The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-06
important Notification by
Barre Quarry Owners
TO THE MANUFACTURERS
Association Members Say That increase
Is Necessary Because of Increased
Cost Of Production, Including
New Scale Of Wages.

Announcement was made to granite
manufacturers of Barre and vicinity by
circular letter from the Granite Quarry
Owners association last night that be.
ginning shortly the price Of Barre gran.
ite will be increased and that hereafter
stones will be shipped to manufacturers
to correspond with the sizes ordered
rather than being left with the margin
as quarried It is understood that the
increase amounts to about five per cent
on the average
The reasons given for the increase in
the price Of rough stock is the increased
cost Of production caused by advance
in price of supplies and labor The new
agreement between the quarry owners
and their men goes into effect March
The manufacturers got an inkliug OF the
proposed increase some time ago, so that
they were not entirely mprepared for
the announcement last night Neverthe-
less it caused considerable stir
The statement given by the associa.
ton is as foIlows:-
"The increased cost of production in
the quarry industry caused by advance
in price Of supplies and labor places the
quarry owners under the necessity OF
raising the price Of rough stock.
"Ihe advance to meet the price OF
labor meant percentage higher than
il consistent with the welfare Of the
Barre granite industry, and the ccnmit.
tee Of the Granite Quarry Owners asso.
citation have gone into this matter fully,
with a view Of reducing as much as pos
sble the advance necessary.
"For some time past condition has
developed whereby the quarry operators
have been furnishing stock from one
inch to three inches above the size or
dered. and while this entails loss OF
10 per cent. to 90 per cent. on their
business the manufacturers have reaped
no benefit
1T has now been agreed between the
undersigned quarry owners that from
date of new price list stock win be
quarried as close as possible to size
ordered, and ell quarry foremen will be
instructed accordingly.
Further that no allowance or replace
ment Of stone shipped to customers viii
be made. provided the stone will make
the size marked and is not defective
"All stones ordered roek.faee shall be
charged according to the price list" ]"
The statement is signed bv fifteen
members of the Quarry Owners associa-
tion. as follows; Jones Brothers Co,
Wells-Lamson Quarry Co, Boutwell,.
Milne & Yarnum Co., Barre Granite and
Quarry Co., Stephen & Gerard, Consoli-
dated Quarry Co. Standard Granite Co,
ID NJ. Miles, Mari & Gordon Quarry
Co, Manufacturers Quarying Co, Me-
Iver q Matheson +. L. Smith & Col,
Wetmore & Morse Granite Co. Doueette-
Roleau Co, and James X Prize This
list includes most of the owners of quar-
ries on the Barre hill II is understood
that there is prospect of a similar in
crease in the price Of Quincy granite.
The Barre Granite Manufacturers as
sociation has, with the National Asso-
citation OF the Granite Industries of the
United States, entered protest to the
interstate commerce commission over the
rules OF car demuuage which went into
effect on December |. The rules were
promulgated by the commission on No
vember 10. and they provide that for six
months after December l there shall be
allowed 70 hours demurrage on lumber
and forest products, coal grain and grain
products in New England, while on gran
ite the As hours demurrage, decided upon
by the railroads, would remain in force.
The commission in its rules reported
as follows:-
'sWe recommend that for six months
following that date the free time upon
lumber and forest products, coal, grain
and grain products be extended from 4S
hours to Y hours, provided, however,
that the application of the average rule
shall only be allowed upon 4s-hour
basis
The granite men have protested that
not only viii this impose a hardship on
them in freeing their cars but that the
railroads would in that case be called
on to do so much shifting that it would
be a hardship to them. II is specifically
stated in the COMMISSIONS rules that
they are merely tentative and that if
the application results i'm hardship they
viii be modified after six months, mean
while the commission awaiting fuller
and more precise information upon the
New England situation" Therefore,
Barre granite men, in conjunction with
others in New England, hope in six
months to get modification Of the rules
regarding demwrage on granite cars.