1916-01-27
BIGGEST MEETING YET
Business Mems Association Waking Up
 and Getting Ambitious.

meeting or the Canaan BuSlneSS NIGH $ Association held under his administra- tion, last Thursday evening. The at tendance was the largest since the old days in the early history of the Asso- citation, and resembled a mass meeting by com parison with the usual attend ance, forty members being present The program was one of unusual in terest and consisted of sort of sym posium of views and suggestions by various members, which are to be en- bodied in report by a special commit tee. and form working basis for action on the part of the Association.
 The meeting was called to order promptly on the hour of 8, in accord ance with a newly adopted rule, and after Secretary Creevey had read his report, and the treasurer's report had been submitted and accepted, the presi- dent expressed his qualification at the interest manifested and his apprecie- tion of the large attendance.
 A letter from the New Haven Rail road Company was read, concerning the congestion of freight traffic.
 A. W. Holsapple, state director, gave an interesting report of the meeting of the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce directors, which he attended in Hart ford, Wednesday, and it was voted that the Association pay the expenses of the state director from the Association treasury.
 The chair then called on the com mittee on the Ten Commandments to report, who read the new Command ments to govern the Association mem bers during the present year. They were ordered printed in The News, and appear in another column.
 The first speaker, in the symposium of three minute speeches, under the head, "The development of our present resources. ' was MT. Creevey. He sug- gested the value of making Canaan at tractive for summer boarders from the cities, and favored special advertising, both in the way of universal design of commercial stationery and by news paper announcements of the towns at- tractiveness and advantages. He would have some of the unnecessary railroad noise at night eliminated, and appeal for better protection at railroad crossings. .-------.- -- ----.----------.---
 George W. Ford spoke of the eligible factory sites in the town. and the ad- visibility of endeavoring to induce manufacturers to come and look them over. He mentioned particularly the flats near the Pine Grove camp ground station, the land north of the village all the way from the Pease crossing to the Hoag crossing, and the territory in the neighborhood of the coaling station on the 0. N. E.. commenting on the railroad facilities at each place.
 B. c. Finney, station agent, said the president had asked him to speak in order to attract crowd, land you ob- serve that we have the largest crowd we've ever had" MT. Finney en- phasized particularly the value of agriculture, as an asset. The future of Canaan depends more upon the farmer than upon any ether factor. If we can help the farmer to sell what he pro- duces and buy what he wants we will be working along the right lines.
 J. W. Hayward, of East Canaan, was called oD. He said he was com- paratively newcomer, but considered this, as moral community, the best he had ever lived in. The development of it's resources is a matter for discus sion. He preferred the factory sugges- tion rather than the idea of a summer town. The summer boarder season is of short duration. The factory is a permanent asset. He had noticed a conspicuous absence of signboards on vacant lots hereabouts bearing the legend, familiar in some other places Build your factory here. Inquire of the Board of Trade" etc. No doubt money could be raised here sufficient to establish manufacturing if the proposition were presented in manner to interest the people who have the money.
 R. D. Peirce was asked to speak on the topic, Making Canaan attractive, l" He said the president had asked him if he would say word about establishing golf links in Canaan, and he had said yes" He supposed that if he had been asked to speak about gallstones in Canaan he would have consented, just the same, as he was disposed to encourage the president. He thought an ideal spot for golf links was on the land east of the Elm street bridge and extending up as far as the Coggin farm on one side and the Fitzgerald farm on the other. The idea of public golf course, however, is an expensive proposition, and there are not enough people here at present who want it. He dwelt on the necessity of public playground, at some length, and said he would like to see the Association sufficiently inter- ested to equip the present playground, with the requisite apparatus. MT. Pe1rce offered resolution, which was unanimously approved, as follows:
 "Resolved-Thatw we, citizens of Ca naan, do hereby agree, to cease to knock and criticize, and do further argee to give helping hand to, and approval of. the other fellows efforts for the betterment of Canaan.
 H. E. Lyles, who was slated for r. T