Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-27
BY Byron w. Holt.

The Borax Trust is one of the best
examples of the evils OF tariff "protec-
ton Unearned and undeserved pro-
fits, enhanced prices, restricted produc-
ton, limited consumption, employment
OF foreign labor at low wages, lower
prices to foreigners than to Americans,
false and hypocritical plea that free
borax would destroy the borax indus
try-these are some OF the results Of the
unnecessary and unjust duties on borax
and boracic acid.
While the borax industry is not one
of our great industries-the total pro-
duct selling for only about $1,000, 900
it is yet of considerable Importance be-
cause borax is an almost essential ar
ticle in every household and is a most
useful article in many industries. 1t is
used largely in the packing Of pork
and other meats, butter etc., and is
most useful in the arts, manufactures
and mines. 1t is a hux for all metals
enabling them to melt at low tenn
perature. 1t is used largely in the man
ufacture of soap and leather. 1t is a
bleach, an emolliont, an antiseptic; a
cleanser and purifier and a medicine.
The extent of its use in many industries
depends largely upon its price.
The principal borax mines or depos-
its of the world are in California and
Nevada, in Asia Minor, Peru and
Chill. Mines or deposits exist in Italy,
Turkey and other countries. but the
cost of producing in them is too great
to make them of commercial impor-
lance.
The largest, most easily worked and
most productive mines of the world are
those in California. These were dis
covered in 1856. but were not much
worked until about 1873.
TARIFF DUTIES.
Previous to 1883 there was no duty
on borate of lime and crude borate
The tariff of 1883 made the duty on
refined borax and on pure boracic acid
cents per pound, on commercial bo-
rarc acid cents, and on borate of lime
and crude borax 3 cents. The tariff OF
1890 made the duty On all boracic acid
cents. The tariff of 1894 reduced the
duty ON all borax to 2 cents per pound;
on boracic acid to cents and on bo-
rate of lime to 11a cents. The tariff Of
1897 made the duty on borax and bo-
racic acid cents and the duty on bo-
rates containing more than 80 per cent
of anhydrous boracic acid cents, and
less than 80 per cent of acid, 8 cents
The object lesson resulting from these
changes of duties is most interesting,
not only to our own citizens but to the
people CT the entire worid.
CONTROLLED BY TRUSTS.
Because of the limited area in which
the mines are found and the difficulty
Of reaching and of operating them, it
seems but natural that these mines or
deposits should fall into few hands and
that the few owners should combine
to prevent competition and to bring
about the high prices. AS early as 1873
an agreement was entered into between
the California producers by which pro-
duction to be curtailed. A more formal
combination was found in 1879
In 1885 the "Borax Board" was Or
ganized. 1t included about all of the
producers upon the Pacific Slope. A
more perfect combination was formed
in 1888 and in November, 1890, the Pa
cific Coast Borax Co. absorbed nearly
all OF the producers. 1t has always
beeen the policy of Mr.. r. M. Smith. the
head of this company, to gobble I'D all
OF the new deposits which might
prove of commercial value. He has
usually worked but one or two of the
III or IL mines which his companv
owns and to-day is working only the