St. Johnsbury Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-1920, 1920-04-21

writers all he knew about the telc-
phone business. The corps OF inven-
tors was Spurrcd up to conquer all
problems and there was in the w =.
corporation an esprit d'corps and love
lCr the leader that WAS contributed
much to the efficiency for which this
company is world famous. MI. Vail
annual reports to the stockholders
were widely copied as he held moth
ING back, but explained in great de-
tail his broad plans and purposes.
About year ago he resigned Us pres
ldcnt OF the great corporation, but
was chairman Of the board of direc-
tors at the time of his death.
Mr.. Walls interest in Vermont wis
manifested in many ways and it wAs
particularly turned to the town where
he made his home. He became deeply
interested in Lyndon Institute and
was president of the board of trustees
Besides giving lavi>hly of his money
to finance the Institute he gave much
OF his time. At commandments he
brought to its public exercises men
OF national reputation, including such
men as Hon. William II. Taft, the late
Col. Higginson, of Boston, Col.
George Harvey, college presidents
and men distinguished in other walks
Of life.
The Vail School of Agriculture was
founded, and until it was given over
to the state, supported by him that
Vermont boys might become scientific
farmers, and many Il boy in Vermont
can gratefully tell how he was helped
by this financier to start farm of his
own after graduating from MI. Wallis
school. Since 1914 this has been
managed by the state and when it was
decided to the state Mr.. Vail announc-
ed that the plant could not be dupli-
Gated for less than quarter of Il mil
lion dollars. Mr.. Vail was also pres
idcnt Of the Lyndonvillc National
Bank and for many years head of the
Lyndonvillc Creamery.
His love for agriculture lead him to
become actively interested in it.
broader development and for years he
has been one of the promoters of the
State fair where his thoroughbred
Brown Swiss, his Perchcron and his
Wclch ponies were often prize win
ners. Incidentally it may be said
that his horses used to leave the ring
Of the New York horse show with
blue ribbons against those owned by
some of the richest men in the United
States.
He was one of the vicc-presidcnts
of the Eastern States Exposition at
Springfield, Mass, where girls from
the domestic science department OF
Lyndon Institute took prizes and the
St. Johnsbury boys gathered in many
more for handicraft. He attended
these annual exhibitions whenever
possible and was Il firm bellevcrin the
future development of New England
agriculture.
In 1889 he married Emma L..
EcGhlcr, who died in 1904. In 1907
he married Mabel Il. Sandcrson, who
survives him. His palatial home was
the scene in years past Of many 4
social function in which numbers
from the towns Of Lyndon and s..
Johnsbury shared, while a list of the
distinguished men in finance, cduca-
ton and railroading who have been
entertained at "Thc House" would be
surprisingly long. Though busy
through the week either at his Bos-
ton or New York office, Mr.. Vail rare
ly failed for many years to spend the
weekend ut his home and the sight of
the flag flying on the hill was a well
come sign that the hospitable owner
was at home and that any friend who
called would receive the most cordial
welcome.
In 1910 Mr.. Vail conceived the
brilliant idea of uniting as far as
possible the telephone and telegraph
systems Of the United States and nc
was elected prcsidnt of the Western
Union Telegraph Co., only to be COM
PEELED by the government to resign
later because the government felt 1t
was creating monopoly. Mr.. Vail
gracefully accepted the governments
position, though while at the head Of
the Western Union he had developed
the night and day letter, had greatly
increased the efficiency of the telc-
graph system and incidentally en-
HANGED the value of the stock.
A republican in politics he never
sought public office. Though he has
been mentioned many times for high
offices in the state he preferred to
continue in the business of his choice.
He was, however, chairman Of the
Vermont delegation to the state con-
vention that nominated Hon. Charles
L. Hughes and Il powerful factor in
securing his nomination.
He was Il member of the Lyndon
Club and Mason. He was Il trustee
of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts
and greatly interested in its growth.
He was also trustee of the Ameri-
ran Museum Of Natural History in
New York and the Metropolitan Mu-
scum of Art in that city, the Ameri-
ran Economic Association, the Amer
can Institute of Electrical Engineers,
he American Civic Alliance, the
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