Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1905-05-19
FRIpAY. May 10, l9o5.
Corporation Stores.


entitled An experiment ia Cooperation
Stores. using as an Illustration The
Vermont Marble Company. We would
publish the whole article but for the
want of space. but are glad To give some
Of the vital features OF it. Touching
the relations of industrial corporations
with their employees. the corporation
store is second in importance ou Y to
the question of wages and hours OF Ia
Dor. In the frequent criticism made OF
the corporation store the proper dStlnc-
ton is not made between one established
in large center of population where
numerous stores maintain keen com
petition. aud the smaller communities
where an extensively furnished store Is !
a great convenience if not an ahsolatr
necessity. Like all other enterprises
they are capable of abuse in the hands /
of an unscrupulouS employer and may
be a great benefit when managed toy an
employer who knows that his success
lies largely in the meterial surroundings
and mental cOutenteduesS OF hlS en-
ployees. The Vermont Marble Co.
employ about $500 hands in the adjoiu-
INC towns of Proctor. West Rutland and
Rutland Center. Proctor is a distinctly
one industry town. Outside capital IN
sufficient amount to establish first class
store with all its departments would
hardly be tempted to become invested in
such community. The Company Is
better capable of giving its employees "A
large variety of all grades OF goods at
reasonable prices than any outsider could
possibly do. BY reason of its established
credit it can command the lowest prices
in the wholesale markets of the country,
and many commodities, Tor Instance
coal. because of the enormous couSump-
ton for its own uses, it can purchase
dealer could. Through the corporation
store and at no expense to him, the
common day laborer can get the benefit
of the company's credit nreduced prices.
Thus far the results have been very sat
iSfactory to all parties interested. Ia
1902 the per cent of profit to the com
pany on its entire sales was only ) and
SIX tenths. The company began its eX
pertinent May |, 1908. 1t continues to
manage the business in all its depart
merts, but a representative committee
OF employees are appointed to take a
consultative part in the management,
to audit settlements at the end of the
year and make diStribut on OF profits
among the employees according to the
amount of their trade. This commit.
tee is often consulted 10y the manage
ment rs to plans and mathoda Tne
purpose has been 10 keep prices down
and assure fair margin of profit. The
company has no personal interest i'll tie
profits. All expenses for salaries, mer.
chaudise, etc, are charged up to the
store, the company is allowed 1t reason
able rent for its buildings, and four pr
cent on the capital invested. The
company receives nothing Tor superin
tAndeuce. 1t can have no possible
selfish interest for the employees nave
the entire p!olits and run no risks OF
loss. The experiment thus far has bee,
highly satisfactory to both employer
and employee, and the best of feeling
prevails. All admit that the corpor
alton store as established and run by
the Vermont Marble Company is a grea
benefit to the laboring thousands in IT.
employ. During the year 1901 The
total sales at the stores in Proctor, Wes
and Center Rutland was SlOS .66S.90 O
which $300,292 81 vas to employees
The profits on this trade was S27 DBL
or an average on the trade of the EN-
ployees of over nine per cent which the,
all received by check on the bank il
due proportions Mr.. Partridge ha
given the public striking aud timely
picture of a practical solution of one o
the difficult questions i'll the relations OF
employer and employee.