The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-24

valued at 81 .227 sos, in 1917, compare,
with slT64, 024 blocks, valued at 81 ,OdO,
55s, In 1915, gain Of only $40 block
but Of sl0d,s60- This trihing gain il
quantity was made In spite of the OBJ
stacles which beset the industry. Al
though n few producers reported genera
conditions better than in 1917, most oI
the larger ones, who reached distant n,
we'll ms local markets, complained OF
shortage OF labor and of transportation
facilities, both by rail and water. IL was
also stated that some municipal improve,
ment undertakings were postponed. Fail
ure TO make n more marked gain in 1917
was due 10 the abnormal conditions re-
sulting from the war, rather than "a
composition with other paving materials,
although this factor also was Of some in.
iluence. Paving blocks were shipped 10
many points in New England, also 10
New York, New Jersey and eastern Penn
sylyania.
In New York, granite paving blocks
were made in the Thousand Islands dis
triet, which is favorably situated with re-
spect TO markets in New York and along
the Great Lakes. A large number OF
blocks were sold by two companies in
1917, but not so large as In 1915. The
high price of blocks in 1917, caused by
the high cost Of operation and the in
creased cost of laying pavements, dimin-
ished to some extent the demand Fur.
thermore, the shortage of labor, boats
and cars made il difficult to supply the
demand that existed Owing 20 these con
ditions, one company that was active in
1915 did not operate in 1917.
Pennsylvania and Maryland, supplying
nearby though large markets, each
showed decrease OF approximately 90
per cent. in quantity sold. This large de-
crease was attributed principally to the
of municipal Improvements
that had been planned.
The four southern states, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia, showed sales of 6,0s9,s45 blocks |
NEARLY one-sixth of the country's total |
ralued at 1907 1903 Cabout one-eighth of
.he total, in 1917, compared with 1894 |
10 blocks, valued at s3253l6, in 1916. |
The decrease in 1917 was "a per cent. in
quantity but only eight per cent. in val
ie. These states as a group supplied |
markets not only in the southeastern /
tates but in the middle Atlantic and
asst central states. The decline in sales
vas attributed to the high selling price
nd to general curtailment of pave
nent laying. only absolutely necessary
york being done. The price, however, was
ot sufficient to offset the increase in the
ost of operation. Shortage of labor, fuel
nd cars, as well as railroad embargoes,
lso reduced the output. Replacement Of
ranite by other paving materials for all
ut the heaviest traffic was reported by
ne producer in district where large
Quantities of rubble granite paving had
cen laid with results far below those OBJ
aimed by laying welltrimmed blocks ac !
,rding TO improved specifications.
The decline in sales in Wisconsin 7
to nearly 20 per cent. in guam
ty and is per cent. in value, the aver e
ye price not increasing so greatly as in !
lie districts already considered. This i
ate supplied all its own cities as well a
some cities along the Great Lakes and I
est of Mississippi river. The decline
as attributed to the high cost of labor
Id supplies and to shortage of trans
'rtation facilities.
@hlHHtcpNd anu AAIcspul - bbtH Di WHICH
owed notable decline in quantity and $
.lue, supplied markets within their own D.
riders.
This review shows that the decline in
e sales of granite paving blocks III the :;
stern half of the country, which in y
ldes the principal markets, was due to
nporary conditions caused by the war,
itch curtailed a normally increasing de- :
md. Even in New England where n
ere was a slight increase in quantity,
? conditions as whole were below nor
Il. In mnay cities, however, particu
ly in the Atlantic states, the increase
heavy traffic resulting from the war
Il necesstate the upkeep of granite
we'd streets and the repaving with
mite of streets on which other pave
nts have hitherto been adequate Prop
y paved streets in districts of heavy
light traffic are war necessity, and
refore a reasonable demand for gran
paving blocks should be expected dur
the war whereas a marked increase
compensate for the present curtail- n
Mt in>demand must be expected when
country is again at peace.
)nly in California does the granite
ing block industry appear to be more
n momentarily discouraging. Produo-