New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-02
CAUSES OF IMPORTANT CHANGES WHICH MARX
TIE LAST FIFTY YEARS.

THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.
TO the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The effects upon the commerce Of the world
by the Introduction OF electricity both upon and
land for commercial is but impcrf,ctly under
stood by the general public Fifty years ago there
existed in this country class OF merchants OF the
highest order. whose enterprise led them 10 seek
commercial Intercourse with every country in the
known world. and who ly this Intercourse were ed
ucated TO broad and enlarged views II all matt
pertaining to commerce. ships and politics. They
planned their voyages 10 China. the Indies ana all
ohr known points whore there was promise Of al
vantagcouS business these VOYAGES requiring IN
many Instances year for completion. and the ships
employed frequently carrying their own advccs each
way. In dealing with the spice Islands much
left Of necessity TO the discretion Of the captains
employed. who were usually selected with view
10 their ability and shrcwdncsS: for In those trans
actions 1t WAS In Il great measure "A matter Of
barter and il formerly said that those sharp
captains in weighing In The pepper Is received. com
PEELED the nruvc, to a settlement upon Ia" basis Of
the weigh, of captains foJt 10 the pound To
what extent this carried was n'vcr aSccrtain"d.
but il is not to be supposed that in any event the
Yankee shippers worst In their transactions
otherwise than morally.
Now this Is all changed. Thee great commercial
houses are extinct or exist only in name. ana
this change Is caused by the Application Of eioc
these long voyages. requiring great Judgment and
discretion. planned and carried 10 completion. Int
In place thereof tho small dealers wire their
orders for small parcel, OF merchandise TO any part
OF the world ard in few days ar weeks thereafter
through III, aid OF ocean steamers and railroads
deposited in New-Yolk II Is lancniabc Tact
tbot We are no more 10 see these great houses and
great men of commerce. which were IN ornament
T., their agc and to the country; but In place
my ~ dealers.
gard 10 the fardistani business
Fifty years ago also. there existed a large MN
lrr OF merchants OF the highest ca-S. engaged In
the West india sugar trade. The production Of III"
Island % Cula regulated the pio'e Of suSar in th"
mercantile world. Iut sugar was comparatively
unknown and the dralors I'm sugar watched With
great in1cro, the growing Cdba crop. which nuciu
atcd between 100000 tons ana 100000 tons. II
the crop WAS near the former. high prices trr
vailed II the latter. then ~" prices were quit'
low Now Instead Of looking e Cuba and the West
India Islands regulate tie prices OF III" world,
we look 10 an entirely different quarter The little
cloud 10 the mnr,c, that wa then hut ju. appear
Ing ia Europe In the shape OF beet sugar. has now
grown TO enormou, proportions. and The beet prod
act Of Europe Yields In manufactured sugar from
3.dO0 600 10 100000 TONS Annually The con
sumption Of IN this country last year approx
mated 800 600 tons.
The great sugar importing houses have been rel"
gated 10 oblivion bv the huge sugar Trust monopoly
This lovely octopu, has gathered nearly the entire
timing business Of the country into IT. generous and pa
,ernal grasp. swept away these great importing houses
and mOnOpOi2ed almost the entire importing aud re-
filming business. II has purchased the rclncrics some
OF which out. useless iOoA rics. and ,,ucd
therefor rs stock nd lbitIm that thcs" Interesting
| and superannuacd relies Of The past are now rep
resented In sugar Trust stock for from five - ten
times IT'S value. IN facl. II l. probable that the
| acual value II the property represented m that
| Trust Is worth anywh"r" near the amount Of IN"
bonds and preferred stock. leaving the stock
| ntrnScally valuelces. tn" present profits ~ the
| conpasng the price Of the raw and refined SUGAR.
For several months the difference I'm these prices has
| exceeded the difference In the prices railing "a wear
ago about - cent per pound 40 per ton. which
upOn 800 900 would give ~2-. 800 900 a the
Increased amount paid upon the total quantity ~ -u-ar
| consumed refined In the United Stat 49,. and
| nearly two-thrds Of his passes into the pnicrnal
embrace Of the Trust II Is apparent that iis managers
can look com pl1ceny upon the complaint Of the
pulMc who NAV emphaiically be considered rs on
titled to the appelailon Of lambs for such they arc
| daily offered for sacrifice.
| lint there 4, another side 10 This. Such profits
] cannot always be- realized with IMMUNITY. Already
| roGnercs are beginning TO spring up both here In
baltimore and Philadelphia. and the time will como
| sooner or later, when thes" commercial stock Ger
| IGcatcs will be- Of little or no value. In the mean
lime however the octopus Will continue to enjoy It's
monopoly.