The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-14
CHAMBER ACCEPTS REPORT.
CONTINUED from Page II

I ILt NbiAFNAA'N
;, members of the organization who attend
cd the hearings. While the views ex-
pressed at these hearings differed widely
on many topics, there was IN fact a una
Inimity of sentiment in favor of continuing
the work of the organization, expressed
even more fOrcibly than at the mass meet
ing Nov. 10. 1t was repeatedly suggested
that the organization undertake a more
definite program of accomplishment IN the
future than had been taken in the past
with a view of putting on its record of
| things d0ne something so important and
obvious that it would serve every member
as an immediate answer to the frequently
: asked question. What has the Chamber
: OF Commerce ever accompllshedF
Accomplishments.
A careful survey of the records of the
organization since its formation 10 years
ago resulted in a list of achievements too
long to Incorporate in a report of this
kind. The record contains many things
which have had a vital influence on the
towns growth and prosperity and could
not have been accomplished unless there
had been an organization of this kind to
undertake them.
In the first year of the organization, for
example. it was instrumental in averting
the drastic increase in fire insurance rates
which fire companies endeavOred to
spread over the entire country to retrieve
their losses from the San Francisco dlsas-
! ter. Advances were not needed to safe
guard the insurance interests in New
England, and were in no way warranted
by local conditions. This accomplishment
alone a a considerable and definite value
to every member OF the organization SINCE
all members pay insurance IN one form
or another and would doubtless have
been paying a much higher rate ever since
1906 but for this accomplishment.
The bulk of the work entailed by the
long continued agitation which resulted
J - r,x,- y,o-ropnnr SfafTan for fhiC Tnyn
was done by a committee representing this
organization and it is safe to say that the
influence which the name of the Brattle-
board Board of Trade carried enabled this
committee TO secure much better results
than would have been possible If they had
done the work merely as a group of indi-
vidualS.
The Board of Trade had a prominent
part in locating here the Fort Drummer
Mills. which for the past several years has
Industry in town. These mills have
brought added income into the community
and nave benefited either directly or in
directly every member of the Board.
The Windham County Farm Bureau
and the Brattleboro Cooperative Savings
and Loan association, both live Organiza-
tiOns which are playing an important part
in the welfare of our community, were
originated by the BOARD of Trade.
The rest room, which many merchants
( DtlitNP 10 Dt one tl the IilbSl dAddbIC ldN-
tors in making Brattleboro the trading
center it is. has been literally supported
by the Board of Trade ever since its or
ganiZation.
Guest day, which was of untold benefit
in promoting harmonious relations be-
tween the business interests of Brattle-
borO and the residents of the suburban ter
ritOry on which they depend for so large
a measure of their support, would never
have come into being if il had not been
/ e. ~ DBL r TN..l, a-l - = III oDs,
ion of more thar a few of the members
that the idea is too good TO be abandoned.
The rates which the village now pays
for it's street lighting service were estab-
hshed as a result Of an experts report
which the Board of Trade secured and
paid for. The present efficient hydrant
system is the result of the agitation which
the Board of Trade started in 1909.
The fact that the freight and passenger
service of the West River railroad is as
good as it is at present is due to the alert
ness of the board to TAXI up cudgels in
favor of shippers along the line whenever
any proposal of curtailment was made by
railroad authorities.
=. These are a few of the definite things
in which the Board of Trade has had an
active part, but a recital of them does
-: not give anything like an adequate idea
of the almost innumerable calls which
have been made on the organization during
! it's 16 years of life. Those who have
StI wa II ia al OlAAtAAi AaDdNlLA Anl ttSAlAS
from experience that a week never goes
by without one or more requests for help
and the fact that people have come into
the habit of depending on this OrganiZa-
! ton for assistance is in itself the best
sort of evidence that no matter what
some may say in thoughtless moments
they realize down deep in their hearts that
the influence of the organization is some
thing very definite in value and its bene.
fits are worthy many times all they have
cost in time and money.
i Suggested Activities.
/, One of the definite questions asked at
each of the hearings given by this commit
tee was, What definite thing could the
Board of Trade do TO help your business p
) The answers 10 this question were numer-
Gus and varied and while they brought out
topics having to Go with individual diff
cultles they showed a widespread feeling
4 that members as individuals should px-
pect TO get their greatest benefit from
accomplishments which help the Ommun
ity as a whole.
\ frequently repeated suggestion was
that the Board of Trade start an active
campaign 10 bring about an improvement
OF the local station surroundings by the
transfer Of the freight depot from it's pres
ent location to the west side and upper
level.
|, Better facilities for express shippers
5 were also mentioned as among matters on
which the Board of Trade might extend
energy to advantage.
1t was suggested that a well-organized
and actively sustained campaign for better
streets. sidewalks and crossings. and a
more efficient street lighting system would
be an excellent thing.
+ The need of promoting better relations
with the surrounding territory. upon
!, which ErattleborO depends to such a large
z extent for its mercantile trade, was still
another suggestion. This is especially i'm
= portant in view of the towns geographi-
cal location. A considerable portion of
our outside trade comes from towns
which are situated in other states. We
must not overlook the fact that while