The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-22
INCREASES PRICE ON GRANITESN '
Boutwell,, Milne & Varnum Announce a
Raise of 81 Per Cubic Foot.

BY at least one quarrying concern on
Milestone hill, definite announcement was
made to-day that general increase in
all grades of rough Barre granite will be-
come effective Jan. l. Boutwell,, Milne
q Varnum have completed revision of
It's price list which calls for an increase
of 81 per foot. That the somewhat rad
ical revision upward is by no means the
product of snap Judgment is indicated by
the fact that the biggest qusrrying con
Germ In the Barre industry has made an
exhaustive study of conditions that are
closely allied with price problems. No
phase of the quarrying industry has been
ignored in preparing the data on which
the new tariff book is based.
There is to be no break in the new
price list" said James M Boutwell, of
Boutwell,, Milne & Varnum, in an inter-
view to-day. ''On the contrary, there Is
not the slightest doubt that the tendency
will continue upward indefinitely" The
head of the corporation, who is also
president of the Barre Quarters & Man
ufacturers' association, went ON to say
that back of the impending increase are
facts and figures which made revision i'm
perative if the industry is to thrive.
Granite deposits on the hill are far from
being the accessible quarries that they
were few years ago. Unless exception
may be made of the dark stock, which
stands alone in the monumental field to-
day by reason of its superiority, the
supply of Barre granite is inexhaustible,
but the problems of the quarter are null
tiplying.
only the practiced quarryman knows
how long it takes to work quarry be-
fore the granite can be merchandized, !"
Mr., Boutwell, asserted Years of strip
ping, channelling and grouting are the
essential factors, and huge sums of mon
ey. must be invested and expended before
one block of Barre granite can be placed
on the market, The speaker went on to
say that the condition of the labor mar
ket alone makes it patent that there can
be no Ietrogression in rough stock prices
The prices of living essentials have di-
rect bearing on wages, and there is no
immediate prospect that the cost Of food
stiiffs and wearing apparel will take a
slump. Organized labor is determined
that there shall be no radical reduction
of wages, and in the Barre industry the
wage schedules, instead of decreasing, are
in the ascendancy.
mo, there will be no break in rough
stock prices" reiterated Mr.. Boutwell,,
whose emphatic manner would convince
the most casual inquirer that the famous
Rock of Ages" is not going to figure in
any cut-price competition. SO through
the cumulative data on which the new
prices are based he added, "and you
will be convinced that the schedule is en-
tirely compatible with the new and alb
normal conditions which granite quar-
riers are facing in Barre. Mr.. Boutwell,
said that Barre granite has taken first
rank among the many American and for
eign GRANTEES used in the monumental
trade. He was asked if the notice, al
ready announced, would not divert part
Of Barre's business to centers where the
product, if inferior, is also cheaper.
THE demand for Barre granite is
steadily increasing" was his rejoinder
Quantities of our stock are going into
fine construction, in the form Of columns,
pilssters, door and window trimmings
both a1ed and polished. II is also used
extensively where fine carved ornamental
tion Is desired
''over and above this demand" d"-the
speakers tone was even more assuring
"the demand for Barre granite in the
construction of the largest and best me
MORALS, including mausoleums, is con
stantly growing. Barre granite has come
to be synonymous with the best hard
stone procurable." And by way of re-
his firm conviction that the
future of the industry is intact, Mr..
Boutwell,, in closing the interview, let it
be known that the producers of "The
Rock of Ages" in addition TO adhering
strictly to the new price list, effective
Jan. /, are not looking for any slackening
in the demand for their output of Barre
granite, light and dark.