The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-05
THE TRUST.
Makes First
Move
TO ADVANCE PRICES
Rise Of Twenty-Five Per
Cent for Envelopes.

An advance of % per cent all along
the line
With this announcement in the in
crease in all grades OF envelopes, does
the recently organized United States
Envelope Company introduce itself to
the public.
For some weeks since the trust of en-
velope manufacturers of this country
was orgs niged, there have been repeat
ed rumors Of rises in price, but until
the last week there has been no authori-
itative statement in regard to the mat
ter, but 1t is revealed THAI there was a
substantial foundation upon which the
rumors were based.
This new schedule is now in full oper-
alton. and the envelope trust is pocket
ing the additional profits with it's usual
nonchalant spirit. AS the Worcester
envelope concerns are the backbone and
strength of the United States Envelope
Company, the new market price list has
been in vogue here in the Logan, SWIFT
& Brigham factory, Hill. and the G. f.
Whitcomb factory.
The price list based ON che advance
of 25 per cent has been in force for a
full week. dated from October 25th.
The leaders of the United States Pa
per Company, at a recent meeting and
conference in Boston, decided to adj
vance the prices to the extent stated,
and accordingly after the details Of the
advance in price were fully settled, cir
culars were sent out to the largest
wholesale paper dealers in the country,
announcing that an advance Of % per
cent had been made in the general
grades of envelopes.
While the advance has been more
than % per cent in some grades, it has
been less in others, but the average net
advance is 20 per cent. Whatever
doubt there has been in financial cir
eles of the strength and influence OF the
United States Paper Company it is now
dissipated by the official circular quot
ing the Is per cent.
The paper stationery trade is now
preparing 10 meet the advance of the
trust, and within a short time the gem
eral public viii begin to feel the effect
of the envelope makers combination.
Since the paper stationery trade was in
formed Of the advance, there have been
conferences among the wholesale and
retail envelopes dealers Of the country
in Chicago and New York, as to the
general price LIST which they win be
forced to adopt through the action Of
the paper trust
Tho United States Envelope Company.
according to the estimate of the paper
stationery trade, controls 80 per cent OF
tho envelope production of the country,
SO that the wholesalers and retailers
are at the mercy OF the trust
Now that the trust reveals its fine
Etalian hand IN passing the price, there
is presented to the envelope nanufac-
turers who are not IN the combination
the opportunity to show their position.
II they can exist In the fight against
the trust. then they will show it at the
present time, and II they cannot fight
the Is per cent advance, then every
thing will fall into. the control of the
trusts grasp. and other advances can
be made at VIII
The advance is practically the throw
ing dewn OF the gauntlet to the uncom-
bined to come out and fight. and the
latter have no choice but to fight But
the odds of 10 per cent against 80 are
so uneven, that the trust or, as the
envelope makers pleasingly style them
selves, 1.-THE Omitted States Envelope
Company" will soon have everything
in sight, so that the psople wiz then
realize keen1y that a trust has been
formed and that they are at its mercy.
The fact that members OF the trust
is a strength to them, and the small 10
per cent who are out of the combination
have to rely upon public sympathy,
which in their case may be decidedly
unsubstantial.
The statement given out by the trust
as the reason for the rise. is the grow
ing cost Of the raw material, of pulp.
and other materials which are used in
envelope manufacture. It is stated that
the supply OF pulp and other materials
is being exhausted and that the price
for these articles is suffering a conse-
quent advance. This. it is said, more
than counterbalances the eheapened
cost Of production resulting from a
combination Of the envelope producers
and the determination Of profit eating
competition.
James Logan, one of the head officers
of the envelope combine, was seen last
evening in regard to the advance, and
said that it had been in force week.
It applied to all grades of envelopes
manufactured by the United States En-
velope Company.
With regards to the percentage Of in
crease, he said that he could not speak
on that matter as the advance was of
such vital import to the envelope com
pany.
Anent the permanency of the advance
and the fundamental reason therefor.
Mr. logan said that he could not yst