The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-11
A CARPET TRUST.
Talk Of a Big Manufac-
turers' Combine in
H. A..
the Air.

The talk of trust in the carpet man
ufacturing industry is beginning to
take form and reports from Philadel-
phia, which is a great carpet centre,
point to the organization of the Ma
tional Carpet company, to embrace
manufacturers of all grades of carpets.
The combination is not yet assured
and cannot be until final steps are la
ken, owing to the many conflicting in
terests. The promoters of this trust
have, however, secured options on
number of large manufactures and are
sangulne of the ultimate success of
their plan.
That in substance is to form COM
bine of manufacturers of carpets re-
CARELESS of grade of manufacture, with
q capitalization between $4O,000000 and
$50 100000. Reports from Philadelphia
are to the effect that nearly all max
ers Of the finer grades have given OPP
lions on their properties and the in
grain men will have to come in or be
forced out of business. 1t is reported
from New York that Alexander Smith,
the largest manufacturer of higher
grades of carpets in the country was
one Of the first to enter the cOmbina-
ton. The report is further to the eff
feet that manufacturers through New
England generally have signed options
on their plants and the promoters now
claim practically all of the manufae-
turers of Brussels carpets, Wiltons,
velvets tapestry and other high grades.
The Philadelphia report was sub
Stimulated last night in dispatch to-
The Spy from New York. 1t said that
the carpet combine was assured and
that the Worcester Carpet company
was included with other MassachusEfLs
companies.
Spy man called upon William
James Hogg of the Worcester Carpet
Company last night for a verif1cation
of the report, but Mr.. Hogg denied that
his company was in the combine. He
said that he did not know anything
about the carpet trust, and had not
talked with a promoter of the combine
or had any communication bearing on
the trust with anybody. The Worces-
ter Carpet Company, he said, was not
in the trust, and he is of the opinion
that he would know something bear
ing on the matter if the company had
given an option on its property.
Matthew ]. Whttall, the South Wor-
cester carpet manufacturer, declared
that he knew nothing about it. He
had not seen a promoter of the Ma
communicated with anybody interest
ed in the organization of the trust He
took exceptions to some statements
made in the reports. He said that he
doubted the statement that Alexander
Smith was one of the first in the COM
bine Mr.. Smith has been in Europe
for some time, and is not expected to
return to this country before the 18th
or goth of this month,
Mr.. Whittall said that he knew Mr..
Smith would not delegate anybody to
act for him, and although talk of
carpet trust has been heard for two
years, it is only recently that action
has been taken in the matter, and this
has been since Mr.. Smith sailed for
Europe He felt sure that Mr.. Smith
is not in the trust, and, as he is the
largest manufacturer in the country,
he doubted whether the trust would be
formed unless Mr.. Smith was in it. Mr..
Whittall said the New England manu-
facturers generally are not in the trust
and have not given options on their
properties, and he questioned whether
they would do so, even if Mr.. Smith
did give the National Carpet Company
option on his property.
e. w. Burdette, agent of the Ma
tional Carpet Company of Clinton, was
seen at his home by Spy man last
evening He said he had no knowledge
of any combine, and he did not believe
anything of the kind had taken place.
No meeting of the directors had been
called, nor was there likely to be any
for the purpose of giving an option on
the property.