The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09
AVERAGE PRICE OF GALVANIZED SHEE
IRON NO "a GAUGE


gauges.
Cotton ties are now made at home and
supplied ut lower cost to the consumer.
Similarly the tariff has transferred the
manufacture of lace window curtains, silk
and mohair plushcs, pearl buttons and
many other industries 10 the United States
Many Industries duil and lifeless for con-
siderable period bCsDre the act of 1890 are
now active. The Eoston Herald of July
Is, 1892, says:
"Where is the idle wop,cn mill todayf
Indeed there is none. or the number is 30
few that they not worth counting. Not
only is the gre.o 49,. jority of the wooden
mills employed, but many OF the manu-
facturers are contemplating engagements
and improvements, or such engagements
and improvements are alreadc begun.
What does this all mean9 Itmeans simply
the greatest consumption of wool that the
country has known for years"
The importatons of dutiabe articles in
1889 amounted in value to 1886, 900 900 and
in 1892 to 1868, 500, OOO, or a decline in three
years of $25, $4,000. If the value of the
imported articles of this class had increased
at the same ratio with the increase in the
value Of all importations in 1899 it would
have been $50,000,000 greater than in 1889
instead of $25, 500, 900 less. 1t would appear
from this comparison that articles of the
foreign value of at least $75, 0OO, 600 were
produced in TIC Unitci States in the fiscal
year 1892, which, if it had not been for the
adoption of the act Of 1890, would have
been imported. If we add a portion of
average rate of duty to this sum we should
have n value of domestic production re-
deemed from foreign competitors of at
least Sl00000,000. This production would
furnish employment to 200, 900 people and
support nearly n million. All of this is of
course an addition to the natural growth
OF our industries
In regard to trusts it is the climax of alb
surdity to say thGt the business Of wooden
manufacturing in the United States is or
ever has been controlled to any extent bv
trust. No such trust or even combine
tion Of any kind has ever existed. 1t would
be quite impossible to make any combine
ton that would or could control prices or
production CT wooden goods. as the number
OF establishments Is so great and the STYLES
manufactured of such infinite variety.
For the purpose of ascertaining the truth
in regard to these alleged trusts, whose
imaginary history covers more than twenty
pages OF The Congressional Record, adj
dressed a letter to at least one well known
manufacturer connected with each of the
principal industries that were included In
the list submit and will have printed
In The Record copy of my letter of in
quiry, and Of the replies received.
The representatives of seventy-nine in
dustries replied to my letter of inquiry.
OF these the representatives of seventy-two
deny in the most emphatic manner the
existence of any trust in the industries
with which they are connected, most of
them, as will be seen by an examination of
the letters, denying in Detail all the state
ments published by the senator from Mis-
souri,. Seven Of the parties denied the ex-
istence of trust, but admitted in a quail
fed way the existence of combinations
which were intended to be more or less
effective In controlling prices.
There Is no limit to the ingenuity or re-
sources OF the persons. employed in manu-
featuring statis(>cs f0r the purpore az
breaking down the peo1ootlvo G1f;m'