The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-24
FOR A MILK TRUST.
All Dealers in New York to be Fore
ed Into the Combine.

New York Aug. PA milk trust for
Greater New York is the latest project
for monopoly in q food supply on which
the eyes of group of capitalists are
centering. Before long the people or
the greater municipality may have to
take their milk from trust or go with
out.
Nearly every wholesale milk dealer
within a radius of Is miles of the city
hall has been approached, and all OF
them have been advised to come into
the trust fold or take the consequences
the consequences being the deStruc-
ton of their trade. Every dealer re-
allies that he is helpless in the hands
of the capitalists who are behind the
scheme.
The promoter in whose brain the idea
of a milk trust was conceived is John
D. Gilmore, who owns somewhat un-
pretentiouS bakery at No. 2O3 Green
wich street. To meet Mr.. Gilmore on
the street, or anywhere else, no one
would think that he was a millionaire.
He dresses plainly and is different
kind of man in appearance from the
average promoter of Wall street. Mr..
Gilmore was one of the. promoters OF
the New York Biscuit company, and
his commission of 21a per cent is said
to have netted him half million dol
lars He is known to have promoted
other trusts, but his greatest success
was with the biscuit combine.
Prepared with data, he enlisted the
attention and consideration of several
capitalists, who wanted good paying in
vestments, and now he is said to repre-
sent $1O,000.000 that can be used for the
milk scheme, with many more millions
back of it.
Having laid all of his plans. Mr.. Gil
more was ready to gather in the deal
ers. Among the first to be visited
were the Empire State Dairy company
and the c. B. Beaks company. Mr..
Gilmore said to them that he represent
ed an English syndicate that wanted to
go into the milk business. and that $1O,-
100000 was guaranteed, with ten times
that sum if needed. The competition
between the dealers, he pointed out, wa 5
detrimental to all their interests, and
that by economiZing about so per cent
could be saved and a handsome profit
made for everyone in the business. The
syndicate would buy the business out
right and form a company. What he
wanted was an option, to expire on Oc-
tober 1. The terms .Of the contract
would be 80 per cent cash and SO per
cent in the stock of the new company.
The seller would have to sign an agree
ment not to go into the dairy produce
business for twenty years within a GER
tain radius of the city Of New York
Nothing, however, was to be said in
the contract about stock as part pay
ment That would bring them under
the trust law.
some of the dealers, I'VE should refuse
to give you an option, what would be
the result? You couldn't take our Gus
toners away"
OH, no, WOulQ OS MI It
ply, I'VE wouldn't seek to take your
customers. All we might do would be
to eSta bliSh cream merieS alongside of
yours and offer 2 cents or more to the
farmers for their milk. and they, too,
would prefer to deal with u.s.
The company intends to serve all of
Greater New York. The middIemen
are to be abolished. 1t is proposed to
divide Greater New York into districts
and instead of hundreds of milk shops,
as at present, have only two or three
huge depots in each borough, thus saw
ing thousands in rent and the wages of
labor.