Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-07-25

than 10 per cent to their invoice p...ces.
Probably One-fOurth OF the Importers
apparent profits are wiped out by the
OverzealOusness OF the customs depart
ment I'm serving the wire rope trust
In the next place. it is not easy for
importers TO find customers. Wire rope
is usually one OF the materials or prod
ucts, and minor one. required In some
construction Job OF work. II is i'm
portant that the contractors obtain
when desired all OF the other and
more important products. These they
can be certain OF obtaining only Of
very large dealers I'm all kinds OF iron
and steel goods and at present practi-
cally only OF the steel trust. The ex-
tent to which the steel trust is now
putting on the screws Oh the manufac-
turers. merchants and contractors who
consume steel goods is not realized by
the general public. If n manufactures
is dependent upon the steel trust for
any one important material, lie cannot
obtain IL unless he buys all his materi-
ais from the trust, at least all the trust
can supply. Not only this but i'm many
instances the trust will prescribe the
maximum prices at which ana the ter
ritory In which this dependent manu-
facturer can sell his finished product
and the railroads over which his mate
rial must be shipped: also If lie does
not pay cash. the trust Will inform him
through what banks he must finance
his accounts and give him other simi-
lar details OF procedure To remind him
Of m - a ~.
loss OF independence.
Similar treatment is accorded to mer-
chants arI contractors Practically, If
not actually. the steel trust says to
consumers, buy Of us and only of us
II you wish TO continue To do business
I'm this country" AS the trust is prac.
tically the only producer Of many i'm
portant products. like wire, tin plate.
etc, nearly all manufacturers. dealers
and contractors are ut the mercy Of the
trust Even If II contractor could get
all OF his materials for any one job
outside of the trust he does not dare
10 offend 1t. for he has other contracts
which require steel trust products. The
result is that he reluctantly submits to
the trusts dictation. As matter of
q AeNN AAsAil1 ut'.ltfS ana
big contractors now look only to the
trust for materials and have ceased
20 obtain quotations from outsiders
and foreigners. Thousands OF such
manufacturers and dealers are cursing
the trust I'm an undcrtone while openly
submitting TO its terms and eXactious.
1t Is this state OF affairs. due to the
bulldozing tactics of the steel trust in
the business world, that makes II pos
sible for wire rope to sell IN this couIs
try for two or three times the price In
England and for nearly twice the cost
duty paid. of English wire rope in this
country. The wire rope pool. II should
be remembered. is now part of the
great steel trust and gets the benefit OF
the power OF thetrust to dictate terms
and hold up most OF the steel consum-
ing Industries. If all other steel goods
were ON the free list the duty on wire
rope would undoubtedly limit the pow
er OF the wire rope combine to eXtort
from the consumer. But. all steel goods
being protected by high tariff duties
the wire rope trust can exact from its
victims much more than the amount Of
the duty on wire rope. which illustrates
the beauties of high tariffs on goods
which we are exporting to all parts Of
the world. BYRON W. HOLT.