St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-26
STILL ANOTHER ENTERPRISE.
War on the Match Trust to Be
Started.


For some days past the agents of some
unknown outside capitalists have been
looking about Minneapolis seeking to
secure good-sized piece of property
for some purpose. and several pieces of
property have been looked over. Local
real estate men have been wonderin
what the piece was to be used for, but
the purchasers have been so reticent in
the matter no one has been able to con-
lecture what was intended. Last
evenings papers contained an account
of an offer made by an Eastern syndi
cate for block of property between
the st. Paul & Duluth yard. the Great
Northern tracks and Harrison and Tay-
lor streets. Though 1t is a fact that the
block in question has been thought of,
it is not the only one, as there is some
doubt in the minds of the projectors as
be large enough to operate the large
plant which it is intended to operate.
The theory about the Eastern syndi-
cate is all wrong. and was probably
used because as usual thing SyndicateS
either come from the East. OF from Eng
land. This time it is Western money
that is to back the enterprise, and
the probability is that Minneapolis
will be the theater for start in the
break of one of the largest trusts in the
country, that is owned almost eXclus-
lively by Swift Il Courtney, the great
match men. The man who is said to be
backing the scheme is Claus SpeckelS,
of California, the man who broke the
great sugar refinery trust some years
ago.
The scheme is not new one by any
means, as it has been contemplated for
some time, the projectors only waiting
to find the proper location for base of
operations. After most careful study
of the various points. Minneapolis was
at last decided upon as the proper place
to strike the blow, as it is a great dis
tribuIing point for the Northwest, and
would effectually cut off all trade at
once that has hitherto been held in the
Northwest by the Eastern trust. If the
desirable location can be secured, the
ground will be broken almost immedl-
ately for the erection of the plant,
which will be on large scale.
The buildings will be solidly built, of
brick, and each department be entirely
separate from the other, for safety.
This will of necessity take large piece
of ground, to which. should be added
good railroad facilities. All of the latest
machinery will be used, and the factory
will employ, aside from its male help,
fully 200 women. There will be an
engine house, separate from the balance
of the Duildings;.a mixing house, where
the most dangerous work is conduct I'd;
wood shop, where the wood is stored
and split, the factory building proper,
where the matches are made, and
packing house. The factory will make
its own boxes, and separate building
will be required for that, 1t is in the
box factory and packing house that tile
women will be employed.
The men who are in the scheme are
not prepared to state what the outlay
will be, as the plans for the buildings
say that the outlay will extend we'll up
in the thousands. The selection of
Minneapolis as field for the new de-
parture in the match industry of the
country is significant fact showing
the location of the Flour city as great
business and distributing center. AS
soon as the site is secured, the pro-
jectOrs of the scheme will be prepared
to state fully the extent and cost of the
enterprise. The plans will be finished
directly the extent of the ground is
known, and work will be begun almost
Immediately upon the buildings so as
to have them rooted before snow flies.
This will be serious blow to the
great American match trust, which has
had its own way for many years. 1t is
expected that the trust will make
an attempt to buy up the plant. but it is
authoritatively stated that the new COM
PAW will not sell, but even should it
conclude to do so, it would hardly be
moved away, and Minneapolis would
still have splendid addition to its al
ready growing list of manufactures.