The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-11
New Trust Formed to
Make Them.
GIGANTIC CONCERN
Porter, Benoit and Porter
Sell Out to Combine.

Samuel Porter, the last lnanufaetur-
er of Worcester, is one of the chief pro-
motors in the big trust that has been
formed in the west, taking in the
largest last manufacturers of the Uni
ted States, and to control the making
OF lasts, both in this country and Brit
ish possessions in North America. It's
object is to amalgamata within this
combination all the last manufactur-
ers, thereby gaining complete control
of the work. AS the concerns in the
trust practically control the block
making, the small concerns would find
it hard to carry on profitable bust
ness, since they would have to pur-
chase from the trust
The West Virginia Daily Times, Ga-
ted Feb. IT, publishes an article an
nouncing that the state has granted a
charter to a large corporation, incIud-
ing the American Last Company, and
large foreign concern, to incorporate
for the purpose of manufacturing
buying, selling and dealing in lasts, last
blocks, all kinds of machinery, tools
and appliances for the manufacture of
lasts and shoe manufactures of all
from wood; to manufacture, buy and
sell the same; also to buy, sell and
deal in timber, timbering lands for the
purpose of obtaining materials that en-
ter into the said manufacture, to con-
struct railroads, tramways, telegraph
and telephone lines, to use and operate
the same for the convenience of the
company, the business Of this corpora
ton to be carried on in all parts of
Init
sions in North America. The principal
place of business of this corporation
shall be in Jersey City, Hudson coun-
ty, N. ]. 1t has a capital stock of
100000, the whole amount subscribed.
Three days later the Dayton Daily
News of Dayton, Ohio, wherein is To-
Gated one Of the largest last manufac-
turing establishments in the world, had
an interview with William H. Craw-
ford, president of the Crawford, Nc
Gregor & Candy Company, which is
published. The gentlemen named in the
corporation are William H. Crawford,
Dayton, o.; Edwin o. Krentler, Detroit,
Mich; Amos G.. FitZ Auburn, Me-;
William H. Cary, Brockton, Mass, and
Samuel Porter, Worcester, Mass. The
above represented the companies who
claim to produce more than 33 per cent
of the lasts now used in this country,
together with some other of the most
prominent last manufacturers OF the
United States. The corporation is ruby
perfected, and options on several lead
ing plants have already been acquired.
OF the $3,000,000 of stocks fully paid IN,
81, 500 900 are common stock, ana slow
600 are preferred stock.
In this undertaking several foreign
attorneys and financiers are Interested
to carry it to a conclusion. 1t is UNI
derstood that the primary object of this
corporation is to eliminate the compe-
tition arising from small manufactur-
ers in rebating the scheduled prices on
the above named articles, after bills
were duly receipted with said prices
1t is asserted that the small manufae-
turer will either have to come into the
combine or else be shut out by the
lively competition which will be brought
into the market by this new organiza-
ton.
Mr.. Porter was not at his factory on
Union street yesterday. He is away
from the city at present. But one of
his partners, O. A. Benoit, stated that
the stories of Mr.. Porters connection
with the combine were quite correct.
The firm Of Porter, Benoit & Porter,
which has been conducted in Worcester
for nearly So years, will now pass into
the hands of the trust 1t is one OF
the Oldest firms in its line in the state,
and has been a leader for years, supply
ing the trade of the great shoe manu-
featuring centres of New England,
principally in the manufacture of lasts
for ladies' and misses goods.
The firm was founded by Mr.. Por-
ter who afterwards admitted Mr.. Be-
mott to partnership, and later his son,
NJ C. Porter. Mr.. Benoit was not
ready to give the figures on which the
firm passed into the hands of the COM
bine, further than to say that they were
most advantageous.
There is but one other last manufac-
turing firm in the city, r. L. Colbert
10 Church street. Mr.. Colbert carries
on his business in the location form
erly occupied by the Mawhinney Last
Company, and makes a speciality of
lasts for mems shoes for the Canada,
Central Massachusetts and New York
trade. He has the proposition of the
combine under consideration. but will
not decide for week as to whether he
will enter or not