Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-01
On barrels of go pounds each.)
Prices and Tariff Duties.


kinds of salt (about one-half of which
is common fine salt) according to the
United States Geological Survey, was
36h cents per barrel in 1894, 80 cents
in 1895, 1872 cents in 1896, 30.S cents in
1897 and 35.3 cents in 1898. The 'net'
price means the price of the salt alone;
the cost Of the barrel adds about 20
cents-though much coarse salt is not
sold in barrels.
The present price Of "factory-filled"
dairy salt at works in Michigan is 55
cents as against 35 cents, or less, in
1896. The Chicago price is now IS
cents. The New York City price of
same grade salt from Western New
York is $1.40 as against s1.00 to S1.0o
in 1896 and 1897. Prices of salt in
many Middle and Western States are
now nearly double those of 1896.
In 1897 many manufacturers asked
to have the Mckinley duty on salt re-
placed. Over 40 pages of the Tariff
Hearings" of 1897 are occupied by the
statements of the manufacturers who
wanted duties and of the importers,
meat packers, etc., who wanted free
salt. The manufacturers, in 1894,
stated that the repeal of the duty
would not make salt cheaper, and in
1897 that the replacement of the Nc
Kinley duty would mo- perceptibly"
add to the los of salt. Yet for some
indefinite and unexplained reason they
wanted the duty and could not continue
to live much longer without it. They
got the duty and Immediately began to
fix prices and to form a trust which has
quite "perceptibly" advanced prices.
Salt Associations and Trusts.
The salt manufacturers have always
had an affinity for selling agencies and
price agreements. In 1896 the Michi-
gan manufacturers were uniting. The
Michigan Salt Association began in
1876. 1t takes the product of all mem
bers and sells it-thus avoiding much
competition. 1t has been renewed ev-
cry five years since 1876 and has gen.
orally controlled about 80 per cent of
Michigan's product, which is one-third
of our total product. Since 1890 New
York has produced more salt than
Michigan and the two States now pro-
luce 70 per cent of IL product.
Other similar selling agencies were
in operation in New York and Ohio,
and each had alliances and agree
ments with the -other. AS, however,
previous to 1898, but little was dore
to restrict production, the permanent
effect upon prices was not great.
On March 20, 1899, the National
Salt Company, a New Jersey concern,
was incorporated with s12,0 0o, 900 cap
ital-s5, DOC, 600 of which is Z per cent.
preferred stock. 1t Immediately ac-
quired a dozen or more manufactures
in New York, for which its predeces-
sor, the National Salt Company, of
West Virginia, was the distributing
agent. These plants were said to
manufacture 90 per cent. of New
York's production. and have made
profits in 1898 Of mot less than $780,
000." BY October this company had
purchased many of the best plants IN
Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan and
Kansas, had leased other plants for
five year periods and had contracted
for the output of other plants. Thus
in the Pomeroy, o., district, the trust
appears to have bought and closed one
plant, closed three other plants.
which it had dead rented" for five
years. and contracted for the output
of three more plants. In Michigan
it has contracted for the product of
the members of the Michigan Salt As
ISOLATION.
The prosecuting attorney for MeIgs
county and the attorney general Of
Ohio are proceeding against this trust
to test its power to own and close