Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1903-01-02
4 PAYING INVESTMENT
Wire Rope Trust Gave the Re-
pubIicans $500. 900 In 1896.
TIE PEOPLE HAVE PAID IT BACK

The Drtiss Were Fixed I'm 1897 and
the Trust Now Rolls In Prosperfty.
Americans Pay Nearly Three Tsme.
Pricss charKed Foreigners-Nfanu-
facturers BulIdosed.
The almost criminal folly OF the pro
tective tariffs OF today. and especially
OF the inexcusable tariff ON iron and
steel goods. Is well illustrated by the
wire rope trust.
The manufacturers OF wire rope have
for years had ''gentlemen's agree
ment'' ON prices. an agreement similar
to that OF the manufacturers or steel
rails or OF structural steel or OF sheets
or OF most OF the other products OF the
steel mills. The principal parties tc
this agreement. pool or trust are John
A Roebling n Sons company, Trenton.
n. j.: Hazard Manufacturing company.
Wilkesbarre. Pa: Washburn 4 Moen
Manufacturing company. st. Louis,
Mo-; Roderlck < Bascom Rope compa-
ny, st. Louis. and the willIamsport
Wire company. wnliamsport, Pa.
Realizing that the prices which can
be got for wire rope depend largely
upon the duty on wire rope. the mem
bers OF this trust began I'm 1895 10 sow
seed for the big harvest OF profits
which they have been reaping since
1897. According 20 the statements OF
some or the members, they contributed
100000 to the Republican campaign
fund I'm 1900 At least II all contributed
their pro rata shares. as did some or
the members. the Republican admins
tration or 1897 was indebted to thiA
trust I'm the sum OF 100000.
Az the better grades OF wire rope
have always been and stlll are made
largely from imported rods or wire
larger thnn No. 81 the trust wanted nc
Increase on the duty on wire rods.
None was made I'm the Dingley bill.
The duty on wire rope. however. was
Increased by the amount OF the In
creased duty on coated or galvanized
wire. The trust was also permitted TO
continue TO benefit by the unreasona
BILE tariff which compelled importers OF
wire rope 10 pay the same rate OF duty
per pound ON the central core OF the
rope as upon tho wire OF which the
rope Is composed. This central core
usually consists OF tRrred jute or hemp
and Is used only as former around
which TO twist the strands. IL has lit
tic or mo value. bat adds to 10 per
cent to the weight on which duty is as
sessed.
Having fixed up the Dingley bill TO suit
their tastes. theyproceeded TO reap tn Fir
profits by putting prices at home up TO
the tarin limit. while lowering prices
to foreigners 30 that our rope is ex-
ported 20 every important foreign coun-
try with the possible exception OF Eng
land. AS the duty on imported wire
rope will average nearly 100 per cent,
the trust charges domestic consumers
more than twice what is charged for
eigners for lis goods.
In the following table are compared
net cash pa Ices I'm America and Eng
land. The American prices are obtain
cd by deducting 20 per cent from the
price list or John A. Rocbllng 4 Sons
company for galvanized transmission OF
haulage rope composed or six stranda
and hemp center. seven wires TO the
strand. The ordinary discount 10
agents for this class OF rope is only 20
and 12ia per cent. But as some agents
get special discounts on some kinds OF
goods. which amount 20 90 per cent net
i have taken this lowest possible price
The English prices are those quoted IN
n letter written April 10. 1902. by
leading English manufacturer to o
New York dealer. They are for gal.
vaniEed BIB wire rope. six strands. each
seven wires, and are Z. O. b. Liverpool:
PRICE OF GALVANIZED STEEL WIRE RoPn
GENTS PEE TooT).
Approx. Americas