The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-15
SILK MILL STOCK.
1t is An Old Stoty-It is Resuneeted
Every Yeaf

For sometime rumors have been cur
rent that huge trust is to be- formed
with a capital of slO0.000,000 for the
purpose OF controlling all the silk mills
of the country and freezing out all the
small concerns. Much excitement has
been felt, and also wild talk and quick
jumping at conclusions have becn going
on ut Il lively step.
The question is not "A new one. IL
has arisen periodically every now and
then since 1888. but every time n close
study Of the question has revealed such
complications and such number OF inn
pedimcnls that each time it has been
| given up Us impossible to solve. Now
this last year trusts of every description
have become quite fashionable, and trust
and combine lovers have deemed the time
| ripe for its resurrection and started the
ball rolling again. II will be like all
impossible things; it will fall, to re-
appear again, like the North pole
expeditions.
People mt large are stopping at moth
| ing and seem to think that what is
possible in II branch of trade is possible
in all branches, but this is very great
mistake and here is the reason why.
Some combines can be made to CON
troll the staple products and also the
common neccssarics Of life, ~ wheat,
oatmeal, crackers poultry, eggs, spir-
| its. bread, sugar, tobacco, etc, etc,
which products are almost always the
same, and not subject to the change
that styles and fashion bring every
season. Sometimes meat. sausage.
milk, butter and ice can also be con
trollcd, although never for II very
long while. The other products Of in
dustry which can most easily be con-
trolled are, rs everybody knows, coal,
iron in every form, tin plate, rolled
bars, rails, nails, etc, also manufac-
tured products such as cotton yarns,
cotton cloths, as long as they are not
fancy, dye stulrs, matches, needles, pins,
lumber, window glass, bottle glass,
crockeries, brick, cement, plaster,
tiles, etc.
a trust in industrial business is, with
n few exceptions, and especially would
be in the case Of silk manufacturing
trust, combine of number OF mill
owners who have started in the early
beginning Of the industry in this coun-
try: have made large fortunes, but,
finding that they cannot any longer
hold their own with their old machn-
cry, which has become utterly obsolete
in face OF the progress Of new aud high
speed machinery, and especially of the
brainy and go-ahead ways of the now
generation Of younger manufacturers,
are trying to get rid of their weaving
material-good enough for the junk
good natured lambs, who as ever are
ready to swallow the pill, which, by the
way, they will find bitter one, when
the insiders think the time ripe for
squeezing them and in Wall street run
the price of the shares down to several
degrees below the freezing point. Let
the lambs open their eyes and remem-
Der that many trusts have before melt
ed away like snow under July sun,
and their securities had not even the
value of clean paper to wrap up limbur-
ger cheese at the grocery. The cordage
trust failure, which occurred not so
very long ago. ought to remind them
OF what they can expect in investing
their cash in business they do not
know the first word about.
But when it is a question of com
bne in the silk business, which entails
the interest of so many side concerns
such as mill supplies, throwing plant,
dyeing and finishing plants, all of which
depend upon each other to run smooth.
ly and thrive, cannot help thinking
it is a huge joke, destined sooner or
later to fall fiat. In the first place, the
silk industry is according to the decree
OF fashion. subject TO many changes.
One might say that every season brings
along new class of goods, new kind
OF weave, many new designs, which, as
soon us Dame Fashion has spoken in
Paris or London, must be made here
and quick, as the retailer who does moi
have them on his shelves is eager tc
get them rs quick as possible, and al
almost any cost at the beginning of the
season, which is the time when he car
reap the largest harvest of profits.
, Let me tell you that at this mo
, ment II small silk manufacturer O
genius has been smart enough to pro
I duce some tasteful lines of designs ant
| has had the right information from thu
> other side of the ocean, the retailer viii
, go to him every time and try and hav'
r the control OF his whole production
4 especially If he does not belong to
Y trust.
2 Trusts are not possible where higl