Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-22
Have the Patrons Done IT.

" hNNt hN1ANatI a
dealers-none but dealers and their personal
friends appear disposed to bring that kind of
argument-when it was claimed that the
combination of consumers in the grange and
council had had a general lowering effect
upon the local markets where these organiza-
tions exist, reply that the reductions noticed
in the price of goods we're the results of a
falling wholesale market, and that the Pat.
rons deserve none Of the credit for this re-
suit.
They tell US that the reason why -four is
three or four dollars cheaper is that the
wholesale price is down. The telegraphic
New York market report Of the Boston
Journal of Jan. 10, 1874, quoted No. /
spring wheat at S1.66 to S1.6S; Jan. 5,
1875, it quotes the same grade at S1.2O to
S1.25. That gives a difference Of 46 cents
per busbel, or $3.50 per barrel. Whence
the other 20 cents to $40 reduction. We
answer it is owing to the grange movement.
The Journal of the former date quoted red
winter wheat at s1.70; Jan. 16, 1875, it
quotes red winter wheat at SIPS; here is a
fall in the market of AZ cents per bushel or
$40 per barrel, on a first rate brand Of
-four. Flour which sold at Sll.50 now
sells at $3.50, or a greater reduction on the
retail price than on the wholesale Of 81 80
per barrel, and oranges in som places re-
port buying it for 10 cents less than that.
We claim this s1.90 has been withheld from
the pocket of the middleman and left in the
pocket not only Of the granger but of all
who buy flour, by the action Of the grange.
Then let US look at the price Of beef here
in st. Johnsbury. The Journal Of Jan. II,
1874, quoted heavy stabilized bullocks at
1915 to $40 per hundred weight. Last
week they were quoted at s10.25 to $1,000
but beef is selling in st. Johnsbury at retail
at ii cents for the best round steak, while a
year ago the price was Is and 20 cents, and
not for years has it gone below l6 cents uu-
til last fall. Here is an advance of full hall
q cent per pound in Boston market and de-
cline of four to six cents in St. Johnsbury
Perhaps some dealer will claim that his beef
is not from staIl-fed bullocks, so this COM
parison is unfair. Very well, as we wish to
be fair we will look further The same
number Of the last years Journal quoted
from above quotes extra beef, 1915 to
$3.50; first quality, S7.75 to $3.50
second quality, Sc to $3.50; third quail
ity, s4.75 to So. Last week extra was
quoted at 1915 to SO an advance of one
half to one cent per pound over last year
first quality, 50 to $3.50, or one to one and
a fourth cents advance second quality,
$3.50 to $3.50, or an advance Of oue-half t.
one cent; third quality, So to Sc, or one
fourth to one cent advance. What ha,
caused this reduction in price at St. Johns
bury? We claim it is because the high
price was the result Of a combination which
killed all competition and when the peopl,
Of st. Johnsbury began to get inquisitiv,
last summer and ask why they were payin,
six cents per pound more for beef than tn,
people Of st. Adams, and it was noised
abroad until Mr.. Kline began to com six
teen miles with beef and undersell the deal
ers, the dealers found it necessary to ~"cave,
and Town came the price Of beef. The far
mer can get from half a cent to a cent pei
pound more for his beef, live weight, than
he could a year ago, while the St. Johnsbury
mechanic can buy the same, dressed, fol
from two to six cents per pound less than he
had to pay then
Wool is practically at the same price as
year ago, except pulled which is two to 6v'
cents cheaper, yet since the Sovereigns hav'
been sending to market and getting read,
made clothing at half the usual retail rate
the clothing dealers have found they coulc
sell goods for much lower prices than they
have been paying.
The council in this place have bough
goods to the amount of about SIS for eacE
member, and the saving has been probabl,
$3.50 for each member, on an average, or
profit of $3.50 above the initiation fee il
three months, and this before the council i
in condition to do business but in a few arti
Giles. Arrangements are being perfected
whereby much better facilities for trade cal
be had, and we do not think Mr.. Orvis over
estimated when he said the council woulC
probably effect a saving in the cost Of livinl
of S75 per family, each year,-quite an item
with men who labor for their bread.
Of COARSE, with farmers, who produc,
most Of the necessaries of life at home, Their
not likely to be as large a saving as il
the councils of Sovereigns in manufacturing
villages, but there is certainly chance
enough for the farmers to effect savings il
their purchases, and they are demonstrating
the fact. The great reduction in prices il
many articles within a year or two, espe
cially in localities where there are oranges
though in part Influenced by the falling mar
kets are in a much greater degree the resul
Of the grange, and the farmer does not car
whether he gets his tea for % cents pc
pound less Of his grocer because the grang
has made it necessary for the grocer to sci
as cheap or do without trade, or whether h
buys the tea through the grange, so long a
he gets the reduction.
The Patrons of Husbandry wage no wa
with merchants, nor with railroads. 1t I
only their enemies, who wish to do then
harm, that make this claim. Railroads ar