The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-06-21
In Behalf Of the Lime Trust.

49,
About two years ago the lime makers
of the Rockland district in Maine ef-
fected a combination to reduce competi-
ton, raise prices and enjoy the blessings
Of protection. They have now come to
the conclusion that their little trust can
not have full swing till Canadian lime is
shut out Of the market; for when they
put their prices too high people send to
Canada for lime.
The Maine lime makers live In the dis
trict represented by Mr.. Dingley, and as
Mr. Dingley has been n of the leading
tariff tinkerers in the crypt of the Capt.
toll, the lime trust saw that the tide had
come in its affairs which, taken at its
flood, would lead on to fortune.
But the little lime trust is both cunning
and confident. Most industries will not
content themselves with sending q letter
10 the raisers of tariffs. Men must go in
person to argue the case and give addi-
tional force to their tale Of woe by coin.
r~tenance, voice and gesture.
Not so the little lime trust. It reposes
such unconditional faith in their rep
resentative in congress that they are con.
tent to send b letter and watch the effec:
from q distance. Perhaps, too, they
feared embarrassing questions from Mr..
Burrows, who says he is in favor of cut
ting away the tariff supports. Of all in
dustries which combine to raise prices.
However that may be, the trust sent In
its application by mail, and the result Is
that the duty IN lime is increased Ave
fold. The present duty is three cents q
cask, which is equivalent to 10 per cent.
I'D valorem, and, including the freight
from Canada, amounts to about ~ per
cent. Tho proposed duty is six cents per
100 pounds, including the weight Of the
cask. Lime dealers say this is five times
the present duty.
The proposed increase has been met by
q shower Of protests. The masons. plas-
terers, contractors and builders, tanners,
dealers, architects and others Of Massa-
chusetts have been heard from. Three
fourths OF these are Republicans. They
RkDwNtIat their only escape from the ex-
actions Of the trust is in importing lime
from Canada. Through this importation
they have brought down the priceof lime
fifteen or twenty cents a cask, and the
Rockland lime trust is still doing SO salts
factory a business that it is already
nounced that the agreement which holds
the Combine together will be renewed
in May. The dealers in New York have
/. also gotten up q petition against the pro-
posed increase.
u the duty is put on. the trust has
shown that it is ready to reap all the adj
vantage that the duty will give them.
They recently ordered 4 restriction Of the
output in order to raise prices. The
Maine men supplyaIl the lime north and
east Of Philadelphia, except the small
quantity which comes from Canada; and,
with their protection raised Ave times as
high ~ II IS At present, they will hare =
soft snap and grow rich at the expense
III the vast army sof consumers.
Meanwhile they will do valuable serv-
iice III teaching these consumers that the
tariff u Il tax; and there are unmistaka-
Nh signs that the New England states
- Learning that lesson.
Fe sca,at ourold ~sabseribers 10 rsnsoiin
spsE ap ss,es pposr INN aee sua,t alase
iasaL. Keep ap ,'oar ssbsc. iptiop e
50sascr.