The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-14

Having tired of the continued cutting
and slashing of prices on all mill pro-
ducts, the most prominent millers Of
northern Utah and southern Idaho
have come together and now have in
course of evolution a territorial mil
ling association, which has for its
ultimate object the absorption of all
Of the mills in the territory and two in
Idaho, and their management under
one head and through one board of
directors, much Oh the same principle
! as that upon which the Inter-Mountain
Milling company, the combine of five
of the Salt Lake county mills, is based
and now operating. Prices of mill pro-
ducts and wheat are to be regulated
and maintained according to the views
of the association, although the pro-
motors disclaim any intent on of rum
ming down the quotation on grain or
the imitation of prices on mill products
beyond that point where the mills can
make d reasonable revenue on the in
vestments. The combination is to be
formed, they say, to prevent the cut
ting of prices and in order that the
operating expenses may be greatly
reduced through the operation of all of
the plants under one management. At
resent the organization is simply tenn
A3orary and the prices on mill pro-
! ducts fixed at the recent meeting of
millers are to be maintained. at least,
1'atil the first day in May, before which
sme it is anticipated that the per-
hnanent association will be a reality
Until the last Saturday of the present
month, General Manager ToWndrow, of
the Inter-Mountain Milling company,
will act as chairman of the organiZa-
ton, while Resident Manager Jeppson,
of the Thatcher Milling and Elevator
company, will be the secretary. Nine
teen mill owners, including the Frank
lin Qdaho), Milling company and the
Hardness Milling company, of Mccain
mon, Idaho, have already made known
their willingness to enter the associa-
ton, If 1t can be organized on an
equitable basis. With the possible eX-
ception of two, this number includes
ali of the Salt Lake county mills. The
Layton Milling and Elevator company
is in, as are also both of the Weber
county mills, three Cache county COM
panies and the southern Idaho mills
named. It is also anticipated that the
Utah county and Nephi plants will
come in. and also several of those in
Sanpete county. In the event Of a
territorial organization being formed
on permanent basis the mills would
be rated at an agreed price and then
decided TO a company to be incorpor-
Thousand dollars capital.
Two meetings We're held yesterday
by the prime movers in the project
there being fourteen mills personally
represented. Both of the meetings
We're held at the offices of the Inter
with Mr.. Towndrow in the chair and
S. J. Jeppson at the secretary's desk
The discussions were thorough and ex-
tended, touching as they did upon
every phase of the matter in hand
Some of the representatives expressed
some doubt as to the ability Of an
organization such as that proposed to
meet expenses and pay dividends to
the stockholders, but Mr. Towndrow
sile1ced The skeptical by stating that |
the Inter-Mountain Milling company, |
despite the great reductions which |
have been made in the prices of mill |
products, has been able to make u |
per cent on its capital stock during |
the first year Of its existence. He |
claimed that the organization of the |
mills of the territory into a permanent |
association was the only way in which |
any Of the institutions could make any
money As a result of the prolonged |
discussion. it was decided to make the
necessary preliminary movements look
ing toward the organization proDosed
ana committee made up of Messrs.
4oWndrow, Mack, Haslam, Jeppson
anu hydS' Oh Nephl, was named for
me purpose of visiting al, of the mil
iers in the territory and ascertaining
Just what are their feelings regarding
Inc proposed movement, or consoIida-
ZION; This committee viii get down to
work at once and report at the meet
ing TO be held on the last Saturday in
The month. -
The millers deny that this is a move
preparatory to sale to eastern or
Foreign capital, but there are those !
VINO pretend to know whereof tbey
speak, who contend that at least Soma
OF the movers in the project have thai
idea in ultimate view INA