St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-15
MILLST0SHUT DOWN,
There Is Said TO be No Profit
Now in Manufacturing
Flour.
The National Banks Hold
Their Annual Elections
For Officers.
The Loyal Legion OF Mime
sofa BanQuetS at the
West.
A Motor Smash-Up and Other
Items Of Usual Local
interest.

The -four combine has played its
trump card, and during the present
week all the mills at the falls. with the
exception of Pillsbury A, will shut
down. Just how long they will remain
idle no one can tell. but it is admitted
that the output of flour in the United
States will be materially reduced in
the next six months. and. consequently.
higher prices will prevail. Just how
extensive the combine is, and what mills
outside of Minneapolis have entered
into the agreement, is not known. but
the recent trip make by Z. 4. Pillsbury
to the East is said TO have had consider
able to do with the resolution of the
millers TO curtail the -four output.
The condition of the -four market has
been anxiOusly noted by the Minneapo-
lis millers for the past few months. Ow-
ing to the low prices at which flour has
ruled there has been practically little or
no profit in milling, and yesterday the
Columbia mill took the initial step in
what is believed will be g general re-
ductiOn of the output. Of late the sup
ply has exceeded the demand. and now
the StorehOuseS are full and there is
little or 10 demand for export. The
Eastern and European markets have
large supply on hand. and naturally
the price of flour has declined. This
state of affairs is viewed by the miliers
with alarm, and while some of them
deny any knowledge of an agreement
or combine, it is generally understood
that all the large mills in the country
will shut down before the LIST of Febru-
airy and that they will remain closed
until such time as they can dictate the
price at which their products Will be
sold.
On Saturday last the Crown Roller
mills were quietly closed until the mar
ket should revive, and on Saturday next
the Columbia mill will shut down in
definitely. }. B. Bassett, the prOprie-
tor, was found by GLOBE reporter last
night, and in answer TO the questions
put to HIM, said: ION Saturday next the
Columbia mill will shut down for an
indefinite period, and the other mills
will follow. AT the present time the
market is oyerstocked. and there is no
money i'll grinding wheat. Just how
long the mill Will remain idle | cannot
tell, but you can say this: 1--WE will not
start up again until the price of -four
and the condition Of the market will
allow US to make profit"
Ghe Pillsbury mills will follow the
initial steps taken by the Crown Roller
ana tne Columbia mills. Whlle Mr..
BaSsett thought that perhaps the Pills
burys, with their extensive chain of ele-
yators and large supply of wheat, would
run along after the other mills had
closed, it was learned late last night
that the Pil!sburyS had agreed to
shut down and TO wait until
the flour would bring higher prices.
John S. PiIlsbury is authority for the
statement that all the Pillsbury mills,
with the exception Of the Pillsbury A,
will be closed during the present week.
"There has been an OVerprCducti0n of
-four. and now there is no market for
the flour. Pillsbury A will be kept
running, unless we have to shut down
for repairs. but all the other mills will
be closed" With the present high
price for wheat the millers claim that
they arc losing money.