The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-09


largest capacity of any on the list, and be-
cause the Sperrys are so prominent among
millmen that the name of the Sperry Mill
Ing Company has been given 10 the new
corporation.
reporter of The CALI, met Messrs.
Sperry. Hogg and Moody in the Office of
SperTy Il Co. on California street Yesterday
The big millmen had just sent their arti-
ces OF incorporation TO Sacramento and
seemed to be pleased TO have the job off their
different interests together to the satsfac-
ton of all concerned.
They seemed afraid that the public might
get the idea through THE CALL that their
giant combination was trust.
1T is nothing of that SORT" said James
mot at ALL" said Mr. Hogg.
I'VE have only California capital inter-
ested In our company" said Mr.. Moody.
mot one cent Of English capital in It,"
said Mr.. Sperry.
What is the aggregate daily capacity of
the mills in your continuation" asked
THE CALL reporter.
"a bout 1900 barrels" said Mr.. Hogg
Better put it at 6000," said Mr.. Sperry.
"Thafs nearer"
"All right. say 6OOO," said Mr.. Hogg.
=" on see, there's the San Francisco Mill.
1000; the two in Sacramento, 1000; Stockton,
1900; Marysville, 400; Gridey, 400; San
Jose, 200; HOLSTER, 400; Salinas, 600; Kings
City. 200; Paso Robes, 200, and San Luis
Obispo, not running. Altogether 5900-or
say 5000"
what is the object of the combination ."
"Well," said Mr.. Sperry. I'VE haven't
gone into 1t to lose money"
cts to prevent overproduction, said Mr..
Moody.
mo, indeed" said the other two gentle
mo-" said Mr.. Hogg, "the price of -four
Is not 10 be affected"
"How many men are working in all these
mills?" asked The CALL reporter.
About 1000" said Mr.. Sperry. "But we
shall make no reduction in the mum Der nor
in their wages"
"Oh, no" said Mr.. Hogg. "there will be
no necessity for that"
''But what has been the effect of other
fourmill combnations?" asked the re-
porter.
''Oh, there have been no big ones on this
coast. There was the Central Milling Com
pany."
Yes" said Mr.. Moody. "We combined
II mills six years ago in that company"
'Are they all running now?" asked the
reporter.
swell. no." said MI Moody. "We shut
down some of them. Some are now dis
mounted, or aroused for other purposes"
Will not this combination have similar
effect?"
ne bHIeb gentlemen looked aL eacn OlEel
but did not reply Immediately.
81 don't think 1t will, said Mr.. Sperry
''All we want to do is to guard against over.
production"
That's ALL" said Mr. Hogg.
"Ihe idea is" continued Mr.. Sperry
that we want TO do business On q cheaper
basis and put our stock on the market un.
der better advantages. AS 1t now stand:
each mlllman takes all his risks singly
Now, in this corporation, il my mill should
burn down tomorrow my product would &c
on just the same"
suggested the reporter. "How about tn at ?''
ION, yes. so far as we in the company are
concerned there will be no competition, but
we will not put uD prlces-on that we are
determined. Oyerproduction and limited
markets have kept US in check, and pre-
vented US from ma king any great money In
the business. We hope 10 DO little better
in the future under the new arrangement
How about the other milling companies,
will they join your"
'Oh, yes" said Mr.. Hogg, "they will ali
be with us In time. just as soon as we gel
well under way you will see them com
ing In"
"And the big Starr mills?"
well, you see" said Mr.. Sperry, "ths
Starr mills do an export trade, while ours il
more OF domestic nature"
but they will come In ;" said Mr.. Bogg
wise" ''
''Of course" said Mr. Moody, "the public
has prejudice against combines OF this
sort, but 1t is really unfounded."
He cited the instance of the Standard Oil
| Company and said that oil was cheaper
under the monopoly than 1t had been when
| competition had been free He said moth.
| ing. however, OF the fayoritism shown &c
the Standard Oil by the transportation com.
panies. or the largely increased output oil
oil, and the heavy competition of gas and
electric lights against 1t In latter years
Flour will not advance In price as a re.
suit of this combination" Mr.. Moody de.
clared. THE public need not fear that"
Alfred Bannlster OF the Starr mills, who
was seen by CALL reporter. said that his
| company had not been asked 10 Join.
IF we were asked" said Mr.. BannIster
"we would not join"
"Why not?" asked the reporter.
because ours has always been an indie
pendent concern, and we will maintain i
as SUCH"
81 don't think their combined capacity ID
any greater than ours. Ii Is about 5000 bar
rels day in each case"
"What Will be the effect on the market?''
was asked.
1T is hard to say. Business may i'm.
prove. There Is certainly room for i'm.
proyement. but you cannot tell exactly what
means the combination will take 10 prevent
overproductioD."
Mr.. Bannister said the mills of California
grind out 100000 barrels of flour year
100000 of which is consumed in thu
State. THIS would mean daily produc
ton OF about $500 barrels il the mills al
ran every day in the year. Placing ths
number at 5000 barrels the mills of the com
blnation, according to the sta tements of it:
oineers, nave capacity sufficient TO GRIND
all the wheat That is ground in the State.
mlllman OF prominence IN this city SAID
yesterday: u know something Of the plans
OF the combination. | have heard that it Ii
the intention OF the millers interested in 1