The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-17
Abolition of the Sewing-machine
Monopoly.

plTeu yesterday, Dy WHICH pOWeIluE
combination was enabled to control the
manufacture as monopoly, and extort
from the public prices which have been
two or three times as much as would
have yielded a fair profit on the cost of
making the machines. There are still
other patents, of course, applying to
certain Improvements, but it is believed
that, with the expiration of the Batch
elder needle patent, there are none left
which cover the essentials of the sewing
machine and enable the combination to
levy exorbitant tribute upon the manu-
facture thereof. This combination con-
sisted of the Wheeler & Wilson, Singer,
and Grover & Baker Companies, which
had possessed themselves of all the es-
sential patents, and have been exacting
royalties on the various parts of every
machine made. These royalties amount
ed to so much in the bulk that machines
which did not cost more than so 1--WE
give an outside figure) have been sold for
$50, and so on in proportion. The
price charged for the machines has
ranged three times as high as they have
been sold for in England, where no roy
alties could be exacted, after being man
ufactured in this country and sustaining
all the expense of transportation, ham
ding, insurance, and the profits of mid
dle-man. A large part of this excessive
profit went to the owners of the patents,
but the existence of the patents and
combination to keep up the prices also
enabled the outside manufacturers and
agents to charge up profits for them
selves which were prOportionately eX-
orbitant. The hopefulness of the future
is that, when the general principles of
the sewing-machines are free to all,
competition will set in which will pre-
vent the eXaction of more than a reason
able profit. 1t will not be surprising,
therefore, if within few weeks ma
chimes can be bought for 800 which have
heretofore sold for $50; indeed, it is an
nounced that one of the leading compa-
MES has declared its intention of selling
the $50 machines at once for $50 cash,
and the rate will henceforth be down.
ward.
This is good news for the thousands of
seamstresses through the country, and
good news for the thousands of poor
families that could never hope to have a
sewing-machine in the house at the old
rate. 1t will make bread and meat come
easier, and there will be more of it for
the same amount of labor. The sew
ing-woman can buy a machine on time
for $50 with reasonable hope of paying
for it, while heretofore women who have
paid out that amount of money to start
with have toiled night and day to make
Roadway on the $40 or $50 unpaid, only
to lose their machine and the money al
ready paid in the end. Thus far the
sewing-machine has been mainly bene-
fetal to those who were not especially
in need of its beneficence. 1t has put
money by the millions into the pockets of
the men who manufactured it; it has en-
riched many of the agents and middle
men who have handled it; it has en-
larged the profits of the clothing, boot
and shoe, and other manufacturers using
it. But it will first become real bless
ing to the poor when it shall be relieved
of its exclusive royalties and extOrtions,
and can be obtained by women and
families at price yielding only a fair
profit on the cost of manufacture.
Thenceforward, the poor woman OF
family that can obtain sewing-machlne
will be able to save its cost every year
in time, labor, and money, and the cost
will come within the possible means OF
almost every prudent and industrious
person who can use such a machine to
advantage.
The Batchelder patent which has just
expired has been twice renewed, and the
rule of the Patent-office under former
management seems to have been that
any applicant for a renewal with abund-
ant means at his command should not &C
away disappointed. This rule, like
good many others, has been changed
under the administration of Secretary
Schurz. The sewing-machine monopO
lists have had their Hobbies in Congress
too, during the two last sessions, bu
public sentiment has been so emphatic
allv opposed to q continuance of the out
rageous extortion that Congress has no
dared to ignore it. The monOpOlist!
have enjoyed twenty years of this luxur.
of extortion, piling up their millions By
the oppression of the poor women OF thu
country-extorting dollar for nearl!
every tear that has been shed on accoun
of their relentless grip. The single pat
ent which has just failed to secure an eX
tension is said to have netted the fou
companies controlling it 100000, ant
it is within bounds to estimate that tn
excessive profit of all the companies OF
all. the patents has been S25, 100000
perhaps it has been double that sum, TO
the monopolists have been able to fl
their own profits, restrained by the singh
consideration that their greed should no
overreach itself. When the monopol
shall have been wiped out once for all
which now seems to be near at hand, th
dreary % Song of the Shirt d" may b
changed into happy jubilation.-Chi
cago Tribune, Nay g..
Good Clothes and High Ideas