The evening times., 1900-03-17
BRITISH WALL PAPER TRUST.
Americans Must Make an Agreement
in Order to Compete.

Information received by the Department
Of State respecting the wall paper trust in
Great Britain Indicates that the monopoly
is a strong one. United states Consul HOI-
stead stationed at Birmingham. says:
In a report sent some months ago
called attertiOn to the fact that combina-
tiOns Of the Kind which at home we call
trusts are created here without attracting
public attention or causing alarm. though
no trouble is taken to keep the facts from
getting TO the public; and IL Is rare that
one hears a voice raised against trusts.
"A wallpaper combination with $29, 199,
OCO OF capital is announced. and receives
from the London Daily Mail a newsDa-
per which Is very active in news gathering
only the scant attention OF a two-line head
twenty-one lines Of type set solid. aud an
inconspicuOus position. The Mail article
reads as follows.
The Association Of WALLPAPER Manu-
fscturers. after working Jointly since Sep
tember 30. are now preparing prospectus,
and an issue Of capital will be made within
the next few days.
The company is already registered with
G i.oOO 600 Of share capital. plus debent
ures. and the new issue viii probably bs
5000 600.
Practically every maker Of paper hang
ings in the Kingdom is stated TO be EN-
braced by the federation. including Scotch
Lancashire. Yorkshire and London cor
GERS. The chairman Of the combination is
W 7. Huntington. late member Of Parlis-
ment for the Darwen division OF Lancashire
cGd sherin Of Lancashire.
Many important consultations. adjust
ments. and economies have alrcady been
effected since the formation Of the fedora
tion"
Consul Wilbour. Of Dublin. sends the
following additional details.
The agreement requires every dealer in
wall paper TO buy all stock from the com
bination and to sell no other for O period
OF supposedly ten years. / understand
some dealers objected 10 signing for more
than ole "ear. and some have not signed
at all. but IN the latter case they are
members o. the combinations for all pur-
poses. as if they DO not comply with the
requirements not 70 sell outside makes.
they will not be supplied with paper from
the combination. This at present would
be fatal TO their business.
Some dealers are skeptical as 10 the
ability Of the combination TO maintain a
monopoly and keep prices firm. The prices
have not been materially advanced (per-
haps TO - per cent?. except on low grade
goods. which were sold so choaply that
there Naa loss on every roll. as the com
petition in this class was particularly Sc
we're In these goods the percentage OF
advance is greater.
AS prices are now adjusted q fair profit
is secured and production is controlled SO
as not TO OveTstOck the market.
while the agreement Obliges the deal
ers to buy and sell the papers made by
the combination latitude Is allowed with
fixed limi-s ,u certain dealers whose trade
actually requires IL. 10 use a certain
amount Cf fore. gn- made paper. but in ev-
cry case the dealer is held TO a limited
number Of des gns and must purchase the
same through the combination.
In order for American papers 10 com
pete 10 would seem TO be necessary for the
makers in the United States 10 come 10
some agreement with the combination
There is'ra class Of papers made in the
United States which is initiated In Great
Britain and Germany. but is not as GOOD
These papers are in gloss or satin iIish
and can be sold az reasonable prices while
the limitations cost very much more.
The American papers should be made
TO suit the English markets. namely. p
inches wide instead OF Is inches. and j.
yards long instead Of Q yards.
Prices are based on the weight o. the
paper and the number Of times il has
gone through the rolls"