The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-01-28
THE GRANITE OUTLOOK
As Told by "Stone" In It's January Is.
sue.


There is a general feeling of optimism
at the various granite centers over the
outlook for the coming year says
Stone" II il true that some men have
recently been laid off, but this il no
more than the usual suspension of full
activity during the winter months. Ii
was a little more marked this year than
usual at some Of The centers, like Barre,
for instance, because 4 greater number
Of men than customary had been EN-
ployed in turning ont the work that had
accumulated during the strike. Every
producer and manufacturer believes that
with the coming Of spring there will
be resumption of work on larger
scale than last year All the indications
point that way. Many of The leading
firms are taking advantage of the duh
season to improve their equipments and
increase their facilities.
An increase in the price OF rough
Barre stock has been expected for some
time, and there was no surprise over
the circular letter sent out last month
from the Granite Quarries Owners assoc
citation, The statement made by the
association was to the effect that the in
creased 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 The associa-
ton declares that it has gone into the
matter with great care and has made the
advance as small as ii consistent with
the welfare of the Barre granite in.
dustry 1t is understood that the in-
crease amounts 10 about per cent.
on the average. 1t Is not expected that
this raise will affect the price Of fin
ished stock But the manufacturer and
retailer will have something more to
meet than an increase In price. The
same circular says:
For some time past q condition has
developed whereby the quarry operators
have been furnishing stock from one
inch 10 three inches above the size or
dered, and while this entails loss of
10 per cent. to 20 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 viii be
quarried as close a. possible to size
ordered, and all quarry foremen win be
instructed accordingly Further, that
no allowance or replacement OF stone
shipped to customers win be made, pros
vided the stone will make the size
marked and is not defective"
The annual meeting Of the Barre
Granite Manufacturers association was
held during the past month and the
question Of adopting q trade mark for
Barre granite, which has been under dis.
cussion in the association for some time.
was brought to a head BY the approval
of design made by William Dun Of
Barre. The executive committee was in
strueted to have this trade mark copy
righted, and hereafter all Barre gran.
lite will bear this label The purpose
OF using the trade mark Is to stop the
flooding of the market with GRANTEES
that look like Barre granite and that
are sometimes sold under that name.
The association also took steps for in.
II
uniform basis Of figuring work. The
was made that the rs
ISOLATION starts out this year in the
best condition that it has been in since
it was first organized.
During the past month the annual
meeting OF the Granite Manufacturers
association OF Quincy Mass, was also
held. A feature of the meeting was a
discussion Of the necessity for and adj
visibility Of increasing the prices on
Quincy granite. The general consensus
Of opinion was that it would be an ex-
cellent thing to raise the prices and that
there would be little difficulty in doing
1t providing united action could be had.
No definite decision was made, however.
Another point raised was in advocacy
of the construction Of municipal docks
in Quincy. Water shipment would not
only have an excellent effect in keeping
railroad rates within bounds but would
also enable the quarries to ship rip.rap
and grout.
The Concord branch Of the Granite
Cutters National union is to ask for
changes in the present bin of prices.
and has notified union headquarters TO
that effect. The bin Of prices now ia
force between the cutters and manufac.
turers expires on the first day Of May
next, and under its provisions notices
Of any changes desired by either party
must be filed three months prior to that
date. Ii is probable that the cutters
will ask slight increase over the pres
ent schedule for certain classes of work.
Agreements with the quarrymen. tool
sharpeners and other branches Of the
granite trade expire on the same day
As that of the cutters.
The present agreement between the
several unions of the granite workers
and the employers at Cape Ann expires
IN March J. and the men have already
presented a new schedule of prices. The
cutters are now getting 3sla cents an
hour for 4s hours a week. and they de-
mand y cents an hour for IS hours per
week. Paving cutters are all piece
workers. They demand general adj
yauced. For instance, New York paw
ing is now paid for at the rate of $3.50
per thousand and 5 cents off for drill.
ing. The cutters ask that It be raised
10 S25 per thousand and be drilled free.
The quarrymen are now paid about %
cents an hour and they demand p
'ents. In Rockport GAINESVILLE and
Pigeon Cove number of hundred men
are employed in all branches and fears
ire expressed lest a strike should de-
relop out Of the situation.
Ottawa Terminal Planned.
Ottann. Ont Inn- PSI l. stat.a