The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-26
VERMONT INDUSTRIES
NEED WATER OUTLET
Statements Made to Legislators at Hear
ing on the Proposed Barge Ter
minal at Burlington

Waterways and barge terminals, with
special emphasis upon the proposed Yer
mont barge terminal. were the subject of
discussion at another public hearing held
last evening in representatives hall in
Montpelier before the committees on ap-
preparations and commerce aud labor of
both the House and Senate. Mr.. Dwinell
of Newport, chairman of the House com
mittee on commerce and labor, presided
The speakers. all of whom favored the
proposed terminal, represented various
manufacturing industries of the state
and the interests of the state as a whole
Among those who spoke were; Sen
ator Frank G. Rowland of Barre; John
Booth, representing the Granite Manu-
facturers and Quarters association;
Alexander A. Milne of Barre, represent
ing the manufacturers association of
Barre; James Mackay, city clerk OF
Barre; Frank H. Brooks of st. Johns
bury, Hugh j. NJ Jones of Montpelier
III. w. Gordon, representing the tale in
terests Of johnson; Senator II. w. Var
mum of Jacksonville, Harry Howard of
Burlington, formerly secretary of the
Vermont barge terminal commission;
James Higgins Of the Barre Board of
Trade and K. NJ. McCauley of Burlington.
Mr.. McCauley, though the last speaker
to be heard, outlined the possibilities Of
the Vermont barge terminal most com
pletely, and answered many questions
concerning water transportation. In
opening his remarks, he said that he
had Just received a telegram from Wash
ingtOn to the effect that there should be
no difficulty in securing barges when the
time came that Vermont would need
them. if this terminal was built, and
that large number of barges are now
being built by private capital for next
seasons Use.
Much emphasis was laid by Mr.. Nc
Cauley on the fact that the boat haul
would be so much less than the railroad
haul, and that railroads must reduce
their freight rates to meet the competi
ton And, in the end, it will be good
thing for the railroads, thinks Mr. Me
Cauley, because they will get increased
business in the excess business which
will be handled in the state, and will be
able to transport many things which the
waterways could not readily handle,
Transportation, said Mr.. McCauley,
"is the largest selling commodity that
we have He maintained that Yer
mont barge terminal, properly construct
ed and handled, would be self-sustaining
in every way.
Senator Howland called attention to
the benefit which such a barge terminal
would be to the granite industry of
Barre and Washington county as a
whole, recognized as the granite center
of New England and the world, He
maintained that, had it not been for the
manufacturing interests of the state, the
population of Vermont would be under
100000 to-day. Therefore, he argued,
this could not be labeled as class legisla
tion, for the agricultural interests of the
state are dependent upon the manufac-
turing industries. and what aids one aids
the other Senator Howland thought we
ought to take advantage Of the work
done in New York and other neighboring
states on their waterways.
Mr. Booth, Mr. Milne and Mr. Mackay
all spoke for the interests of Washing
ton county industries, but all maintained
that the barge terminal would mean
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