Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-04-30
THE DIFFERENCE IN TRUSTS

ly to all large business ventures, as
well as to trade organizations, and all
are condemned alike because of the
sins of few, This is unfortunate as
well as incorrect. Large organiza-
tons are necessary to economical pro-
duction and distribution. Such econ
omies may yield large returns to the
capital invested without injury to the
consumer; indeed, improved quality,
lower prices and better service, as
rule, have been the result of consoli-
dations, and higher prices the excep-
ton. Petroleum, cotton-seed oil,
transportation and telegraphy are ex-
amples of the former, and copper and
sugar Of the latter. The copper trust
was really "corner" such as we Of
ten see in the cereals and other arti-
Giles of less Importance. These are
generally of temporary character
and vicious in nature. The sugar
trust is differen. form of organiza-
ton, and it is yet too new to judge
what its permanent effect will be.
Temporarily its effect has been to adj
vance the price of sugar, but por-
ton Of this is due to natural reac-
!, ton from long period of extreme
depression in the sugar refining bust
ness, and a portion to an advance in
the raw sugars, consequent upon de-
creased production and increased con-
sumption in the principal sugar-pro-
. ducing and consuming countries OF
;, the world. Probably, however, the
entire advance will be attributed to
4 the sugar trust, and yet during this
time coffee has advanced from SINH
:, lar causes far more than sugar, and nc
fault is found by the public. These
"a facts constitute an interesting study
i An intelligent fruit dealer propos
es to systematic the Florida orang,
business, establish reliable grades ant
= distribute them in such way tina
- the markets will not be glutted; i'm
80 mediately the cry of an orange trus
is raised. A proportion to form
), large company to utilize improved
methods in the manufacture of salt i
j. greeted with cry of ga salt trust,
aud leading journals condemn it i
:. advance without investigation. I'm
"a doubtedly there must come a reactio
from such indlscriminate and unthink
ing denunciation. There must be Oh
ganization of trade as well as of Ia
- Dor, and the only standard by whic
- they can be judged is the reasonable
ness of their action.
:. In examining prices for term {
years in the industries where comb
nations have ruled, notably oil, ire
80 and transpoI tation, prices have DE-
clined more rapidly than IN land an
buildings, where the freest compel
ton prevailed. This shows that hoy
7 ever much the law of competition
modified it is not abolished, and Il
20 economies Of combination in mani
featuring and distribution more ths
-, compensate for any accompanyir
evils; but a distinct line should
drawn between corners and manufa
turing and distrbutive enterprise
-, although corners usually react (
their promoters. The principles U
r. ually underlying modern econom
:. development are beginning to be u
derstood on both sides of the Alta
" tic. An impulsivo member of t
House of Commons recently ask
~ that the Government investigate I
Nv English Salt Union, and instanc
~ the copper syndicate as an ilust
'"' ton of how the public might be {
'' pressed Hon. w. II. Smith, rep
senting the Government, answer
-. that such combinations, if unreast
'' able in their action, carried their o
'"', remedy. Within few days fir
Wv that time the copper syndicate fail
10y and prices fell lower than ever befc
w To permanently dam up the VIII
water of a stream is well-nigh
:, possible and is likely to result in {
aster, but portion of the sire
:, may be diverted and furnish the pc
-" err to drive the wheels of indus
'''e' which would otherwise remain I
tionless.
" - To choose that which is good
- reject that which is bad; how wis
-, this" said Japanese philosopl
Forts and this thought may be we'll S
hicb gested to those who can see moth
but evil in modern economic de-
c: opment Unfortunately teri
"trusts."