The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-15
Preparations for a Gigantic Com
bine We're Made Recently
in Philadelphia.
Trade In All Lines Of the Copper
Industry Very Badly De-
moraliZed.
Probability That Prices Will Go skyward
I'M Short Timo--Also Nickel
Trust.

PHILADELPHIA. April 14.-The formation
of gigantic copper trust was inaugurated
| in this city,which in extent and Importance
promises to eclipse even the sugar trust
The scheme was practically consummated
'n,t the meeting of the Plumbers Copper
ware Association of the United States, held
10 Il. at the Lafayette hotel, in Parlor G, and
which was very largely attended. There
- was no attempt to disguise the fact that
the object of the meeting was the
consideration of plans by which a
40 trust or combine could be formed among
,. a the manufacturers to control the output of
goods, establish a schedule of prices and
.devise means whereby the material inter-
y ests OF the business mey be promoted. 1t
~ ~ was claimed that there has been ruinous
'.Ncutting of prices lately, SO much so that
'. plumbers copperware has been selling at
~ loss. The wages of laborers has been
materially affected, and a better
and sounder condition of affairs in
the trade is to be highly desira-
BILE. About year ago the established
schedule of prices was abolished, and the
market thrown open. This move, it was
claimed. would not only give all manufac-
turers an equal chance but enable them to
test the condition of the market. It is
claimed by the friends of the proposed
trust that this was disastrous
venture, competition becoming stronger
and prices going down in proportion.
A meeting to investigate the current
condition of affairs was held month
ago in New York, but the opinions of the
manufacturers as to the best method of
correcting the existing evils were SO widely
dlversi1eu that nothing was accomplished
A full representation was present yester-
day. the manufacturing centres represented
being Philadelphia, New York, Boston, st.
Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Brooklyn and
Baltimore. The question of perpetueting
the society was discussed at length at the
morning session, and finally agreed to,
At the afternoon session the first busi-
ness transacted was the passage of resolu-
zion that. owing to the opposition shown to
pools and trusts, none of the deliberations
OF the association be given out for publica-
tion. In spite of this action 1T was learned,
however, that the question of adopting
schedule OF prices went over without
any definite conclusion being reached in
the matter. The question of natural
markets was considered at length.
turers shall conform their sales to their
natural markets. Properly interpreted this
was understood to mean a combination or
trust, but. after considerable debate on the
quessIon OF formally forming q trust, the
matter was laid over until the next meeting,
which will be held in New York in two
weeks. at which time the full plans for or
ganization will have been effected.
The officers of the association are:
President, Fred ii. Holton, of Boston;
vice-president, P. L. Ronalds, of New
York: treasurer, William C. Trageser, of
New York, and secretary Edward w,
Lowe, of New York. c. A. Blessing and
the Swain Bath Tub Manufacturing COM
pany are the Philadelphia members of the
association.
Word comes from London of the forma-
ton of syndicate for the control of all
patents for the production of nickel. The
eyndicate has been fully constituted, hav-
ing acquired all the French, English and
American rights. 1t is the purpose of the
combination to reduce the cost of steel
making nickel, and this it is claimed can
be done without interfering with the supply
of ordinary nickel used for plating and
other manufacture.
1t is expected that the syndicate will soon
erect works near Sheffield for the manufac-
ture of ferro- nickel. Sir James Kitson. the
president of the British Iron and Steel In
stitute, is chairman of the syndicate, and
Sir Lowthran Bell and Percy Gilchrist, the
two leading British metallurgists, are
among the directors.