Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-09-09
A Vermont Granite Trust

( llc quarry iIusb tHlt mas Just Bcci
formed. Five or six capitalists have
taken leases OF all the quaTies, save
one or two, for a term of three years,
with the option of two years longer.
In all they have secured So quarries, 50
that they practically control the output
Of Barre granite. This trust has tried
before to secure this control, but failed.
1t will now have chance to demon
strate its practicability.
Inasmuch as the men interested have
abundant capital, energy, experience
and business ability at their command,
there would seem to be little question
as to the success Of the plan from the
trusts standpoint Having a monopo-
~ of the quarry lands, there is nothing
to prevent It from charging enough for
the output so that it can make it, bust
ness profitable. That there is limit
to the monopoly is apparent when one
stops to think that granite is not an alb
solIte necessity usually, that there are
other granite producing sections that
will compete, and other substitutes for
granite in most cases, so that the con-
sumner is not absolutely at the mercy OF
this Barre trust and its profits will de-
pend largely on its ability to sell good
stock at low prices.
There is also apprehension among
Barre workmen that their wages will
be curtailed, inasmuch as the forma-
ton of this trust ends all the rivalry
and competition among employers and
makes one master whom all must
serve. There may be grounds for this
fear, but on the other hand this trust
can only conduct business probably
by having it, works run steadily and
without friction. II the trust makes
money It is probable that the workmen
will share in the prosperity.
Those who favor the trust claim that
it was the only salvation for the gran
ite business in Barre. Competition be-
tween the many quarry owners had be
come so sharp that profits were often
on the wrong side of the ledger and
failures and forced sales were growing
in number constantly, Work was un-
steady and wages, taken on the aver
age through the year, were low. This
trust is like that of the Vermont Mar
bic company, which has proved bene-
ficial not only to its promoters, but to
the employees and the whole communi-
Unsuccessful where before all was
ruinous competition and failure ;or like
that of the slate trust of western Yer
mont, without which scarcely a quar-
ry would be open.
However much we may dislike the
words combination" and trust we
must school ourselves to the idea that
they are not always merciless OPP
pressors, but often blessings. Where
trusts slay their thousands, unre-
strained competition Stays its tens Of
thousands. An agreement among pre-
ducers or dealers to sell goods at
price that will afford them Il fair profit
is far better for everybody in the long
run than bitter strife as to which shall
sell the cheapest, which always Injuries
and often ruins those engaged. just
as laborers find it to their interest TO
combine for mutual protection and for
higher wages-which is generally re-
garded as perfectly proper-so must
combine or commit bust
ness assassination, when they would
be in no condition to employ laborers
at all.
OF course combination might be car
ried to an extent that would make it a !
public menace, but even then it would !
be no worse than deadly competition /
is now. We are free to confess that
our ideas concerning trusts have un-
dergone change within the past two
years as we have studied the question
more and made further observations.
GAS if a brick were lying in my stom-
lch" is the description by a dyspeptic of /
mis- feeling after eating.
This is one of the commouest symptoms
Of Indigestion. II you have it, take Shak-
er Digestive Cordial.
Not only this symptom, but all the symp.
oms of indigestion are cured by Shaker
Digestive Cordial.
So many medicines to cure this one dis
order. Only one that can be called sue
,essful, because only one that acts in