The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-30
TRUSTS EXPOSED.
A LIST OF The WORST ENEMIES
OF THE PEOPLE.


lions Designed to Put Up Prices and
Maintain Fictitious valucs-Nhat Have
Che Politicians Done to Prevent 1t?
For some years many American mer-
chants. or rather spectators, tired OF
the Gradual accumulation Of gain by or
binary commerce, have com bined, and
by the employment Of large capital have
Intercepted various commodities in their
transit from the producers to the con-
suuers. Then, being III 4 position to
control the market" they were able to
charge the public whatever they pleased.
This was called making a "ring" or a
corner" Frequently they cleared great
gain Sometimes they failed to do so,
and encountered more or less loss; and
sometimes, as in copper, both results en-
sued. The usual price of $195 or $500
per ton for copper having been forced up
to $3.50 per ton (entailing great losses to
the consumers Of copper, the ring or
syndicate cleared immense gain at the
outset, but the demand giving way,
owing to substitutes having been found,
they encountered losses too great to be
borne, and came to grief, to the great
satisfaction of al except the members of
the syndicate.
From special and temporary enter
prises Of this nature they settled down
about three years ago to more perma-
nent work, and sought by buying up the
sources Of supply of an article of COM
merce, the production Of which and other
sources of which were limited, to put
themselves in a position to bleed the
public at their own win, and this perma-
| nently.
These enterprises they called trusts.
have been endeavoring for some time
to collect the names of these trusts, as
they are called, but have only been par
tially successful For instance, | have
not obtained the name of more than one,
[ think, which was formed before the
middle of 1888; nor is my list up to date;
nor, as the names of the trusts given
have been compiled by a private individ-
llal from unofficial sources, can it be con-
! sidered complete, even for the period in
vcstigated.
From 1888, however, they have been
very busy indeed. These corporations
or considerably more than two thirds Of
| the entire manufacturing capital of the
| United States. The following is a list of
| the trusts organized in the United States
in 1889:
Irvine Trust-Composed Of thirty-two cor
poratons, organized under the laws of New
| York single corporation, The American
| COrtla,e Company" Organization completed
| about March, 1889
| Sugar ust-Itccrganized in October, 1889,
as The Sugar Eelineries Company" 1t con-
| trolled - per cent. of the American consump-
| tioa Of refined sugar in 1888.
| Barbcd Wre Trust-Organized by John M.
| Gates, of st. Louis and others, IL November
| 1859, as The Federal Steel Company" embrace
ing barbed wire corporations at ST. Louis, Bur-
| lington, Salem, Cincinnati, Brooklyn and
other places. Capital stated at S12,OoO,0O0
Wire Rod rrust-Embracing nine mills.
Steel TRUSTS Bcscmer Steel Association
embracing makes Of heavy blooms and slabs;
Merchants Steel Association" finished steel;
| "Western Steel, OF Chicago;" Ohio Steel"
Combination organized by English capital.
Forge Companies Trust-Reported by Amer
lean Manufacturer, November, 1885, embrace
ing 80 per cent. of works.
Mineral Water Observation-Disclosures re-
ported November, 1889, representing capital of
S25,0G0,O0 Soda Water Trust embracing six
teen corporations. Reported the 31st of De-
| cembcr, 1889.
Tin Syndicate-Organzed in California in
1889 by English capital.
Tin Plate Trust-Organized in 1883.
BoraX Trust-Organized 1859.
| Rubber Boot and Shoe Trust-The organiza-
| ton of this trust was reported from Boston the
| 9th Of August, 1889, part of the capital -ur-
| nished being that of an English syndicate.
| Tho English interest was stated at 100000.
| On the I'd Of February last the trust decided
| on an advance Of 10 per cent.
Mechanical Rubber Goods Trust.
Canned Meat and Dressed Beef Trust Of
| New York.
Coffin Trust.
Paper Trust-Reported the 9th Of June, 1889,
| a5 a combination between English and Ameri-
| can manufacturers.
Cotton Oil Trust.
| Butchers Supply Trust.
| Cracker, Cake and Biscuit Trusts.
| Coke Trust of Pennsylvania.
The Shot Trust.
The Linseed Oil Trust-The trust has its
| headquarters at Chicago, and virtually con-
| trolls the market.
The Label Printing Trust.
Tobacco Trust.
| Cigarette Trust
Nitro Glycerine Trust.
Smelling and Refining Truss-Embracing the
leading smelling works of the. country.
Oatmeal Trust.
Pickle Packing Trust
Jute Baggng Trust.
Cat Nail Trust-Embracing all the cut nail
mills except one at Bellevlle, Ills, and one or
| two Others
Straw Board and Paper Trust.
| Envelope Trust.
| Wrapping Paper Trust.
! Flour Mill Trust.
! White Lead Trust.
| Copper Trust.
| PlOw Trust.
! Sewer Pipe Trust.
| White Granite Ware Trust.
| Standard Oil Trust.
Spring Bed and Mattress Comb ination-
Nap1r Stove Trust.
American AK and Edge Tool Trust-It has
| made several heavy advances in prices since
| its organization in February, 1890.
| Canned Goods Trus.-Organized in March.
iS59
starch Trust-Part of the money was invested
| by an English syndicate
Salt Trust.
Table Glass and Crockery Trust
Dressed Beef Trust of Chicago.
pistilleIs' Trust
Cattle Feeders Trust.
Screw Trust.
school Slate Trust.
oilcIoth Trust.
Wrought Iron Pipe Trust.
Paper Bag Trust
Pearl Barley Trust.
Steel Rail Trust.
Making seventy-two large combina-
tiouS, some of which include many
others, The scventv-tw include to-
gether rs other truss in all 400 in two
Yeas.
What is the first thing done by 4 trust
alter lis incorporation: The first thing
done is to greatly raise the prices
When the advanced price brings down
the demand the production is curtailed;
thus. The Window Glass Trust" on
tic 49,! Of January 1890. at Findlav
O., agreed 10 shut down enough mills to
Sill further advance prices.
And when the profits Use so as to
make the managers of the trust ashamed
they water the stock. This process may
lie explained thus: Suppose trust con-
sists of 1000 shares of 500 each, and
the profit available for dividend is
$4,000: instead of declaring dividend
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