Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-10-03

with any number OF persons having
equal amounts at their disposal and
start a trust. There are yet a few de-
partments OF industrial activity that
have escaped the prevailing fever. but
there is no telling how soon they will
catch it, and it is safe to assume that
we will not have long to wait. When
the great business enterprises OF the
country have succumbed, no doubt
need be entertained that the apple
women and peanut vendors will join
the procession, SO that none will be
left TO uphold the immortal principle
of competition, except doctors. lawyers,
dentists, newspaper men and tramps.
People who have any accurate knowl-
edge of the business OF tanning leather
will not be surprised by the news which
comes over the wires from Boston. 1t
is precarious only fairly profitable
and soul tantalizing vocation. II re-
quires plenty OF capital, more patience
and the faculty OF being satisfied with
small returns. Ii there is any branch
of trade which syndicate with long
purse could easily absorb it is that OF
leather tanning. After man has been
in it ten or dozen years he is open to
any reasonable offer to buy him out,
and IL he remains ten years longer it
becomes u serious question with him
whether it would not be better for him
to die than to try to keep the business
going.
Therefore, there is no occasion for
surprise in the statement that y
number of English plutOcrats have
employed two wise men OF Boston tc
purchase for them all the tanneries ir
the country. The idea blossomed
about two months ago and already the
agents, Lawyer Wyman and Banker
Potter, have obtained control of tn,
powerful tanneries in New York anc
New England, and are confident O.
being equally successful in their effort
elsewhere. Tho capital put III
amounts to Sl0,000,000 and there i;
$4,000, 600 more ready if required
Having secured the legal ownership
the plan is to run the whole bushes
as one large plant. There is TO be
central house in Boston which the
representa- ives of the syndicate will
use as u headquarters and from which
they will supervise the entire system.
The former owners are to be employed
on salaries to manage their respective
branches, so that, to all outward APP
pearances, the different firms will &C
on just as they have been going.
There is no doubt at all that the
syndicate can conduct the business of
tanning leather to greater pecuniary
advantage than the individuals whom
they succeed. This is true of all trusts,
and that is the principal reason of the
mania which prevails for organizing
them. The great change TO be wrought
under the present plan is the simplify
ing OF the work. At present each tan
merry is forced to run several grades OF
hides, and as each requires different
process the expense of running an I'M
profitable grade makes big hole in
the net profits OF the business. 1t is
the purpose Of the syndicate to follow
the principle of u division of labor.
The different plants will exclusively
run particular grade, so that there
will be no greater outlay at any one
point than is absolutely necessary.
The capitalists supporting the scheme
propose to consult American sensibili.
ties and their own interests by keeping
in the background. The active manage.
ment will be left entirely to those on
this side of the water. 1t is said that
all they ask is q reasonable profit or
the Investment. II they succeed ir
getting absolute control OF all the tan.
neries in the United States, we shat,
know better than we do now what they
h.
John II. Flagler, of the Cotton Seed
Oil Trust says that trust that fails tc
cheaper the commodity does not dis.
charge its natural function-if it ad-
vances instead OF diminishing the
market price it deserves to perish
ignominiously. We shall presently ser
how the Flagler idea works in the lcath
err trade. Brooklyn Eagle.