The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-06
(FrOm the POultncy Journal)
'Ehe Slate Meeting ut POuItnpN


(From the Poultncy Journal)
Ehe Slate Meeting at POuItney.
In pursuance of call previously issued
and circulated through Fairhavcn, Hyde
vile, Castcton, Poultncy, Hampton, Mid
die Granville, Granville, Pawlct and Sa-
lem, a large number of the slate manufac-
turers and dealers assembled Mt .Joslin Hall
in POultney, on Saturday, Jan. ~. The
meeting was called to order at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon, and DIR. j. Newman elect
ed temporary cha rman, when the meeting
adjourned until afternoon.
At about half past one in the afternoon,
! DIR. Newman called the meeting to order,
and y. Il. Knapp, Esq, of Poultney, was
made permanent chairman of the meeting,
and George ID. Spencer Of Fairhayen, See
rotary.
S. T. Hooker, Esq, then rose and said
that it might be well that the meeting OBJ
tain information in regard to the amount of
the slate business; if the slate producers
intended to take upon themselves the look
ing after the matter of railroad freights,
they would first need to know the amount
of freights furnished the road, and suggest
ed calling upon slate men present from the
different localities for such information
A. r. Vail of the Vermont Union Slate
Company in Fairhaven, said in response
that the business of his firm would amount
to from 100000 to Sl25,0O) n year, aud
he believed this to be about one eighth of
the slate business in the town of Fairhavcn.
Mr.. Frisbie said he was happy to hear
estimates from the different gentlemen pres
ent, but he believed such measures should
be taken as would give the exact figures.
If the slate men are to confer with the rail-
road officials, they will want undisputcd
facts.
Mr.. Bailey of Farhaven would take Mr..
| Wallis estimate over rather than under, but
lie wanted the figures. The amount of the
slate business was large; the people were
not aware of its proportions, and we want
the figures, not estimates. lie favored the
appointment of a committee to procure sta
tistics, and when that committee shall have
discharged their duty, we shall have some
thing in our pockets with which we can
meet the roads with full assurance that we
can establish the justice of our claim for Il
reduction of rates. The roads had reduced
the rates of fare, but the reduction of the
freight tariff was much more needed than
the reduction of passenger fare. He thought
the call for the meeting should have been
broader; it should have inclld,d marble as
well as slate
William Il. Jones of the Pcnrhyn Slate
Company of Middle Granville, said he did
not come prepared to give the figures show
ing the amount or value of the slate pro
duct in his place; he chose not to give any
estimate, but could procure the figures il
time could be allowed him.
Hon. p. w. Hyde thought it would be
advisable not only TO get the value of the
last years product, and the actual tonnage
La, H., Al. 70.
slate now on hand. with view oe showing
the probable amount that would be shipped
another year. 1t would be Heceasary &c
show the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com.
pany how much business we intend to dc
another year.
Mr. Frsbie said he was not in the slate
business, but he thought many present
would concede that he had taken an inter
est in its welfare. 1t did not become hin
to attempt any dictation or control in the
action of this meeting, but he would Ofiel
a motion that committee of three be ap.
pointed to report resolution to this meet
ing, upon the freight question presented il
the call. The meeting would then have
something tangible to work upon.
The motion prevailed, and Hon p. w
Hyde of Hydeville, II. j. Humphrey o
Poultney, and S. w. Bailey of Farhavcn
were appointed such committee and retireC
for consultation.
During the absence of the committe,
several gentlemen addressed the meeting
G. d. Spencer said that we had met no
to injure the railroad, but to protect our
selves; and the first question for us TO an
swer was, does the railroad charge us to,
high tariff for carrying our freight? Cal
they afford to do the work at less price
| IL IN hoNv Ran pomppl thpp m fO II
they refuse to give heed to respectful pc
tition. lie argued that the people wer
, sovereigns, that if our constitution woult
not permit Congress to pass laws to proven
this eXtortiOn of corporations which tende
to cripple our business, it was the duty o
G the people to cause that constitution to b
| so changed that Congress shall have thi
power, and learn these corporations tina
they shall not longer cripple the manufac
T. turing and mining interest of orr land
Y that the road that ran through this town wa
8 built for the people for their benefit; 1t
projectors intended to look for its bushes
u to the local productions of the communit
!, through which the road runs, to encourag
G home manufactures to build a business up
on the road to support it, The road whe
under the charge OF Jonas Wilder as Super
> int ndent, If it had no debts to have borne
s earned enough to pay six per cent intere'
T upon the cost Of the road, without goo
. connection at either end and this befor
the opening of the slate quarries upon I'll
q road, Now he thought this road earne
o enough to pay twenty-five per cent upo
: the actual cost of the road to its prcseI
n owners. There were some miles betwee
' here and Rutland that did not cost eigl
l. hundred dollars per mile to grade, and man
miles in Rupert that did not cost that sun
There was no county in New England tn
furnished as much freight for railroad
L did Rutland county. The paint of Brai
N don, marble of Brandon, Pittsford, Ru
g land, Wallingford and Dandy; slate
Castleton, Fairhaven, Poultney, Wells al
D Pawlet furnished more freight for raj
s. road than any other county in the Unit,
States Of the same territory, if we exec
n the coal districts of Pennsylvania; al
thought we were entitled to some conside
alton from these corporations, not VIII,
It we solicit any reductions in freights in @