The Somerset reporter., 1892-04-07
FARM, GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
open Letter TO /. C. Libby

Geo IL. Page, manager Of the Anglo
Swiss Condensed Milk Company of New
York which runs two large fact re-
writes an open letter to Hon. l. {. Libby
and it appeared in the Maine F rmer Of
las. week. We make extracts from the
letter as follow
You state that, At the present time
the condensed milk business OF this coun
try is controlled by monopoly, there
being but thirteen condensed milk factor
les on this continent. six Of which are
owned by the New York 1ndensed Milk
Co." You seem to be led up to the Idea
that the condensed milk business is
monopoly from the fact that six factories
II the thirteen are owned by one firm
You fail TO state that the other seven OF
the thirtt en- factories In your mind, are
owned by seven firms, which together
with the New York Condensei MIX Co
would make eight tirms, between which,
10 my certain knO"ledge, there is no
agreement or combination OF any kind.
How, then do you find legitimate use FOR
he word monopoly" applied to condens-
ed milk
But you are wrong as to the number OF
factories. There are more than thirteen.
am able to count up fifteen factories, a.
follows: New York Condensed NJ III
Co six, Anglo Swiss Condensed M Tx Co.
two; The Highland Co., two; Michigan,
Co, one; Monroe Co., one; ST. Charles
Co., one The Elgn Co., one; Cinileld,
one. These factories are conducted by
eight separate and distinct firms, between
which the freest OF comp .tition has un-
| fettered sway. Where, then. does the
| monopoly come inn There IS probably
no industry in the United States conduct
| ed under freer competition, closer com
| petition, sharper competition, and almost
deadly competition, than the condensed
milk business. If the almost deadly com
petition does not apply to two OF the
largest manufactures, 1t does apply to
the others, and will apply to all new com
ers. The New York Co. is still doing
well, for the reason that 1t hes had thir
| ty years prestige, and about twenty-five
years the start of all the rest in this
country. You should know. however
that the profits OF the New York Co. do
not ali arise from the manufacture and
sale of canned condensed milk. That
company runs about 100 milk wagons In
New York and Brooklyn. supplying a
very large part of all the crude milk the
great cities of New York and Brooklyn
consume, They have not by any means
monopoly In these two cities in the sup
plying OF crude milk, but they have much
nearer monopoly Of the supplying OF
all the crude milk Of these two cities,
than they have of the supplying Of can
ned milk throughout the United States.
What Is the result? Decentralization, or
confusion and CONSERVATION In the con
densed milk trade. The demand, though
considerable, is limited. Should the de.
mand increase, the New York Condensed
Milk Co., evidently stand ready to prompt
ly increase their facilities. The same is
the case with the Anglo S wiss Co., but at
present the Anglo-Swiss Co., has no need
Of increased facilities, for they have
surplus of facilities already. Their plant
at Dixon, H.. cost, with the grounds,
over S4OO, 600. Neither that factory, nor
the Anglo. Swiss factory at Middletown,
N. y, have ever been operated to even
one. quarter of their capacity.
| You state that 1.-THE New York Cos six
factories supply one half Of the condens
ed milk used in the United States, anC
that the balance is largely imported.
You are correct as to the doings Of tn,
New York Condensed Milk Co., but you
are altogether wrong as to the larg.
amount imported. To my certain know
ledge less than two per cent. of the milh
consumed In the United States is import
ed. The little that is imported is sold fal
above the prices asked for the domestic
article. Under the Mckinley act the Am
erican market Is preserved to Americans,
but the trade over the seas to ELL countries
outside of Europe and the United States,
Is almost entirely In the hands Of Euro
pean manufacturers. As the consumption
however, OF condensed milk in the United
| States equals about one. half Of that of the
>s; ::t.as foJc, i am wen satisfied with the
home market. The American factories
| represent would not be worth cent apiece
without the protective duty.
1t Is not at all a question of capital, of
enterprise, of energy, OF brains, of pluck,
or OF hsht 1t out If it takes ell summer"
or anything of that kind, but 1t is ques-
ton of having the first start, large bust
ness, and possessing prestige with the
trade and with consumers.
You will probably look upon this com
munication as written by an interested
party; one interested to keep down com
petition. | own up to my own interest in
The matter, but your interest is at least
equal to mine, for your business judgment
as well as your capital. is at stake.
n A ID ID