The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-01-02

y
| sousthing Tor the pobhs good We solicit cen
| tnbstiens Tor u, bat do not hold ourselves 70
1 spenssble Tor op.nioas snresssd 'hsfsia. be
sfisf aaa 10 the point I'D
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL
| Dtar Sir:
Il would be eminently proper for The
| JOURNAL ~ express. IN an editorial
way, IL opinion on the question, us
Roosevelt n Menace 10 Business.
Most Of the leading papers seem ans-
ious 10 learn the sentiment OF their
readers in this respect, and write ex-
pressions as ~ whether the Presidents
avowei principles or utterances ln'pub'
lie are the primary causes OF the recent
money panic in New York, or whether
the troable can be charged up 10 some
other source. One prominent journal
invited lis readers 10 give expressions
10 opinions and instead Of receiving
two or three hundred letters (as lts
editor expected lover five thousand were
received. VI VbuIsr NV s'h'" "
them could be published, but the fact
shows our people take notice what Is
going on. The editors were fair. for
they published letters that upheld the
Presidents policy as well ms those oil
others who censured him and laid the
whole blame 10 him AS causing all The
disturbance.
Ii is interesting TO note the difference
OF opinion among business men all oven
the country, men who are conyersant
with large affairs, and whom We would
expect 10 draw correct conclusions Il
such were possible. There is no other
way 70 account for the fact only by the
difference of the viewpoints OF the
writer's. The President insists that he
has only turned ON the light; thai
the undesirable conditions existed and
so he should not be blamed. His OPP
ponepts however will show. with some
reason, that he has gone too far and
the Investigations have taken the form
of persecution.
Mr.. j. b. Archbold, vice-president
OF the Standard Oil Co., gives such a
good account OF himself and of his
Company's doings that il makes the
awful fine imposed by Judge Lands
look little bit rank. b. +. Yoakum,
Chairman Executive Committee Rock
Island System, on the contrary thinks
the policy pursued by the Federal Gov
eminent will be beneficial IN the end
although it may work hardship to many
| for some time. As near as can figure |
out labout half Of our business men,
not including the wealthst, admit the
President is right | am surely en-
titled 10 pardon for expressing my OPP |
| inion AS to causes that have worked IN
such way as to result in this dsinr-
bance to our industrial affairs.
will speak briefly Of the lumber in
terests. Perhaps | have handled more
millions Of feet of lumber in the past
twenty five years than any other man
in this section; ut any rate have taken |
no inconsiderable pains to keep posted
as W prices Of different qualities pro.
duced in this section aud with the ex'
perience have had, may be justified
in giving some information. Twenty
five years ago stock lumber spruce was
selling at this station for SIS per M. in
carloads lots, shortly after bill stuff,
house bills, was delivered 10 iobbers
for $l3 per NJ, twelve years ago stock
boards were bringing only $40 IN car
load lots, which was the lowest point
reached aud for that reason building
was encouraged and consumers OF lum-
Der invested more freely. From that
date prices have steadily advanced, the
demand having increased, and prodnc-
ers have felt justified in raising values,
a perfectly natural consequence, until
now stock boards. clears taken out. are
worth so, timber bills small stock are
worth 81 up 10 "a, So, and SIS, per
NJ. for heavy bills Y L. /. >. hem
lock boards are worth So delivered 10
nearby points. have shipped for the
company employing me clear spruce
rough al s2s per NJ feet, the same quail
ity stock now sold by the retail trade
dressed both sides at $50, $A and $is
per NJ. have shipped clear birch that
Melted the company $A per NJ II. by
the carload lot. Until four years ago
tl4 70 SIC would bny the best clap
boards and within two years the same
quality have sold and are now selling
for 81 per NJ feet. During the period
Of which | speak, wages paid by con
cerns in the lumber trade have not
varied - per cent. while the product
has more than doubled. What is the
result The supply has been inereas-
ed. caused by The impetus given u on
account Of high prices, large contrac-
torshase bought sparingly. while small
users Of lumber have curtailed their
operations and 10 activities along THIS
line have been checked.
do NOT consider one man Of 80 much
consequence ia a nation Of eighty -four
millions that be- should be charged With
our present trouble, bat | DO believe u
4
we should investigate We would find 10
about every industry .ha, our people
are actively Engaged IN, there would
be- found some rason, entirely apart
from Federal interference for that ia
dastry's yet back IN prosperity. II
those money kings ia Wall stree, ex-
per,encsd 'lsr' Il was caused b.