The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-11-11
GRANITE BUSINESS DULL
Men Being laid on by Many Of the
Manufacturers in This City and
Barre-The Season Somewhat Back


Manufacturers in This City and
Barre-The Season Somewhat Back
ward.
Notwithstanding the allegation that
almost unprecedented prosperity is
being enjoyed throughout the United
States, and that the close observer
may be able to pick up gold gold
bricks on the principal thoroughfares
and even in some of the alleyways,
Montpelier and Barre are threatened
with something that takes on anything
but a rosy aspect, if a full dinner pail
and smiling dimes and laughing dol
lars are to be considered. And that
they are to be considered and have
already been brought to the notice of
many, and the indications being that
they will be called to the notice of
others before the winter is over, is
certainly assured by the reports on
the granite industry in this vicinity.
There has been a general and very re-
markable falling off in the volume of
business in both cities, so much so,
that nearly all firms in the two cities
have been forced to reduce their force
of employees, in some instances the
decrease in number of employed being
in the neighborhood of one-half.
Fl. j. M. Jones, of the firm of Jones
Brothers, said last night that his COM
pany had already been forced to lay
off about 60 hands, the same being
about one-third of his entire force.
This firm is said to be one of the larg-
est granite working firms in the world
Mr.. Jones said that he attributed the
falling off in business to the panic of
two years ago, the aftermath of which
has just struck this vicinity. He pre-
dicted that things would pick up in a
general way with the advent of the
new rear. Mr.. Jones was very opti-
mistic in viewing the future, saying
that the present difficulty was only
a temporary depression.
When d. ]. Sweeney, of the firm of
Sweeney Brothers, was asked in re-
gard to the situation, he said that it
was true that his sheds were not as
busy just now as they generally are
at this time of the year, but that the
decrease in the volume of business at
the sheds of his firms was almost i'm
perceptible.
d. F. Ryle, of the firm of Ryle & Nc
Cormack, said that owing to the lack
OF business his company had been
forced to reduce it's force by one half
at least. He averred that it was by
no means an unusual thing for the
different firms dealing in granite to
lay off hands about the first of Deem
Der, but that it was something out of
the ordinary to begin laying men off
at this time of year, adding hat from
the month mentioned until about the
first of March was the period in which
business generally fell off. He did not
express an opinion as to the cause of
it.
E. Bonazzi, of the firm of Bonazzi
Brothers, said that there has been a
falling off In business at his establish
ment, and that, while he had not been
forced to lay off very many hands, the
general depression in the granite in
dustry had affected his business.
S. Cassilini, the well-known granite
manufacturer, when asked in regard
to the business done at his plant, said
that there had been no appreciable
falling off.
d X. Lille, the granite manufactur-
er, says that with what men he has al
ready laid off and the number he in
tends to turn off tomorrow, the total
will reach about 20, and were it not
for the work he has done ON the City
Hall and is still doing, more men
would have to be laid off.
John d. Sargent, of the Deming
Granite Company, says his firm was
also affected by the general slump.