The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-14
DISCOURAGlNG OUTLOOK.
Northwestern Plow Men Canvas the
Situation and Find Poor Show.
ing-.A Manufacturer Sug-
gestion.


manufacturers association of the north
west, held in Chicago Tuesday, has
awakened a good deal of interest, not
strictly among those Immediately con-
cerned in the pillow business, but with all in
terested in the advancement of manufac.
turing industry.
The meeting was held at the fremont
house, and twenty six of the largest cons
petitors in the business were represented,
every working company in the three cit
les having a delegate present. Mr.. B. D.
Buford was in attendance as representa-
tive of the Rock Island pillow works. To
an ARGUS reporter this morning Mr.. Bu>
ford said that the result of the caucus was
anything but encouraging to man
ufacturers of plows, that not one
of the concerns represented are max
ing money. and that last years
business showed reduction of one half
as compared with previous years. This
is through overpreduction and overbuy>
ing, the years before. The statement was
made in the convention that Nebraska
has more than enough blows and cult
vators in agents hands to last for year
to come.
A subject of discussion was the ex.
penses of sending out drummers, and it
was asserted that their charges of SIS and
SO per day in towns where the hotel bills
were 81, was excessive. A committee was
appointed to decide the question as to
what constituted the necessary expenses
of travelling men. and also to prescribe a
form for keeping an account of such ex>
penses.
| There was also discussion on the ad-
visibility of adopting a uniform trade
list of retail sales, and a committee was
appointed to report at the Dext meeting
of the association, to be held in Chicago
in September.
The subject of exhibits at agricultural
fairs was talked over for some time. The
experiences of a majority of those present
were that they had not been benefited a
dollars worth by such exhibits, and there
was no return for the outlay attendant
upon the transportation of the imple-
ments to and from the fairs.
The dealers in agricultural implements
were complained of for insisting upon re-
duced prices. 1t is said that as soon as
the syndicate OF steel manufacturers was
abolished short time ago, the price OF
that article was reduced 90 cents, and
thereupon the dealers demanded a reduce
ton on the price of goods and had per.
sisted in it until now the manufacturers
had reduced prices to Sc less than before
the steel men fell off so cents, and thai
all the profit they made on pillow or cul.
tiyator was about 50, out of which trav
cling mems expenses had to be met.
As result of this conference, the pros
poets for manufacturers are of course,
gloomy, unless something is decided up
on to enliven trade Mr.. Buford said
this morning that his suggestion would be
for manufacturers to-look ahead for bus
J mess. and rely more strongly upon thu
export trade. The market is too mucf
overstocked to expect demands at hom,
4 for some time to come.
The manufacture of plows and other az
ricnltural implements gives employment
to nearly 1000 men, in the three cite
and there is ma turally feeling of anxiet,
among employees as well as employers, a:
there is in fact. with the public gener'
ally.