The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-05-15
Mr. Moorehead Makes Statement to His Friends and
Customers

customers
To My Fren~s M Customers:
Very often newspapers are filled with statements
promulgated by Government and state officials which are
calculated to do great harm to business men, particularly
those who located in the smaller communities of the
country.
The recent publication in the daily press of extracts
from letter out by the Commissioner of Corporations
at Washington City relative to investigation which the
Government has been making into the lumber manufactur
ing business stated amongst other things that lumber had
increased in price from the year 1897 to 1907 from 80 to
200 per cent Please note the dates and that the report
had been transmitted with the letter above mentioned
would period beginning II years ago. and ending
far back as years ago.
To many readers the statement that lumber has adj
vanced from 80 to 200 per would be misleading
veyng the impression that the today paying
that much for lumber than he paid in 1897 at which
time lumber lower than at any time in 25 80 years
past at least
Lumber is not only not 200 per cent higher today to
the consumer but net 80 per cent higher than in
1897 Certainly the profits to the retailer not higher
than they Is 20 years ago. there has been
change practically the form of an advance in The freight
rates There has been advance in the mill price, due
largely to the advance the cost of timber land and in
the cost of manufacturing But to say leave the inn
preston upon the public that the is paying from
80 to 200 per cent for lumber than formerly wholly
misleading and untrue Beside to charge that umbermen
receiving from 80 to 200 per cent for lumber than
in former years through the fixing of prices, through
trust is unwarranted and unjust to charge that the
farmer is receiving better price today for farm products
than he received in 1897 years hereabout through price
fixing The truth u.s. that the in the price of farm
products has been far greater than the increase lumber
and building materials. Corn has sold in Lexington low
as l8c and have paid in recent years wheat has sold
for 40 to SOC per bushe hogs and cattle for Sc per pound
less which shows that there has been greater uetua
on in the price of farm products than the price of um
her and cheaper
than last year.
Certainly am not complaining because my farmer
friends and customers getting better prices for their
products Their prosperity mine and the prosperity
Of every other class of people But to leave the inn
preston through Government reports and newspaper state
ments that the farmer today is paying exorbitant prices
for building material unfair and unjust and calculated to
influence prospective builders to delay decline to build at
all The truth of the business is selling shingles for
example at SOC thousand less today than received 20
and % years and the quality superior at this time
And, in this connection, and nasmuch as l am leav-
ing Lexington to take up another line Of work wish to
thank all OF my friends and patrons who have been loyal
to me in the past in giving their business and confidence
and ask Of them continuance of their good will and pa
uonage for the future My business viii remain in charge
Of Mr.. James T. Knkead, as Mana err, and nv son.
James r. Jr Assistant Manager and if the people OF
Lexington and vicinity win be kind and generous TO them
as they have been to i'm the past haI certainly Dp4a
cate whatever contributions to their success which may
come through your support and patronage Lexington is
The best town and the best market in Missouri C0-oper
ton between the town and country people viii make it
much better town. The splendid spirit and enthusiasm
shown last year the purchasing Of Goose Pond for play
ground by the people Of the town and its subsequent inn
povemen through the aid of our farmer friends should be
ostered and continued and and those who represent me
are always ready to lend every assistance In taking
the work of town building and country development ia
broader field Lexington will always be pointed to as
for
extend each and every one of my friends and GUS
toners hearty welcome when they to Kansas City
at 7O5-6-7 R, A. Long Bldg.
Respectfnlv