Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-15
ANOTHER BIG TRUST
With a Capital Stock Of $4,000, 900
is Ready to Make Its Debut
UNDER A CUNNING NOM DE PLUME.
The Globe Sewer Pipe Co. is a Grand
Combination Of Makers
WITH THEIR OFFICES In THIS CITY

For three days the sewer pipe trust has
succeeded in eluding the Pittsburg re-
porters.
Since Tuesday this latest combination,
Just out of its swaddhng clothes, but
possessing tenacious powers Of development,
has been holding secret meetings at the Mo-
nongahela House. The watch dogs of the
press passed and repassed there often, but
not even friendly snap or snarl was ex-
changed.
From 20 to 80 of the leading sewer pipe
manufacturers of the country have been
"holding down" the hotel parlor, complet-
ing the details of their new organization.
They expect to finish to-day, and will
doubtless go home happy tonight.
The Western Sewer Pipe Manufacturers
Association is no more, for the Globe Sewer
Pipe Company has taken its place. This is
the apparently harmless title of the trust
The iransmutation from an association to
this new tangled company, was made as
easily as the moulting ofa roach in paste
pot '''.
AHAPPY CONSERVATION.
For many years the sewer pipe men have
been working for this end, but all the
manufacturers could not be induced to join
their simple combinations. Even now
there are a few companies scattered in the
West on the outside, but their influence
does not count for much.
The details of the trust were learned yes
terday from one of the members, though
President Rhoades denied all the points in
a halfhearted sort of way. ...
The Globe Sewer Pipe Company is the
name of the new organization. The capital
stock is 100000, all of which has been
subscribed. To clinch matters, 20 per cent
of the stock, or S40O, 900 has already been
paid in. A compact has been signed by all
the members to abide by the decisions of the
trust. The main office will be located in
Pittsburg with branch offices in all the
large cities in the country.
The orders will be sent to the General
Secretary here, and he is instructed to
divide them among the manufacturers ac-
cording to the amount of capital stock sub
scribed. In devlsing this plan, the business
done by the various firms in 1887 was
TAKEN AS A BASIS,
and pro rata they were required to contrib
ute to the capital stock, and on this basis
will receive their share of the work. The
trust has been organized for three years,
when it may be continued or dissolved at
the option of the members. a-.
This is the scheme in general which one
of the manufacturers related to a reporter.
All the large makers in the Ohio Valley,
Buffalo, Rochester and other places are in
the trust. The manufacturers at Akron
have formed local combination, which
lasts for a year, but at the end of that time
they have consented to join. In the interim
they will act in conjunction with the trust.
The object of the general company is to
maintain prices, and put all the makers on
the same basis. In the past the trade has
been ruined by cutting, oyerproduction and
the manufacture of an inferior quality of
pipe. These evils the trust will try to over
come, as some of the smaller Western manu-
facturers have often injured the market by
putting out pipe of very poor quality.
After a deIiberation of two weeks in Cleve-
land, one week in Cincinnati and as much
time in Pittsburg, the new trust stands out
a thing of beauy and ready to begin oper-
ations.
AS SECRET AS THE STANDARD.
Like the oil men, when questioned, the
members looked wise and said nothing. In
variably the reporter was referred to -Presi-
dent Rhoades, but that gentleman refused to
talk, except to make a general denial of the
main facts. He said no trust had been
formed; denied that the capital stock was
$1,000, 0oO but he admitted it was a stock
company, and the stock had been subscribed.
He admitted branch Office, but not the
general office would be located here, and
said it was all mistake that the orders
would be distributed among the members
pro rata according to the amount of business
done in 1887. He argued that the little COM
bination was something like the local Or
ganization of the Akron manufacturers, and
nothing more. .....
Mr.. Rhoades even refused to name the Of
ficers of the company. In fact he was 10th
to talk, and finished by saying that it was a
private corporation and did not concern the
public, but when the proper time came the
necessary facts would be given to the
people.
"I would like to see the truth published,
said one member, "but if President Rhoades
refuses to give the information, can t go
back on him. Probably if you wait few
weeks we will be ready to talk" but the
man who waits is always left.