Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-08

w OOD versus 0OAI.
The price of wood has advanced beyond
what either the scarcity Of labor or of the
material Of labor will justify. Taken in con-
neclion with the stiuted measure, il has near
ly doubled, so that it will be next to impos-
sible for poor people to protect themselves
from the severity Of the weather This is
due not only TO combination on the part Of
the sellers. There are those engaged in the
unholy business Of specializing on the neces-
stiles Of the poor in times like these, buying
up wood in large quantities, that they may
store 1t away, in hopes to force the price still
higher 1t is thing for the consumers in
their collective capacity to look to, to shield
themselves from imposition, and see il they
can find no remedy. The people Of Windsor,
we understand, have taken the matter in
hand, and have introduced coal thereby pro-
ducing speedy reduction in the present ex-
orbitant prices for wood. 1t IS believed that
cusl even at its present rates would be cheap
er than wood, certainly not dearer. A little
goes great way, it gives more heat, it is less
trouble, il is more convenient every way
That it would come into universal use, # the
movement were once begun, think there
can be small question. 1t would have done
before now, IL who'd had not boon hereto.
fore furnished at reasonable rates. Let our
citizens investigate for themselves the FEAST
bility Of the project, otherwise all the fuel in
the neighborhood will be bought up and col
lected in the hands Of a few, and we shall be
at the mercy Of these greedy cormorauts.
INHABITANT.
Our correspondent states that somebody is
lorestalling the wood market, buying up and
hcarding to press prices upward unduly. We
have no persona! knowledge as TO that; and
therefore when we say it is dishonest, immoral
in fact robbery, we mean no body in particp-
lar, we aim at nobody. We do aim at the
thing. Forestalling we believe has not yet
been made crime by statute and yet it is
a crime against the divine laws Of justice and
charity. He that oppresseth the poor re-
proacheth his Maker; but he that honoreth
Him hath mercy on the poor There is no
material difference between the highway rob
Der, who gives one the alternative of parting
with his life or his money, and the forestal-
Ter in wood, who says " Give me more than
my wood is WORTH or freeze TO death" At
least, we see no difference morally. The prae-
tice of forestalIing for higher price is unjust
not only to the public, but to the farmers
who furnish the wood. They ought to have
what their wood is honestly worth and if
there is to be a Legitimate rise in value here
AFTER it is the farmer, and not the forestaller
who ought to receive the money. The first
remedy against forestaliing should therefore
come from the farmers. in sel-defence and
they have an easy remedy. They have only
to refuse to sell to forestalers-to sell to no.
body except for his own use. The public
have also remedy: they refuse to buy
OF any forestaller. Buying of him at no
price whatever, but rather buying Of the far
mers, or getting coal--no matter at what
price,--the forestsller will have his stock left
on his hands. These are sharp remedies but
if worst comes to worst, they are practicable.
The best way for every body is to eschew fore
stalling and settle upon fair price for wood !;
and it should not be disproportioned to the
wages of labor, because in that case the poor
will suffer, and the extortioneTs will incur
the displeasure of both God and man.