The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-26
VERMONT INDUSTRIES .
NEED WATER OUTLET



benefit TO every town and hamlet in the
entire state. Mr. Milne called attention
to the fact that every year, $4,000 tons
Of granite are shipped from the state.
He said that there is keen competition
from granite centers in the middle west,
because freight rates out of Vermont are
so much higher that these western cen
ters, though putting out an inferior
grade Of granite, could compete with
Barre. Mr.. Milne maintained that, with
lower freight rates such as water trans
portstion would bring, Vermont would
be much better fitted to compete, and
the manufacturers would also be able to
dispose Of many by-prOducts, such as
grout, which is now practically wasted.
Mr.. Mackay claimed that inability to
make use of our raw material has held
Vermont down in the industrial world,
since transportation facilities TO the
great markets Of the world have been in
ferior, He maintained that by means OF
barge terminal thousands of dollars
could be saved to the state every year,
which now 20 into the treasures OF the
railroads.
There is material lying useless in this
state said Mr. Mackay, which would
pave the streets of every city we could
reach, The speaker maintained that
transportation is the thing that puts life
into business, and better transportation
facilities mean better markets.
Mr.. Brooks of st. Johnsbury called at
tention TO the fact that Vermont has
Just been going through a period which
has linked all her citizens together as
one, and he maintained that there l. now
nothing too difficult for Vermont TO
tackle, so long as it be a worthy object
"And even IN Vermont, we cannot live
on scenery, no matter how beautiful it
may be" said Mr. Brooks "The world
has beaten a track up here TO Vermont,
our little northwest neck of the woods
because we have something which the
world wants.
Speaking for the scale manufacturing
of St. Johnsbury and other parts of the
state as well, Mr.. Brooks said that while
Vermont leads in this industry, her
scales going all over the world the ques.
ton is already being raised as to wheth-
er it will be possible much longer, with
increasing freight rates, to continue the
manufacturing of scales in Vermont The
bringing in of raw material is a big
problem these days, and Springfield and
Windsor are having the same trouble in
getting in raw materials for their indus
tries.
Mr.. Brooks maintained that, after the
government has expended $4,000 on the
narrows of Lake Champlain, the state
would he blind indeed If it did not take
advantage Of this opportunity.
Let us keep that wheel going which
the war has engendered,' said Mr.
Brooks Get us use our credit, Our
faith in the future, with the determine
ton that we place Vermont and her in
dustries on the map of the world
Mr.. Jones spoke briefly, referring to
the saving on coal coming into the state.
Mr.. Gordon Of Johnson told of the com
petiton with certain southern states in
the tale industry, and said that the few
cents a ton which would be saved
through water transportation would
mean much and would allow Vermont
tale companies to compete with the west.
Senator Narnum of Jacksonville, who
was a member of the barge terminal
commission during IHe past tHo SSai =
declared that the Vermont barge termi-
nal would stabilize the rail rates, even
though ton of coal was never unloaded
on the dock at Burlington.
Harry Howard of Burlington, who has
put eight years into the study of this
problem, serving in various public capa-
cities, reviewed some Of the things which
have already been done in the opening
up Of waterways throughout New York
state, and what investigations have been
made on the part Of Vermont. He urged
that this barge terminal be built as a