Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-12-23
AHOT-AIR" COFFIN FACTORltS
lead Many Unwsry Investors into
Csieksands Of Financial Ruin

insurance corporations. the ordinary
public IS amazed over the disclosure
OF hos millions are carelesSiy handled
By the heads OF large institutions. sup
posed 20 De safe and conservative.
One fact revealed BY these diseios-
ures. Is that the men connected with
such institutions. have gotten oeS onc
the days OF small capital. and deal
with such which rival Uncle Sam
treasury. through which. Il successful !
they will realize large profits
How sadly in comparison DO the in /
vestors~ in many manufacturing en- |
I terprises appear. when Judged from |
I the standpoint OF knowing what you
do" and nowhere is this more patent
I than with The investor that is con
stantly sinking funds IN the many
mushroom coffin factories that appear.
I and then after a spasm disappear.
either through shut down" o.
through the sheriff.
Did the loss but extend only 90 these
investors" il would be but the usual re
/ silt. OF not looking before YOU leap
/ ed" but what OF the creditors. and
( frequently the amounts advanced By
localities" paid 20 stimulate the new
town industries and often the wages
due 20 Workmen.
The prevailing opinion ir the public
mind that the manufacturing OF un-
dertakers' goods returns tremendous
profits. is no doubt stimulated by eX
perieuce had with the undertaken. but
in the manufacturing OF funeral sup
plies. the question becomes quite
different proposition. for supply and
demand. pure and simple. regulates
the price as e does in all other bust
ness. with the exception that the
demands cannot be stimulated. By
either style. product or price. IA
Their Time" alone controls
Here is where the over Jealous cap
italist or community allow promoters.
or patriotism 90 impose upon their
crcdnHty IN accepting statements
which will not bear the flight OF in-
yestigauon' but through Ignorance OK
conditions. subscribe and put up their
cash only 20 set wise after 10 is too
late
Statistics show that there are one
hundred and ninety-hve casket man
, ufacturing and jobbing plants in the
B Urited States. OF which l63 are man.
facturers Of varying capacities while
70 manufacture approximately $4,000
. coins and baskets annually 30 manu-
j facture 360.O 600. ia manufacture 6l2.
000 or total OF $4,000 collins and
baskets. manufactured annually In the
United states. an Of which must be
. consumed through the ordinary De
p mand OF mortality. but what is the
r demand In the mortality abstract OF
: the twelfth census. table number -
: we find that the total deaths from
. all causes in the registration area of
4 the United States was 5l2.66e To-
I twelve months. but this registration
area was only IS per cent OF the con
d tinental territory or the Unite'
q States. Tn part T. of the final repor
@ en- vital statistics. paee VII the nna-
computation shows q death rate %
the United States OF f6.3 per 100
j. and while this is considered excessive
l. but assuming ~ TO be correct. 20 vii
= show approximately only l23S.oU
= deaths per year in this country includ
! ing paupers.
u Now what OF the 100000 collins an.
T. caskets produced annually in eNces
II OF the demand which the public ca
:, rat bee induced 10 purchase by IN
i use Of ans OF the ordinary medium
u used 20 stimulate trade az practice
u ia other lines OF business Unques
u uonably It is a case of over-suppI,
= which can not be disposed OF. an
.e the surplus is more than double N
Y quantity stated. for there is no pr.
e vision in the estimate for pauper CO
ms. which are not made ia the regula
~ CONN factories. whereas the humble
" OF deaths include paupers. and thu
x the fate OF nine out OF every ten ne
e coffin plants is clearly written. eve
= before the stock is subscribed. 10 sa
a. nothing OF the failure OF the oil
n ones.
ID II sometimes happens that ne
p. Plant OF this kind. after a hard stru.
n gle, succeeds in surviving some OF IN
In older ones. but the same amount
capital and energy invested in som
q other line OF business would not IN
40 such great risk OF failure, while pro
of its in the event OF success have pro
=, en- to De less than any other class
business.