Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-31
GRANITE INDUSTRY.
A Review of the Past and the Outlook
for the Present.
(By George F. Maytell.) J

we have, could not answer this simple
question. Why, Barre VAS gong to
have a strike in March. 1900, and if
SO, the citizens would II a necessity,
have to migrate.
They did not migrate, theys are
here still, and not only ls the popula-
tion the same, but daily "a is increas-
ing.
Much has been said ahult the gram
ite business the past year, and GER
tainly there was occasion for 1t; in
reference to the enormous amount Of
business done during that time and
the reason why it was SO large was of
course laid at the door Of anticipated
strike" Most Of these were stock jobs,
that is the small orders; but still
there were considerable i7fge monu-
ments which were not included in the
category Of work to be placed on the
shelf.
Many fine specimens OF monumental
work were produced he 9 and for
warded to all parts of Ihe United
States, during the year 1899.
One month ago many people in the
city were preparing for a journey
across the ocean, there to remain un-
til the strike was finished Did they
go? No, they are still acre and SO
long as the granite lasts just SO long
will they stay. as owing u the ability
and the common every day sense dis
played by the two committees there is
no strike. This shows up well for the
business men of Barre wl}o are doing
business in granite. They said: If
we can give them three dollars they
shall have it. If we cannat some un-
derstanding must be arri at SO as
to avoid any difficulty Or astoppage u of
work. These two commit eneS had the
fate of Barre in their HANDS, and right
well did they use their power, al
though being Handicapped ,ff5s pressure
on both sides not to give ~. They
adjourned fron. Gay toYasy before
March 1st, and finally Fine to an
agreement.
This agreement was quite satisfac-
tory to both parties and very sub
stantial increase was we'll deserved.
The eight hour system is one that
should have gone into force years ago
on account of the nature of the work,
and although no arrangements as to
the time of starting has been definite
" arrived at, still the concenSus of
opinion lies with 7.30 to 4.30 which
undoubtedly would be acceptable to
both parties The minimum of 35
cents per hour or an increase of 165
per cent on the sliding scale of prices,
now that is in force; is acknowledged
by both sides to be splendid agree
ment.
Since March 1st many new firms
have started in business and although
commencing small they are in the
year where they will be able to make
money, as the increase in salary means
corresponding increase on the price
of the monuments. This of course is
holding business back some at the
outset, but when the consumer COM
mences to interview himself and finds
out that he cannot get any lower
rates from others, then the orders will
flow in, and that so swiftly, that new
firms will have to employ more men
than they have at present in order to
keep up with the business.
The general complaint now is that
the quarries cannot get the stone out
quick enough to supply the demand,
and that consequently they must wait
until such time as their turn comes
around to have the order filled.
The other kick is that no orders are
coming in on account of the prices be-
ing too high. These two complaints
are only imaginary as the quarres
are filling all orders asked for, and al
though they have been handicapped
by snow are doing the best possible
thing to keep orders filled.
The second is possibly disadvan-
tage at present, but as stated before
orders must be filled and at the price
of the manufacturer.
All the large firms are running full
time and although few of the small
er ones are not doing much still the
outlook for the year is SO promising
that there is no doubt but that they
will be busy enough in the future.
Another thing which wilIhelp Bar
re is the fact that the other large
quarry centers in New England are
still lighting. This will have ten
dency to throw work in here, in fact
the recovery of the loss of contracts
to them Will be hard as this city will
be able to accept contracts right along
in fact to obviate this, many of the
firms. from Quincy and Concord are