The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-03
FORMATION OF THE CAN TRUST.
Twenty Maryland Concerns Absorb
ed ny the Consolidation.

| BALTIMORE. April 1.-The deal for the
| consolidation of nearly all the can manu-
factories of the East has been closed and
the new American Can Company, popu-
| larry known as the Tin Can Trust. Is
now in full possession of all the subsidi-
| ary concerns Although the options did
not expire until yesterday, they were all
taken some DAYS ago.
| There are seventeen plants in Balti-
more which have entered the combina-
tion and three elsewhere in Maryland
city is as follows:
Norton Tin Plate and Can Company.
Black s. Krebs A Booth & Co. r. Tynes
Smith Can Company, II. F. Miller & Son,
Baltimore Can Manufacturing Company,
II. c. Camper & Co., The William Fait
Company. Daugherty & Mann. Gibbs Pre-
serving Company, Phelps & Co. The I'M
perial Seamer Manufacturing Company,
Kirwan & Riggs, Lineweaver & Co, Will
liam Numsen & Son. Martin Wagner &
Co, Timothy Ryan. jr.
Those outside of this city but in Mary
lard, are:
j. b. Hanway, Joppa; S. r Seneca and
Reynolds Bros. Can Company, Havre de
Grace.
This makes a total of twenty can fac
Among the factories left outside Of the
combine are these:
j. C. Thirkel Can Company. Thomas A.
Hand A w HartloYe, Thomson Manu-
featuring Company. Boyle < Co.
The Importance of the can combine to
this city and section IS great for the rea-
SON that Baltimore is the greatest can
manufacturing centre in the United
States. There is more tinplate used here
than in any other place in America and
the magnitude of the business is shown
by the fact that leading manufacturers
here estimate the annual output of the
Baltimore factories ut from :50. 900. 900 to
i;s9 900 0V0 of cans.
Cans range in price from $40 per 100
for one-pound cans TO $40 for three
pound while one-gallon cans sell at $50
Taking g per 100 as an average price
these figures would show an annual bust
ness of from 5000 900 upward This of
course, includes cans made by some of
the large packing companies for their
own use.
Figures concerning the number of hands
employed in the different can shops are
difficult to obtain. but the Norton Com
pany. it is understood. employs an aver
age of 500 persons; Booth & Co, POO:
Riack & Krebs. 150: the r. Tynes Smith
Can Company, 80; H. r Miller Son.
Co, 100 The other factories have from
80 to 100 hands each. and this would make
a total of between 2,OVJ and $500 employees
in the seventeen shops in Baltimore which
have entered the trust.
The former owners of the various COM
panies are operating their plants for the
trust and will continue to do so until fur
Their instructions are received Some of
the factories which were shut down last
week for the purpose of taking stock
have resumed operations but others are
still at work upon their inventories. 1t
is expected that they will all be at work
again in few days. but some of the
smaller shops will. 1t is admitted by par
ties to the deal be shut down permanent
lv and the business of making cans con-
ceutrated in the larger factories This
suggests that the foundation of the COM
bine may result to the disadvantage of
can factory employees
IndepeDdent can manufacturers are
anxious to know how they are going to
fare. Some fear that the trust will en-
deavor to prevent them from getting sup
niles of tin either at home or abroad, and
If such methods of opposition should be
successful the shops outside of the trust
would he compelled to close. Surprise
has been expressed that the trust has
not advanced the price of tin. 1t is lower
than it was last fall. and the Tinplate
Trust and the Tin Can Trust are prac-
ticalIy Identical The trust has, it is said
sent agents abroad to prevent, if posi-
BILE, the shipment of foreign tinplate TO
America.
Information concerning the prices paid
for the different plants in the combna-
ton is closely held. 1t is. however. known
that in most cases the owners We're well
satisfied to take stock IN payment for
their factories.