The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-11
MEETING OF
GRAIN men
AT CROWN
Tho Hay and Grain Dealers
Association Discuss Business
Outlook and Dine.

There was a large gathering OF the
members OF the newly organized associa-
tior OF the Rhode Island hay and grain
dealers at the Crown hotel last night.
when a business meeting was held.
The officers OF the association are:
President. w. A. II. Grant; vice presi-
dent, W. s. Fiheld; secretary. F. l.. Dav-
export; treasurer. John Peck; executive
committee, s. s. Rich. G. r. Forsythe
and George Hurd.
at this meeting. among whom was Con-
gresham Adm b. Capron. who was also
one OF the speakers In the post prandial
exercises.
He said in part:
IT feel IL is we'll for US TO recall some
of the past history OF the grain and hay
business In this state and in this viclnity.
We ought to have had this association
long ago. Great good Is sure to result
from a gathering like this.
''rhe grain business is peculiar in its
business dealings among men. pre-
sume there is a great tendency In this
business to sell cheaper than your COM
petitors. even II you sell for less than
the goods cost you. 1 plead guilty.
II look back probably longer than
most present. I remember Seth Adams
had a large grain establishment on
| South Water street.
when he died they said his estate
| would amount 10 more than a million
dollars. Spellman g. Metcalf and others
also retired with ample property. l re-
member Jesse Sweets motto was Live
and Let Live. He also retired with for
tune
but we who have come later have
| failed TO accumulate the fortunes or
| those earlier men. 1t is true that we
! have made a living. because we have
| lived, but we have failed TO see our
name among the Rhode Island million
| aires
THE trade will be better off II there Is
| a little more stability in our prices than
| there has been in the past. II would not
! be proper to bind ourselves TO hard and
! fast rule regardless OF circumstances, but
we should have better understanding
regarding selling prices as related 10
| cost and those TO whom we sell will not
be In the least degree harmed We New
Englanders are apt to follow ruts and do
| things the way we did yesterday"
BRIDGE MADE DIFFERENCE.
Wendell p Hale. as the second
sneaker. told OF some OF the early his
tory OF the grain business. II differed
much from the business OF the present
day. nc said The building Of q bridge
across the Hudson river at Albany was
a thing that made a big difference In the
business. Just after the war the price OF
grain had been inflated and great profits
| were made during the later years OF the
/ war.
He said further: "The building Of the
| bridge across the Hudson river enabled
the western shippers TO ship grain into
| New England In bulk which killed the
Providence trade During the war Prov-
dence shipped grain 10 all parts OF north
ern New England Today there are very
few large wholesale stores In Provi.
| dence"
s g Rich said that patience and tact
were required 10 deal with the business
as n existed at present II was hard Il
draw the line between the retailer and
the wholesaler lie said he was I'm favor
Of some sentiment that would enable tho
dealer 10 charge n fair profit on the good;
sold and the capital invested.
Marshall Fuller OF Hartford spoke NJ
thsssost OF handling goods. even by ma
chinery. saying that was where tn,
PROFITS disappeared lie said that In hi,
own city. where there Is an association
prices were agreed upon between tn,
dealers All entered into the plan and M
member OF the association had been sor
~ that ne entered into the organization
Mr.. Hurd objected to such plan N
Providence until ~ per cent or more o
the dealers had been taken into the as
ISOLATION. ~ was too young as yet foi
such y plan here.
w s Fifed said that he objected {,
an ironciad agreement at this time.
Jesse Sweet. Edward Hurd and r. w
Potter also spoke hut the meeting al
iourned without definite decision abou
/