The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-12
TO BE A REFINING POINT.
President Havemeyer Of the Trust
Makes Portland One,

All over the country since the passage of
the Mckinley bill there has been more or less
complaint from the wholesale dealers that
they were virtually handling sugar without
any profit and communication was opened
up between the various organizations of
wholesale grocers throughout the New Eng
land, Middle and South Atlantic States, to
see If some arrangement could not be made
to remedy this matter,
Accordingly on Friday last the representa-
tives OF the wholesale grocers of Portland,
Boston. New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore
aid other important points met In New
York city by agreement and discussed the
matter. Portland was ably represented by
Hon. Holman S. Melcher, the president of
the Portland Wholesale Grocers' Associa-
ton.
At the meeting the question of price was
discussed and Friday afternoon the commit
tee met President Havemeyer and Treasurer
Searles Of the American Sugar Refineries
Company at the presidents office, III Wall
street.
President Havemeyer discussed the situa-
ton with the committee and propositions
were made by the sugar trust people. subject
to similar united action on the part of re-
fineries outside the trust and these negotia-
tions are now pending.
Ex-Mayor Melcher during the consultation
called the attention Of the sugar magnates to
the fact that whereas Portland is refining
point yet it has not been so Etreated by the
trust. He presented the case for Portland,
stating that the citizens Of Portland had
contributed years ago immense sums of mon
ey to build and operate sugar refineries, and
had created big industry at this point, Civ
ing employment to- hundreds of workmen
and adding greatly to the cIty's prosperity,
and to the Importance of Portland as port
Of entry and a distributing point for sugar.
When the trust was formed the trust Sc
cured control Of majority of the stock of
the refinery, and decided on several ac-
counts to discontinue the manufacture of
sugar at this point.
This, however. did not make Portland any
less refining point, and Portland wholesale
merchants had right to expect that the
trust would extend to Portland all the ad-
vantages to be derived from being consid-
cred a refining point. These advantages can
be summed up in very few words.
Sugar is billed TO all points at a uniform
rate. but at places not refining points, the
cost of shipping is added to the cost of sugar,
consequently 1t makes material difference
with regard to the price of sugar here
whether Portland wholesale merchants OBJ
tain the same price given to Boston, .Phila-
delphia and New York markets or whether
they have to pay in addition the cost of ship
ping from these points to this city.
Treasurer Searles observed that the rea-
son the Portland refinery was closed was be-
cause sugar could be refined cheaper at 9TH
er points, the difference being as great as
one-sixteenth of a cent per pound
Mr.. Melcher replied that where the sugar
should be refined was matter for the trust
to consider. and did not invaldate Portland's
claim to be considered refining point and
he so strongly urged its claims that Presi-
dent Havemeyer declared that the pos ition
was well taken, and that Portland was re-
lining point aud should be so considered
hereafter, a decision which will be heartily
| welcomed by the wholesale merchants Of
| this city. Yesterday afternoon President
| Melcher submitted his report to the Whole
sale GrOcerS' Association