The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-06-01

for $4,000, and said concerning it:
THAT goes for nails. Before the nail
trust was in operation bought nails by
the train-load, when l needed them, dis
counting my bills, of course, and also
stating over what line, rail or boat, 1
Nowadays l must pay the trust cash on
the nail or I don't get the goods, while
l may save my breath or my ink SO far
as specifying the route of shipment is
concerned. The trust dictates the trans
portation company to be patronized.I do
not say they get a freight rebate-I do
not know as to that-but many insist
that they do, and that it goes far to-
ward paying dividends. l am seriously
opposed to this trust, as l am to others
/ could mention. Before the one in
question was formed, the price on nails
was $1.35; now it is more than so per
cent higher; nor can we wonder. l pre-
sumo the real value of all the plants
included in the nail trust would not ex-
ceed $10,000,00O, but it is capitalized at
$70,0OO,OOO, and dividends must be paid
on the water ballast they have taken on
board"
And one trust begets another. This is
a familiar fact, and especially is it true
of the great combines in primary ma
terials such as the steel and copper
trusts. The rise in steel brought about
by the combine in that material has
compelled other manufacturers to COM
bine for the reduction of operating ex-
penses and the stiffening of prices. The
combine in agricultural implements
gives this as the chief reason for the
advance of Is per cent in the price of
machinery used by farmers. 1t is true
all along the line. Industries that prob
ably would not attempt-a combine under
ordinary circumstances, are forced to do
so in self-defense. The result will be,
of course, universal increase in prices,
while the income of the consumer is cur
tailed; for such increases of salaries and
wages as have been reported are, at the
best, only restorations or partial returns
to the scale of 1892. But with every
great combine effected, hundreds of
clerks, travelling statesmen and skilled
workmen are thrown out of employment,
and their purchasing power reduced or
stopped. The farmers have no power to
retaliate or defend themselves, for a
trust of the farmers of the world would
be an impossibility. So it is with the
retail tradesmen, the salaried men and
the workingmen. The consumers are
powerless.
tural implements, the railways and the
trolley and cable companies in tn. cities
are hard hit, and must combine in self
defense. One prominent street railway
manager is quoted as saying that his
company may be forced to delay needed
extensions and improvements Indefinite
ly because of the advance in prices by
the steel and copper combines. G. F.
Holmes, general superintendent of the
Metropolitan Street Railway company,
Of Kansas City, gives some instances Of
advanced prices in supplies and equip
ment. Motors for trolley cars have ad-
vanced 10 per cent, or from 81 ,25O to
s1,375. Trucks have gone up Is per
cent, copper wire 60 per cent, rails from
$31 to $38 ton, iron poles for trolley
wires 40 per cent. The only remedy Mr..
Holmes considers feasible is combine
manufacture of their own equipment di-
rect from the raw material. Mr.. Holmes
quotes General Manager Goodrich, of
this city, to the effect that his company
would have to think awhile before buy
ing new material at present prices
Minneapolis Times.