The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-04
THE BANANA TRUST.
New Line of Business Trusted" and
Bound
The banana trust is the latest.

4
The banana trust is the latest.
1t seems that the "cornerng'' of products OF
various kinds is being pushed to its utmost
limit, and now the tropical fruit men have
made a combine, and the consumers will be
unable to get q single banana or plantan save
through the courtesy of the trust, which was
organized in New Orleans this week.
a few days ago n circular was sent 70 all the
fruit men in the country calling them TO Sc
cret conference in New Orleans. 1t was
signed by six Of the largest fruit houses in
that city. One of these circulars, addressed
to fruit dealer in Montgomery, Ala, fell
into the hands Of travelling correspond
ent of THE CONSTITUTION, and with true
journalistic instinct, he bent his steps toward
the crescent city, and scooped in all the news
There are seventeen steamers engaged III the
tropical fruit business plying into New Orleans
These steamers touch at every Central Ameri-
can port, and come into New Orleans laden
with the wealth of both mainland and island
Five steamers arrive in port each week, and
the cargoes on each varies from fifteen to
twenty-five car loads of bananas, besides great
quantities of plantains Besides these, there
are received five to ten cargoes
Of cocoa nuts Seme idea of the value
Of this business may be gained from the state
ment that profit of $4,000 may be made Of
single cargo.
This fruit thus delivered in New Orleans,
makes that city the great tropical emporium
for the northwest, Mobile is Subseryient to
New Orleans, Savannah derives its supplies
from Charleston, but now that a six months
quarantine, beginning in April, destroys the
importance of Charleston as a tropical fruit
market, that city receives its supplies
overland from New Orleans. This gives New
Orleans tho monopoly Of the business, and
from that point dealers in st. Louis, Chicago,
Cincinnati, and all northwestern territory, are
supplied.
The leading New Orleans fruit men, repre-
senting a combined capital of ten million dol
lars, have formed a trust, and will purchase
the entire offerings Of the tropical steamers.
They will then fix prices to suit themselves,
and have for correspondents in other cities
only those whom they select.
The house of which Mr. Phipps is the head
is in control of this new movement. $G,G00,000
has been advanced by London capitalists to
build railroads in Honduras ana elsewhere
so rs to concentrate the fruit market at certain
selected shipping points
This trust is intended eventually to cover
the orange trade, and in fact, the entire cir
cult of tropical products.
So, when you peel your banana recollect
that the hand of the trust is upon you!
Pine Straw BaGginG.
RALEIGH, n. c., August 81 Special. IA
bale Of cotton was received at Wilmington yes
terday packed in bagging manufactured from
pine straw fibre, made near this city.
1t is not now known that this pine baggiDg
will meet the requirements of the underWri-
ters and commercial organizations, being a
perfect substitute, hut it has ali the appear
ance of and is a iirst-rate baoging 1t is nearly
fire-proof, strong md durable and apparently
is preferable to jute bagging. The bale was
compressed as an experiment, and the pine
straw baggiug again held its own with the
jute baggng, ana in this respect has another
quality to commend it. 1t looks very much
like the problem that now so greatly disturhs
the southern farmers viii be solved by this
substitute, and the result Of the experiment
Will DO watched with Keen interest.