The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-10
MILLIONS IN BAD MATCHES.

Millions in bad matches! by the
simple trick of cutting the wood across
The grain. or Of cutting it with the grain
at such an angle that it viii split al
most lengthwise when friction is ap-
piled, it is asserted that the match
trust is adding to it's profits by enor-
nous sums yearly.
1t has been noticeable % any user of
matches. during the last few weeks I'm
particular, and the wood IS OF bad quail
ity and that the match Is apt to break
just below the birthstone, or TO split
just above the fingers.
is II because nature has ceased TO
guide the grain of wood as before?
is 80 because the workers in the
match factories are any less skillful.
have become bungling in their work?
Or is it because the concerns that
make matches. being Incorporated in a
powerful alliance. have hit upon a way
To increase their profits by creating
demand FOR matches that - not pro-
poItionate with the needs OF the match
users? asks the Chicago Tribune.
Whatever the reason. the fact re-
mains that the matches are bad-per-
haps not one of ten. sometimes two of
three And without ascertaining the
cause. figures can be made to show that
the people are paying to the dealers
which, in turn means the wholesalers
and the manufdctu ers-more than S.
100000 a year more than they would
pay were the matches OF good quality.
The average consumption OF matches
day for each person can. perhaps, be
placed at ten. The cigarette smoker Of
"a vi fIGn lc FT.tntN r-fikr IN
and the cigar smoker as many as twen-
ty-five. The housewife hardly could use
less than ten ana the small boy finds
rT1aT1y TEEdy rOT rnE rraTIC producers.
Counting the population OF the coun-
try at 70,000.000 the number of match 5
used each day would be 700 200. 900. on
basis OF three in every ten matches
being bad. the number OF useless
matches for which the people OF the
country are forced TO pay each day
would be 30 600. 600. Quite a few. TO be
| sure. but wait till the figures for a year
| are shttn.
| In a week the total multiples Co !, =
| 40 600 900. In a month. counting thirty
/ days. $500, 0O0 GOO bad match s have
| helped to enrich the men who make,
| distribute and sell them.
| The figures are already I'm billions. but
INhen the number for one day Is multi
| piled by 365, the astonishing total Of IS
| $50 600 600 is reached Take this many
| matches pile them I'm heap and their
| bulk could better be understood. They
| would keep a small town in fuel
| for the winter.
The ordinary box of parlor matches
contains 200 bits of wood and brim-
stone. The price varies but the average
! can reasonably be placed Mt one and
| one-half cents box Reduce the total
of $3.50 00000 bad matches 10 boxes
and 3S3 600 is the result. AT one and
! one-half cents per box. the price paid
! a year for the ingeniously cross-Cut
| matches represents the comfortable
| sum Cf las $50.
And this is not the amount paid by
| the American people for matches. II Is
merely what they pay for the matches
that canrot be used.
4 prominent wholesaler when asked
| to explain, only looked owlish and
! smiled.
but can the figures be denled?" was
| asked
"They are mathematically correct
! he answered. and then. as an after
! thought suggested: But you do not
take into consideration the girls and old
maids. and Cinnamon. and babies who
O. not use matches at aH,or more than
! one or tvs a day
He might have mentioned the small
boy who plays with matches in his
fathers barn but he didn't. 1t was not
I'm line with his argument.
H ~ -r-ttrrrr-rfv weak
on the matches i'm cutting the wood?'
Il don't make them" replied the gro-
Ger dryly. "and can't say"
lie admitted. however. that there ha :
been many complaints recently from
the retailers. but could not remember
that his firm had reported the matter
10 the manufacturers.
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lula Msrlowe.