Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1905-12-20
4 HO7--AIR' COFFIN FACTORIES
Lead Many Unwary Investors Into
ou;cksands of Financial Ruin.


Quicksands of Financial Ruin.
In these days of frenzied finance
and the limelight of Investigation on
insurance corporations, the osdinary
public is amazed over the disclosure
of how millions are carelessly handled
nv the heads of large institutions, sup
posed to be safe and conservative.
One fact revealed By these dlsclos-
uras is that the men connected with
such institutions, have gotten beyond
the days of small capital, and deal
with such which rival Uncle SAM
treasury, through which, if successful
they will realize large profits.
How sadly in comparison do the III
vestors" in many manufacturing en-
terprises appear, when judged from
the standpoint of knowing what you
do" and nowhere is this more pateh'
Than with the investor that is con.
stantly sinking funds In the many
mushroom coffin factories that appear
and then after a spasm disappear,
either through shut down" or
through the sheriff.
Did the loss but extend only to these
"ipyestors" it would be but the usual re-
suit. of not Cooking before you leap
ed" but what of the creditors. and
frequently the amounts advanced Dy
localities" paid to stimulate the new
town industries, and often the wages
due to workmen.
The prevailing opinion in the public
mind that the manufacturing OF lln-
dertakers goods returns tremendous
nrofts. is no doubt stimulated by ex-
nerience had with the undertaken, but
in the manufacturing Of funeral sup
plies. the question becomes quite a
different proposition, for supply and
demand. pure and simple, regulates
the price. as it does in all other bnsi'
ness. with the exception that the
demands cannot be stimulated, BY
either style, product, or price, "a
ther Time" alone controls.
Here is where the over jealous cap,
italist or community allow promoters,
or patriotism to impose upon their
credulity, in accepting statements
which will not bear the light OF In
yestleation," but through ignorance OF
conditions, subscribe and put up their
cash. only to get wise. after it is too
late.
Statistics show that there are one
hundred and ninety-five casket man
ufacturing and jobbing plants In the
United States, of which 1853 are man
facturers of varying capacities, while
- manufacture approximately 3I0,ooo
coins and caskets annually, so manu-
facture 100000, ia manufacture Gl2,
600. or total of 1,347,000 coffins and
casl,ets, manufactured annually in the
United States, all OF which must be
consumed through the ordinary de
mand Of mortality, but what is the
demand? In the mortality abstract OF
the twelfth census, table number "a
we find that the total deaths from
all causes in the registration area Of
the United States was 512,669 TO-
twelve months, but this registration
3erea was only 3S per cent Of the con
lSJzstfnental territory of the United
e:States.1 In part |. of the final repor
en- vital statistics, page VII. the fnh
computation shows a death rate II
the United States Of 1873 per 1000
and while this is considered excessive
but assuming 1t to be correct, 1t will
show approximately only 1,23S,OOC
deaths per year in this country includ
Ing paupers.
Now what of tie 100000 coffins anc
caskets produced annually in excess
of the demand which the public cal
pGt be Induced TO purchase b. th'
use of any of the ordinary medium:
used to stimulate trade as practice:
IN other lines of business? Unques
tionably it is a case OF over.supply
which can not be disposed OF, AMI
the surplus is more than double tht
quantity stated, for there is no pro
vision in the estimate for pauper cot
fms which are not made in the regula
coffin factories, whereas tine nunbel
of deaths include paupers, and thus
tbe fate Of nine out of every ten neN
coffin plants is clearly written, ever
before the stock Is subscribed, to say
nothing of the failure of the oil:
ones.
It sometimes happens that neN
rlant of this kind. after a hard strug
Gle. succeeds in surviving some OF thc
older ones, but the same amount O
capital and energy invested in somt
other line of business would not rus
such great risk of failure, while prof
its in the event of success have pros
en- to lie less than any other class o
business.
The records show that the average
rer cent of profit in the casket man
ufacturing business by houses which
have been in business for number
of years, and equipped with the best
facilities for turning out their work
at the smallest per cent runs froE
5 to per cent, while several, ii not
the majority of them can do no bet
for than break even. and in a number
of instances close down. or are clos
ed out in 4 few years.