Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-22

freight charge is 30 cents per barrel on that
same car load. We wish to see these wrongs
righted, and we believe the farmers Of Yer.
mont will not much longer submit to them.
It may be that the opening of the 7. d o.
road next summer will bring freight down so
that we can get our Western -four as cheap
as the Sherbrooke people. We sincerely hope
so, and we have the assurance of the manag-
ers Of the road that it will never be drawn
into any combination with other roads but
will carry freight and passengers at the low
est possible price.
As respects the merchants, while it must
be allowed that there are too many of them
for the trade Of the country, and consequent
ly they are obliged to charge too high a per.
ceutagc for doing the business they do, no.
body claims that merchants are not neces-
sary, or that people can afford to make all
their purchases in bulk at such prices as no
dealer can afford to sell them for. But bust.
ness Of itself never will drop down to its le-
climate level. We are told that supply and
demand regulate prices, but it is not true.
Unless the subject is agitated, and not only
that but actual purchases enough made to
convince the dealers that these farmers mean
what they say, the mercantile class are so
welded to this false business system, like
Ephraim to his idols, that supply aud de-
mand will never regulate prices. There is a
countless horde of drummers, agents, ped
dlers wholesale and retail, &C., that must be
driven from the field. There is an army of
unnecessary and incompetent dealers 10 all
kinds OF goods who must be driven from the
field, and these parasites cling to the bust
ness Of the country, exhausting its vitality
for their support, with such tenacity that it
is necessary that the farmers aud workers Of
the country should unite and co operate, pur.
chasing directly of the producer or importer,
aud even when the merchant, seeing that 9TH
erwise his business is gone, and in order to
draw some of the trade he is losing through
the grauge, comes down aud attempts to di-
vert the grange from further cooperative
purchases by a temporary reduction, it is
well for the purchasers to keep a sharp look
out on the market, aud when they find any
inclination to profit by the changing market,
instead of giving them the benefit of a fall
as well as charge them the extra price when
there is a rise, let it be understood that the
farmers never trade with that man again.
There are certain lines of goods which
need never be had through the local dealers,
and if it is found that the small percentage
of profit made compulsory by the grange will
not support more than half the present num-
Der of dealers, let the other half quit their
business and devote themselves to the honora-
bic pursuit Of making 1.-TWO blades of grass
grow where but one grew before" Thus, in
stead of being a burden supported by an un.
willing tax upon the working people of the
country, they will be adding something to
the actual wealth Of the world, and be q
benefit instead ola curse to community.
The reform which has been already in
augurated is the work Of the Patrons, aud the
work is only just begun. This grange
movement, which Yves met at first with
: sueers, then with earnest opposition, and is
now being met with temporary apparent
CONCESSIONS, is no mere play. There is work
ahead for the Patrons, and they can look
back on work which they have accomplished
Yes the Patrons have done it.