The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-10-16
NOT A POLITICAL DOCUMENT.
Highly Instructive for Those VIII
Think Tariff ID Not q Tax.


The only comment which it seems
necessary to make on the subjoined
circular is that contained in the let
ter OF transmittal, in which the infor
| nation Is youchsafed that 1.-The hous
was established by the late Wilder u
Foster, for many years Republican
member of Congress from a Michigan
district. Although dead, his name !
still at the head Of the firm, and hi
estate is q partner"
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Sept. Z, 1890
GENTLEMEN:-As important an,
rather radical advances in prices O
some articles in the hardware line ar
daily taking place we wish to say
few words, SO you may more fully un
derstand the situation and not thinl
that the jobber is overcharging you.
AXES.
There is now but one axe COMPANY
in the United States, and that is cal
led the American Axe and Toole Com
pany, with headquarters at Pitts
burgh. This company has purchased
outright every axe factory in tn.
country of any Importance, and b,
thus controlling the production ha.
advanced prices on an average - q
dozen. This company also control.
the manufacture of axe polls, or the
heads Of axes, the machinery of which
islpatented, and this enables it to keep
the price on pools SO high no one else
can afford to make axes.
sAws-HAND AND CROSS CUT.
In this industry the same forces
have been at work, and to-day there
are but two companies who manu-
facture handsaws, where there was a
dozen four months ago. Prices in this
line Of goods have been advanced
from 10 to 40 per cent. In cross-cut
it is the same. by q consolidation of
interests prices have been advanced
from to 8 cents a foot.
LEAD.
Everything made of lead has taken
a decided advance, owing to recent
decisions on the admitting of Mexican
ore into this country, as well as by
combinations Of manufacturers Shot,
lead pipe, pig lead, solder, babit
metal have all advanced, and may 90
still higher. The passage Of the silve,
bill will also affect all articles made
of or coated with silver. In the hard
ware line plated knives and forks,
spoons, etc.. will be affected and adj
vances made.
TIN,
The present tariff on sheet tin is one
cent a pound, aid the Mckinley tariff
bill, which no doubt will pass botf
houses Of congress, advances the duty
to 2 2-1O cents pound. This must
Of course, advance tin from $1.25 tx
$3 box, according to weight of sale
box. This advance in sheet tin will
affect all articles Of tinware and ad
vances will be made all along the lin,
Tin in New York has already al
vanced from SO cents to 81 box ant
is growing stronger each day, as tn,
certainty of the passage OF the Nc
kinley tariff bill becomes more al
sured. Not box Of tin is made i
this country, Notwithstanding whic
tin has declined in price from $l5
*4.75 box during the last twent,
five years.
GLASS.
The window glass market of tn
country is practically in the hands Z
two large companies, who work j
harmony as to prices, which has r
suited in a steady advance for Il
last year, averaging about 80 per Gel
ZINC OR STOVE BOARDS.
The Adams & Westlake Co., A.
Griggs, Sidney Shepard & Co., Pall
er Manufacturing Company, H.Ren
torff & Co.. Central Stamping Coz
pany, w. II. Sweeney Manufacture
Company-all of the above nam,
firms were anxious for our busine
last year. But now they have ,
sold out to the American Stove Boa
company, with Offices in New Yo
and Chicago, and q general advan
on all lines has taken place. La
year you could buy u 2S-inch squa
paper lined zinc for 36 cents. tt
year the same thing costs you
cents-an advance OF 100 per cent.
AMMUNITION.
The price is controlled by q coml
nation and you have to pay the pri
or go without.
POWDER.
The same-but one price and til
nearly double what it was two yes
ago.
I'll SUMMARY.
!, We call your attention to the
: matters SO that you will understa
why, on nearly every invoice you {
you will find something higher tn
it was before.
The tendency of the times seems
be consolidated, thus enabling lar
corporations to produce the goo
cheaper and sell them ut q high
price. We fail to find, however,
all the consolidation Of various lin
of goods single instance, notwit
standing the advance they put on t
goods, where they have advanced L
pay of labor q cent. II the consum
who purchases last does not pay Il
increased cost we do not know WI
does. II he reaps any personal Der
fit from it we should like to kne
where it comes in. This is not q ?
litical document, but fair stateme
of the condition OF certain lines
hucinocS n q WA. n ilv cn,uo in ,Cnp< a