The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-06
UTAH SALT TRUST
PERFECT PLANS
Meeting of the Combine to Be
Held Today.
WHAT COMBINATION
MEANS TO THE STATE
Price of Refined Product Now at Its
Highest Notch.
Cost of Crude Material Has Been
Tilted In Way That Is Felt By
Stockmen and Millowners Com
PEELED to Use It-William B.
Clark Horror-stricken When
Word "Trust'' Is Used-Not a
Trust, But Combine.

There will be held in this city today
the annual meeting of the Inland Crys-
tai Salt company, otherwise known as
the Salt Trust. At this meeting plans
will be matured by which every active
salt plant of any Importance in Utah
will be brought under the control of
this combination. This movement to-
ward consolidation was begun year
ago, when the Intermountain Salt COM
pany disposed of it's interests to the In
land Crystal Salt company. That was
the birth of the Salt Trust, although it
was not so considered at the time.
The Inland Crystal Salt company was
incorporated at that time with a capi-
tai of 81, 900, 900. OF this s400,0 900 was
preferred stock, with per cent Gu
mulative dividends. The balance was
common stock. The officers elected at
that time were John Long of Kansas
City, president; n. w. Clayton of Salt
Lake City, vice president and general
manager; I. w. Clayton of Salt Lake
City, secretary and treasurer. The di-
rectors elected were as follows: John
Long and w. B. Clarke of Kansas City
Joseph F. Smith. James Jack, I. A.
Clayton, F. s. Richards and a. o.
Woodruff of Salt Lake City.
Absorption Goes On.
Since then the work of absorbing the
Independent plants has gone on. The
Intermountain was followed by the
Adams & Kiesel Salt company of SYRIA
cuse, Utah; the Lyman & Wallace plant
near Pennington. formerly operated as
the DeSeret Salt company; the Mt
Nebo Salt Manufacturing company
Nephi, and II. S. Stoves refinery in
this city. This gives the trust control
of every active plant in Utah that is
considered factor in the production of
Salt.
The effect of the combine will be
watched with the deepest interest by
the people of this state.
They will be anxious to know what
will be done with the absorbed plants
The Inland Crystal will be the only re-
finery operated.
They will be anxious to know the eff
feet on prices. Thus far the price of
refined salt has not been raised be-
cause it is now at the highest point
that can be sustained against outside
competition. But the price of crude salt
has been increased 100 per cent over the
prices under the only competitive sys-
tenn. The effect of this will be felt only
by stockmen and in the mills where this
salt is used for chlorination.
1t is but fair to state, however. that
prices of crude salt We're badly demor-
combination. Bulk salt was put on
board cars for 10 cents per ton, and
sacked salt for $2.25. When it is con-
sidered that the cost of loading alone
was II cents, and of sacked % cents per
ton, it will be seen that the margin of
profit was very small.
The trust was careful a year ago to
fix its prices at the point that would
assure it the market against all COM
petitors.
Not a Trust, But Combine.
William B. Clarke of Kansas City.
president of the Inland Crystal Salt
Trust company, and one of the prime
movers in the Salt Trust, is in the city
to attend the meeting today He was
seen at the Knutsford, and disavowe6
any knowledge of trust He said
that the various plants We're combining
simply for the purpose of cutting ex-
penses and placing the industry upon a
paying basis. Expenses can be cut by
disposing of useless officers and men.
and there will be a large saving in
operating expenses generally. Prices of
refined salt, he says. have not been in
creased. and will not be- They are
now shipping salt as far east as Den
yer. Colo, and Kearney, Neb.. and west
to the coast. They have had the Salt
Lake salt tested by government and
private chemists. in Paris, France, and
they pronounce it the best salt in the
world. Mr.. Clarke thinks the outlook
for the year is good. and that the ship
ments will be far in excess of recent
years.
Mr.. Clarke is accompanied by Charles
E. Small, prominent lawyer of Kan
Sas City, who represents the eastern
salt interests.