Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-04-06
VERMONT BOARD OF TRADE.
Encouraging Outlook for the Success of
the Enterprise.
From the Rural Vermonter.

From the Rural Vermonter.1
The matter of bringing the farmers of
Vermont into business connection with the
consumers of their produce as directly as
possible has long engaged the attention of
neutrality-suspicious., business men and
newspaper writer's. Lower rates for less
than carload lots, lower passenger fares,
are means to the desired end For small
shipments, rates that are not practically
prohibitive, that shall bear some Just and
reasonable proportion to carload lots,
that shall not discriminate in favor of the
Spectator against the farmer who is seek
ing to market his own produce, must be
had before the farmer and the consumer
can get, within speaking distance of each
other. This distance has been somewhat
diminished on certain lines and III respect
to certain articles since the hearing at
Rutland last summer, but only Il begin.
ming has been made
Organization has, however, actively un-
dertaken to make beginning of fiuding
markets and good prices for staple artl
Giles of Vermont farm production at a
minimum of cost. The board of trade
seeks to aid the farmers in prohtably sell
ing their staple productions. A board of
five directors manages its operations.
Each member of the board is assessed 81
annually. To pay running expenses, one
tentb OF one per cent is charged for all
sales made upon the board-a small sum
when compared with the five per cent
commission that most farmers have been
paying, being subjected, besides, to the
trickery and deception practiced by many
commission houses.
Buyers and sellers both become mem
bers of the association by paying $40,
which purchases for them one share of
the capital stock of the association, and
entities them TO all its rights and privi-
leges. Thus the buyer rs well as the seller
is also assessed 81 per year, and helps to
pay the expense of the board. None but
members are allowed to buy or sell upon
the ''call board, " or in the exchange rooms
OF the association. The association seeks
to inform itself upon the standing and re-
sponsibilty of all buying members, to be
able TO advise sellers, and also to stand,
through its committee of arbitration, be
tween the buyer and seller in the settle
ment of all disputed claims. 1t is desira-
bic for both the buyer and seller to he
present in the exchange rooms to direct
i'll the management of their individual
affairs, but members can both buy aud
sell by telegl aph or mail through the sec
rotary OF the association. So that it is
possible for a member, unable to be pres
enl, to have his goods sold, be notified of
the sale, to whom to ship and upon whom
to draw, realizing upon his sale at once.
Butter, cheese, honey aud maple sugar
are the pioneer objects of the board
operations, but Others will be added from
time to time, as the needs of the farmers
of Vermont whose organization it is,
demand. 1t is probable that cold store
age will be provided at Burlington for the
benefit of parties desiring to hold goods
for better prices, and if desired, the COM
pany will advance money upon the goods
at moderate rates.
The advantages that Burlington has
and is to have, of competing lines of trans
portation, will oftimes more than Offset
the expense of shipping to Burlington. A
large number of the leading producers
and buyers of the State have already be
come members OF this board.