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the sales increased from five hundred a
year to five thousand. Not content with
its success in 1 1 1 i — country, Mr. 1
[all started
out to compete with the foreign mar-
ket, and the sale of the Pickering gov-
ernor in Great Britain is now represented
by a figure that
original output.
FXCYCLOPFDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
is four times its total
In addition to his interests in the Pick-
ering governor, Mr. Hall was in [884
elected the president of the Shaler & Hall
;r\ Company, with which his family
had long been identified. This concern
he soon infused with the new life and
energy characteristic of the man. He
revolutionized its entire management, introduced
new and up-to-date machinery
and started it upon a new and thoroughly
vigorous career of prosperity. When,
twelve years after his first entrance upon
its affairs, a new company was formed
called the Brainerd, Shaler & Hall Quarry
Company, he became the president and
acted in this capacity until his death. In
the meanwhile his own business, which
had been carried on as a partnership, was
reorganized as a corporation, Mr. Hall's
official position being that of treasurer,
while he also retained a proprietary inter-
est. About the same time a very flatter-
ing offer was made to him by the board
of directors of the Colt Patent Fire Arms
Manufacturing Company, which recog-
nized his ability as an executive of unusual
power and efficiency. The board
asked him to become the general manager
of the corporation, by arranging at the
same time, in recognition of the condition
of his health, that he should be lightened
of all the cares of the office, and the
routine of the work. With every care to
relieve him of any burden in the connection,
a large responsibility devolved upon
him. The vice-president, Caldwell H.
Colt, was absent from Hartford the
greater part of the time, so the entire
36
management of the manufacturing end of
the work and also it- relation to the buying
public was in his hands. Mis dynamic
personality, however, SOOn brought about
a fresh vigor in the prosecution of the
work of the corporation, and he was en-
couraged by the loyal support of the
board Of directors in the changes which
he advocated. In [89O he was elected
vice-president and treasurer, and in June,
[9OI, when the company was reorganized,
he was made president, which office he
held until his death.
Mr. llall always took a deep interest in
the town of his adoption, and was prominent
in working for its wellbeing. He
refused nominations to both branches of
the State Legislature, it being necessary
for him to conserve his energies upon the
undertakings which he was committed
He received more than one recognition
from his fellow citizens who desired his
ability in the conduct of municipal affairs,
but refusing some, he served from 1890
to 1896 on the City Board of Water Com-
missioners. In 1895-96 he served as State
Senator from the First District of Hartford,
his party affiliations being Demo-
cratic, and in 1896-1900 supported the
gold wing of that organization.
He was a director in various Hartford
corporations, among these being the
Phoenix Fire Insurance Company, the
Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company,
the Hartford National Bank, and the
Dime Savings Bank. He was one of the
organizers of the Board of Trade, and
was a member of its first board of direc-
tors. In New York he was a director of
the Neptune Meter Company. He was a
member of the Hartford Club, the Man-
hattan Club, the Fngineers' Club, and the
Xew York Yacht Club of New York City,
and the Metropolitan Club of Washing-
ton. He was a member of the Society of
the Sons of the American Revolution, and