Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-23
The Page Position.

Within eighteen months there has
been consolidation of all of the large
manufacturers of wire into vast
combine" or "trust"-The American
Steel & Wire Co. Into it a number Of
wire fence concerns were entirely alb
sorbed, while others, though they re-
mained outside, have made terms
agreeable to the trust with regard to
the marketing of their goods and pur-
chase of wire. The Page Company,
believing it had full right to maintain
entire independence in the conduct of
its business, and purposing so to do,
has made no alliance or agreements
whatever, except such as exist with
its thousands of customers and friends
the world over.
1t early became evident to maintain
such an independent existence it must
equip itself for the manufacture of its
wire and supplies from the melted
metal. This was promptly and vigor-
ously undertaken, and it is hoped by
April 18th there will be upon the mar
ket wire fence, the metal for which
shall have been melted in Page Fur
naceS, rolled in Page Rolling and Rod
Mills, drawn in Page Wire Mills, gal
vanized by Page Processes, woven into
fence upon Page Looms, and all by
Page Men-A "Standard-Bre Page
Fence.
Temporarily, some of the other COM
panfes have the advantage as shown
above-they can get wire. There
could easily be secured the common
grades of wire used in other fences,
but any lowering of the well known
standard of quality would be contrary
alike to good Judgment and the Page
policy. Our new mills are already
to draw wire from the steel rods, but
upon the quality of rods required, the
trust refuses to even name price,
and as yet, no one outside of the trust
seems able to produce that quality.
| We are weaving some fence, and of
some styles have small surplus, but
in spite OF our best efforts, it seems
probr lie that there will be some delay
!, in the hlling OF most of the orders not
2 N-S provided for, for the next
Therefore, until the new plant is in
successful operation, we must ask the
conSiderate patience of those who are
wanting our goods, confidently be-
lieving that the issue is of import
ance, not TO us alone, but that It has
a distinct interest for every American
citizen who prizes liberty of person
and pursuit, and believes in wide
open door of opportunity for every
deserving individual and every legiti-
mate enterprise. Lut us urge that no
one shall lie down and give up the
field to his competitors because Of this
frank confession on our part of prob
able inability, for little time, to
promptly meet wants for many STYLES
of fence; but, on the contrary, that he
keep in mind that in just little more
time we shall be in d better position
to furnish just what is wanted, and
all that is wanted of our goods than
ever before in our history. We offer
the assurance that we are spariug no
effort so maintain one wire fence con-
Germ which shall be entirely ontSide
and independent of the trust, and to
have it at full working capacity at the
earliest possible date. or the compile
tion of the work, and our ability to
meet all demands, our friends will
learn by letter and through the press.
We are doing our best. Shall we have
you with US?
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE Co.
Adrian, Mich, March 1st, 1900.
II. ]. Webber is till handling the
Page Woven Wire Fence and may be
addressed at Cresco, Iowa, for fence
or any fixtures pertaining.