The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-01

Prices in the Hard
ware Line Have
Been Forced Up.
THE WIRE TRUST is PROMINENT.
A Scarcity of Raw Material
Helps to Retard Build
ing Operations.

Scarcity of raw material and trusts
are playing havoc with local dealers in
hardware and builders materials.
Since Jan. the advance in prices has
been greater than any in the history of
the trade. Prices have advanced so
rapidly that manufacturers cannot keep
abreast of the times, and catalogues are
not sent out because of the frequent
changes in prices.
Nearly everything in the hardware
line is now manufactured or controlled
by a trust, but primarily the cause of
the increased prices is said to be the
scarcity of pig iron. The effect upon
intending builders has been felt in this
city, and many have postponed the
erection of houses and business blocks
awaiting drop in prices of hardware.
Owing to the limited supply of raw
material jobbers report that it is hard
to ill orders, but the dealer who stockel
up in hardware lines several months
ago is dispensing his goods at a big
margin of profit, if he is selling at the
generally quoted prices. Not only in
iron manufactures, but in every other
metal used in hardware goods, prices
have scared skyWard during the pres
ent year.
Tin reached 80 cents Fer pound in the
New York market last week. This is
an increase of Is cents per pound The
American Tin Plate trust, monopolizeI
of the trade in this country, is believed
to have caused the present conditions
iii tin. Smaller sizes of tin plate have
been advanced so cents per box, and The
20x2S plates are selling at 81 more than
the usual price. Copper is worth $3.50
a ton, against s11.5O a year ago.
Members of the firm of Duncan 4
Goodell said yesterday
THE biggest increase in the goods
we handle Is in the price of nails. A
year ago we sold nails at $3.50 per keg
that we are now selling at $3.50 and
$2.75 key. The American Steel and
Wire Co. controls the manufacture OF
wire nails, and prices have advanced
since the company was inaugurated.
"It is unsafe, as a matter of business
to sell supplies in large lots, especially
if the dealer does not have the goods
on hand. The prices are going up sew
eral notches every day, and the price
goods will be sold at, is the price or
them when your order is received. VIZ
cannot get prices today and order to-
morrow, expecting to receive the goods
as per prices quoted, because a day
means another advance and the job
Der has to protect himself.
THE American Steel & Wire Co. i;
toying with the trade. Wire nails can
not be bought except through the trust
and if the company informs US tina
nails are IS per key, we have to buy
at that price, and the public of course
wonders at the prices we ask. All thu
big jobbers have Withdrawn quotations
and another big jump upward is ex
pected daily"
w. H. Willard spoke to The Spy mar
concerning trade conditions on prac
tically the same lines Henry M. Waite
said: "It is not considered good policy
to keep the public keyed up to fright
regarding the building problem, but
the quoted advances in the prices Of
builders supplies and hardware il
correct
1.-THE prices in general are not higher
than they should be. Goods have beer
sold during the last four years at
loss. The market is coming around tt
hard times reached us. Wire nails
have advanced in price, but 1t must r
known and remembered that the nails
have been sold at less than the actua
cost of the wire in them. Severa
months ago, when wire nails were be-
ing sold at rock bottom prices, a wire
mill owner told me that he had work
men in his employ who earned SO cents
q day. Better wages are being paid the
workmen now. There is no reason tc
await reduction in prices.
"If wire mill, large enough to have
any effect on the trade was built. il
could not be in operation until January
During this time the trust will be II
control, and building will not be al
a standStill.