The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-17
NORTHWESTERN BUSINESS GOSSIP
Manufacturers Say Another Effort Will Be Made to Or
ganize the Plow Trust Western Railroads Enlarg
ing Their Industrial Departments Change Of Opin-
ion Among Mr. Hills Friends.

Another effort. will be made to or
ganize a pillow trust. This big scheme
was almost able to stand alone last fall
when the props were pulled out from UNI
der by one of the larger concerns refus-a
Ing to go in on the conditions named and
the combination COLLAPSED. A leading
manufacturer now sa.'s efforts toward
new combination will be begun IN the
near future. II is limited that the plans
will be formed. on different lines and the
objections of the larger Manufacturers
overcome. Northwestern. concerns were.
not attracted by the combination planned
last year but the heads of these concerns
believed that the combination would be a
success. For all that the pillow manufac-.
turers west of Chicago were willing to
work independently as they believed the
trust would improve conditions in the
trade from the manufacturers standpoint.
I'm spite of severe competition the plow
manufacturers have made money in the
past five years. With the rapid develop
ment of all sections of the west, the
western concerns have done exceedingly
we'll In the northwest the farmer has
ordered more breaking Dlows than the
manufacturers can supply. This is due to
the immense area of land being cultivated
for the first time. With the dealer it has
been more question of getting the plows
than the price. he was forced to pay
Northwestern wholesalers were forced to
refuse numerous orders this spring be-
cause the factories could not handle the
business. The factories in turn have
been having trouble in getting supplies
from the steel mills. But the general
results in the selling Of plows from the
maker down to the. retailer have been
satisfactory. There is always room for
combination talk among the manufactur-
erse and one that is being made now Is
that combination of the big pillow inter-
4 how ao1 Oh mr. %
being able to force better deliveries OF
steel and other raw material. The Inn
patience and dissatisfaction expressed
toward the steel trust for hardness In
filling orders has been decidedly emphatic
among the olow makers. Users OF iron
and steel assert that the trust has con-
fined steel manufacturing, within certain
limits TO such an extent that the supply
of steel has not been allowed to keep
pace with demand. While this might have
been true to certain extent under the
conditions. in force previous to the or
ganization of sthe trust, it is urged that
t the total capacity Of the steel, mills OF
| the country would have shown much
greater increase under competition among
| the various independent concerns
The northwest as a rapidly developing
|-section Of the United States has 'been
making heavy demands on the steel indus
! try in the past year. The scarcity OF the
| MATERIAL, 1IdDJllly VI Tic QCaIC1I " oSSoAS
goods when wanted, and the consequent
| Increase in crice have struck, straight
| home to the consumer. Plows constitute
| part of the story. It is already limited
| that the farmer may have to pay more tor
tie plows he buys next fall. Renewing
the effort to organize the trust is. COM
panion item of interest along the same
| line. 80, .z1--<T - =
| Building Up Industries.
/ Western railroads are giving much
| prominence and much leeway to their, in
| dustrial departments. More effort is be-
| ing directed to the establishing Of perma-
! nent local industries than at any time
since railroad building in the west began.
In this respite the last few years has
! brought the turning point for the roads
traversing certain sections Of the north
west. One of the latest roads to be given
an opportunity to thoroughly realize on
industrial work is the Wisconsin Central.
The immigration into its territory has
furthered the growth of its towns. Pulp
l