The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-20
BAGGING AND TIES GO UP.
TRUSTS HAVE ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF
BOTH ARTICLES.
Very Heavy Advances in the Prices of
Both Articles Announced Both
Trusts Preparing TO Squeeze Large
Profits Out of the Southern Planters.

The cotton planters of the south may
again have to resort to cotton sheet
ing as a covering for their cotton, and
to seek some substitute for ties to hold
the bales in shape. These needful sup
plies are now entirely controlled by the
trusts. Last e there were half a
dozen competitors in each line. This
year there are nom One concern has
absolute control of all the cotton bag
ging in the country, and another has
absolute control of h cotton ties.
The American Manufacturing Com
pany of New York controls the cotton
bagging of the country, and the Amer
C Steel Hoop Company, which Is
included in the great Federal Steel
Trust, controls h tie output. The
latter is a comparatively recent ANAL
gamatiOn of several concerns. The
Iudlows, of Boston, Mass, are still in
the cotton bagging business, but they
are in close alliance with h American
Manufacturing Company and make
exactly the same terms and prices.
The result is seen in the changed
quotations. For several months the
quotations on ties and bagging have re-
manned practically unchanged. To
days quotations will be found to diff
Ter cOIS1ucTdDly 1TOIh IIloSc
have been in force heretofore. An in
crease of about 2A cents a yard has
been made in the price of bagging, and
it is not unlikely that there will be
further increases. The trusts nave in
fact given notice that a further in
crease in prices may be expected in
June.
While nominally the bagging bust
ness is being conducted both by the
TIr1Inuvo and tho AnarSnan Ma nIlfac-
turing Company bOtn send out same
price list and make exactly the same
terms. Both declined ito sell any bag
ging for this years crop until this
week, and both opened at h same
prices. Their terms are spot cash and
nc credit.
All the cotton ties used in the Unit
ed States are now made by the Fed
eral Steel Company as agents for the
American Steel Hoop Company. The
latter is an amalgamation of h e V
eral different concerns which were en-
gagged in the hoop and tie business last
year. The result of the amalgamatlon
was felt Immediately. From 80 cents,
the price at which o of the ties
We're sold last year., the price imme-
diately jumped to IS cents, from which
it was run up to $1.25, at which price
ties have been quoted for the last
several weeks. The latest dictum
makes the prices $1.31 spot cash and
$1y36 for August delivery. This is to
merchants in large lots. To farmers
the cos will be s to 10 cents a bundle
more.
With h complete control of the
business now enjoyed by h bagging
and tie trusts it can very easily be
seen that these concerns are in posi-
tion to squeeze the farmers of the
south at their pleasure. For several
years the cotton planters have secured
these supplies at reasonable prices, but
this will evidently not be the case this
year. Being protected by a heavy
tariff against foreign competition and
having knowledge of the fact that. the
farmers of the south are in more pros
porous condition than for several years
past, and with the OF a large
demand for the present year the two
trusts realize that they have the plant
ers at their mercy, and hat the time
is ripe to multiply their profits. 1t will
be alleged. of course, that higher prices
for the material entering into these
products account largely for the in
creased prices. There will be just
enough truth in this to lend color tC
the assertion, but it is easy to predict
that the cotton growers of Egypt, In.
dia and the rest of the world will pay
no such prices for their baling mate.
rails this year as will the southern
cotton planters.-Savannah News.