The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-09-17
No Milk Trust Yet.

A writer In the New York Herald says:
After John D. GIlmor had made nearly
million dollars a few years ago oy forming
the Cracker Trust, he Immediately began
planning how he could make more miiiions
by forming other trusts. As the nickeiS
and dimes poured into his little lunch room
and bakery shop at No. 38 Greenwich
street, he kept up steady thinking ana
pondering Finally he decided that amiik
trust would be a good thing-for him, at
least. He ascertained that trust controli-
ed the milk supply of London and had
made enormous profits. With this positive
proof of the profit TO be derived oy sucn
a combination, he had little dimculty IN
securing a number of English capitalists
who were willing to invest $lO.OOo.Ooo in Sc
curing absolutely the entire milk supply
of the Greater New York.
The English capitalists, however, held
little string which protected them That
was that the money was not TO be forth
coming until Mr.. Gilmor had secured the
consent Of all the milk dealers, either TO
selling outright or joining the combination.
That little string is just what has ruined
Mr.. G.lmor's chances Of making another
million of dollars.
In these days of opposition to trusts, ev-
erybody knows that the only way trust
can be successfully formed is by working
quietly and not taking the public into con-
fidence. That is where Mr.. Gilmor made
a mistake, for his first step after securing
the promise of money was TO make tie
matter public and try to prove to the peo-
pie of New York, as we'll as the milk
dealers, that a trust would be a great
blessing. As the criticism against the move
ment grew stronger each day, Mr.. Gllmor
grew sadder, but worked harder than ever
to secure that commission of one million
dollars. He succeeded in getting few
of the wholesale dealers interested to the
extent of looking into the matter.
But the feature that has caused the COM
plete collapse of Mr.. G:lmor's scheme is the
acton of the smaller dealers.
There are at least six hundred milk deal
ers who have these small creameries, and
their consent would have to be secured to
form a milk trust Last week the Retail
Dealers association, which includes all the
owners Of small creameries. held secret
meeting and decided that under no circum-
stances would they sell out 20 the Trust
unless they could get good deal more than
their business was worth. Mr.. GilmOr was
informed of their decision.
Since that time, for fear that some of
the retail dealers would be induced to
change their minds, the associations OFF,
cials have been quietly at work among
the dealers, and they have all promised
to do everything in their power to prevent
any trust.
1 called upon many Of the wholesale and
retail dealers, and while for personal rea-
sons they did not wish at present TO be
quoted, they unhesitatingly condemned the
proposed trust, and declared that Mr.. Gil
mors movement had collapsed and could
never be carried out. One of the dealers
said:
Even IL the few large dealers should
join Mr.. Gilmor's trust, the mere fact that
we control over one-haf the supply would
prevent its success. Not one of our deal
ers would sell out to the trust at less than
double the value. and in addition the trust
would have to buy all our horses and
wagons, which would be useless to the
trust. II would take at least $40, 900 TO
get control of the milk business and at
that price there would be no profit. To
corner the New York City milk would
mean TO corner the whole milk supply Of
New York and New Jersey. and this, Of
course, would be impossible. Antitrust
creameries would be established. and the
trust would fall completely. But there arc
certain reforms that are necessary. and
our association will try to bring them
about We shall try to prevent the selling
of milk by grocers. and use every ef-
fort to have only pure milk sold.'
At the offices Of the Echo Farm Dairy
and the Borden company 1t was positively
asserted that their respective companies
would have nothing to do with Mr.. Gill
NOR.
Later called at Mr.. Gilmor's place of
business. He was dVt Of town. but his
son stated that hope OF a milk trust had
not yet been abandoned. &S