The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-29
FREE ooFTINs IN KANSAS.
Topeka UndertnIsers Engaged in a
bitter Fight for business.
From the Chlcago Trlbune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Topeka. Kan. May 22.-"Free collins for
everybody is the battle cry of Topeka
undertakers A rate war has been raging
for three weeks, and prices for plain
caskets have dropped from So to nothing
at all. and metallic cases from Sis to
S. The fight is stlll as bitter as ever.
and It is expected that flowers and mar
Bile tombstones will be furnished free with
every funeral before the close Of another
week.
! The present war in prices is the out
! growth of an attempt to boycott and
| drive J. NJ Knight out Of business by
! other undertakers, who. II is alleged, are
members of a trust. Several years ago
! combination was formed by all the
undertakers in Topeka except Knight, who
| refused TO join. Although he did not cut
/ prices, he refused to subscribe 10 the
| rules Of the combination, and the result
| was a long and bitter fight was waged
| upon him and determined attempt was
made to drive him out of business.
knight brought suit against the other
| undertakers for conspiracy and asked
| 5000 damages. The case dragged along
| in the courts for several months and was
! finally compromised. 1t Is said the combi-
nation paid Knight $500 and all expenses
/ TO withdraw his suit.
There has been no trouble since that
/ time until this spring. Knight discovered
/ that his business was not up TO mark OF
! former years and as people were dying off
as rapidly as ever he concluded he was
| not getting his full share of the business.
| He began 70 advertise in the newspapers
and at first contented himself with call
| ing attention 10 the superior style and
| finish Of his collins the beauty OF his
| hearse, and the extra springiness Of his
! funeral carriages.
In spite Of his sweetly worded. alluring
advertisements business got worse and
1 finally he grew tired Of standing in the
door of his coffin store watching funeral
professions pass by, led by the hearses
front carriages, while the plumes on the
horses Haunted an air Of victory.
Then knight began to copy the style Of
mis- neighbors, the dry goods men, in his
Advertisements, and offered all sorts Of at
tractive bargains In collins. He took large
amounts Of space In the daily newspapers
to tell how cheaply he was selling three
panel, patent top, FURNISHED silver trim
rssd adult cloth baskets and full size,
metallic. burgar-proof cases; This sort
Of up-tO-date advertising quickly brought
results and he was soon BUSY filing or
ders.
His rivals, who had never before adver-
tised tried 10 induce him to Withdraw his
advertisement and conduct his business
on the old plan, but falling in this, they
began TO cut prices and the war was on
Both sides advertised literally and the
newspapers have encouraged the fight.
The first prices at which Baskets were
advertised TO be sold ranged from S35 TO
3d. and the best metallic caskets were
offered as low as $50. These same cas-
kets had been selling at SIS the week be-
fore
Within a week prices had dropped to the
following:
complete northumberland. As
No. adult cloth casket, trimmed
complete ..-.+..-..... ..----......t..- W
No. S-Adult casket, trimmed. with
No oo4 LAdnlt cloth casket silver han ~ "
nj dies and box . . $50 Is co
No metallic caskets ................ % 90
sizes ................. ................. 10 90
Chlldrens caskets from % cents up.
Our caskets are not "chestnuts," but
guaranteed best grade chestnut wood.
The above quotations were made by the
combination, and IL was thought knight
had thrown up the sponge, as his adj
vertisement did not appear the next day
It seems he was only waiting to get his
breath. however as to-day's papers con-
tain his announcement in big black type,
as follows:
When my carriages are furnished for
funerals I will make no charge for
No. / adult cloth casket, trimmed COM
plete.
No 2 adult cloth casket. trimmed COM
plete.