The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-17
"REMINISCENCES OF BARRE
GRANITE INDUSTRY
How 1t Was Conducted in the Days Of
1890 and the Changes Which Have
Been Made Are Told.

The January issue of Granite, MAJ
BILE and Bronze" contains a sketch OF
"reminiscences about the Barre granite
industry of the earlier days, as follows:
'In looking over some old records a
short time ago, we came across copy OF
the Brown Book, the original one, which
we compiled and published in 1890. We
spent one forenoon looking over the rec
ords contained therein, comparing them
with copy of the Brown Book pub
| lished in 1911.
"Under Barre, we found recorded
among others Cable & Cassie, George
| Cassie, Clarihew & Gray, John Common,
| Emslie & Kalman Forsyth & Ingram,
| Henderson & Stevens, Mcleod & Sinp-
| son, Milne & Wylie. Out of forty eight
firms that we have record of at that
time, only four are left, and of all of
the others which we have named at least
80 per cent. of their members are dead
"Only two of the concerns, namely,
| Jones Bros. Co and Mari & Gordon, have
for their members at the present time
the same partners as in 1890 and there
have been some minor changes in these
firms. In other words, slightly over IS
per cent. of the granite manufacturing
firms have ceased to exist in twenty
years time. A small percentage OF them
have gone out of business on account
of financial reasons. The firms have
ceased to exist principally because the
members have died. Most of them under
the age of forty-five.
"There is very good lesson in the
figures if one will stop to think. A les
son it would be well for manufacturers
of the present time to take to heart and
avoid the causes which have led up to
the wiping up of the 81 per cent. OF the
manufacturing firms in twenty years
time. This record will stand for any
business. 1t has been our endeavor to
ascertain if there is business that will
stand with this record, and up to date
we have been unable to find one.
ut is not hard to find the cause OK
this, for there are some in business to-
day who will readily recall the fight for
existence of those who were pioneers in
the granite-cutting business,
when you recall the manufacturing
plant of twenty years ago, your memory
win go back to the old half-circle cut
ting shed heated by large sheet iron
stove filled with chunks of wood, or not
heated at all. Around these stoves the
cutters would gather. warming their cat
ting tools when they became too cold to
handle, and the top of the stove was
always covered with the tools or they
were laying around as near as possible
to the heat. There are few OF these
plants left to-day and we are thankful
to say q very few.
.GIs - %
off the granite dust was closed, and
granite dust was so thick, you could
not see across the shed and it was
breatlAed in by the bushel. This haI-
pened during the day.
after the whistle blew, and there
were very few whistles to blow, it was
back to the office to build roaring
hot fire, and try to figure out how to
meet the payroll, or do other necessary
labor on books, and attend to the core
spondenee If possible.
This work was continued until il
became dark, and then the work was
taken home, and the midnight oil was |
burned. We know this, for we have
helped to burn it. Then is it any won
der that three-quarters of the concerns |
in business twenty years ago have |
ceased to existY And that death was !
the case of at least 80 per cent of this
IF we recall right the plant OF Jones
Brothers Co. at the foot OF Granite
street, which is still there, was the best
one in existence at that time. II must
have been well constructed, for we be-
lieve it is the only shed which retains
its original construction.
"And when we look over the ground a
little further, we recall the shed built
by Emery L. Smith & Co., which is
in use to-day.
1--WE simply recall these plants that
we may make a comparison between
what existed twenty years ago and as
with the plant Of the present
time.
Manufacturers of the Present"
owe shall say but very little about
he manufacturers of the present time
and simply to call attention to the fact
hat the business has progressed.
'In the days of twenty years ago not
i pneumatic tool existed. Hand power
vas largely used for the derricks. Steam
,ower was used in few cases, and thar
,nly for operating the boom derricks in
he yard and operating the polishing
wheels.
1--WE recall the first straight shed that
- Al. - !