The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1907-01-31
to be an exorbitant profit exacted by
manipulation of the monopoly.

IS INFERIOR 10 the grade taken as my
basis. A log will yield about 20 per
cent culls, 20 per cent first common, 20
per cent second common, 20 per cent
firsts, al 20 per cent second firsts.
Another analysis of the data which
l have obtained show, that it costs $40
to manufacture the lumber at the mills
and yields to the trust profit of at
least 200 per cent. According to the
last census of the United States, the
value of timber products in 1900 was
1856, 600,O 900. From this the enormous
pref IS accruing to the trusts are patent.
The methods by which this trust has
obtained control of the lumber business
of this country are no longer neces-
sarily secret. 1t not only arbitrarily
advances the prices of lumber at
stated intervals, but by various means
attempts to discourage independent
dealers from entering the field. Failing
in that, it resorts to drastic and un-
scrupulous methods to crush them and
ruin their business.
Much of the information which have
obtained concerning this subject is of
confidential nature. For obvious rea-
sons dealers, unwillingly in the grasp
of the monopoly, are reluctant to
divulge information relating to their
dealings with it. All such informa-
tion, however, will be easily accessible
to5the department of commerce and
labor operating under the authority
and direction of congress. The
evidence already developed conclusively
shows that the whole country is SUBJ
divided into territories, each of which
is dominated by an association MAIN
tanning mere shadow Of independence
and in complete control of such ter
ritories, subject to the direction of the
trusts. The retail dealers within these
respective subdivisions are not per-
mitted to compete with each other
either in the same town or within the
allotted territory, and the minimum
price which the retailer may charge. is
fixed by the association. If such re-
taller violates any of the directions of
the association he is first subjected to
a system of heavy fines and penalties,
AMI if such violations are repeated the
offender is then blacklisted and finally
eliminated from doing business. Such
is the discipline to which all retail dealers
are subjected by the association to
maintain the supremacy of the trust.
Oftentimes the retail dealers in To-
cllity are united in an association, or
combination, to maintain prices higher
than the minimum fixed by the trust
and they are always restricted to the
territory prescribed by the dominant
trust. AS notice to the trade, the trust
issues from time to time a Directory
of Regular Retail Lumber Dealers, {"
authorized to engage in business with
in prescribed territory.
But the retail dealers are not alone
in the clutches of the trust. The
wholesaler is subject to it's domination
as we'll. If he sells to an unauthorized
dealer he is subject to boycott and
other penalties.
The mill men are also subject to like
domination and like discipline, although
they have an association of their own
subject to the parent association,
which fixes prices, prescribes territory
within which each member may operate
and beyond which none cans ship or
solicit business, and are subject to
penalties for violations of their agree
ments. Prior to this organization there
was competition. Since it bee anne eff
fective there is none.
The latter association has an agree
mente with the trust by which the
small mills are handicapped and elm
mated from business as speedily as pos
sible. All millwork must be purchased
of the member of the association to
which the particular territory is as
signed. Often they compel the trans
action of business through local dealers
friendly to the interest of the trust,
and in that event the local dealer OBJ
tains percentage for handling it. If
the transaction occurs in a locality
where the retailers are in combination
with each other and the purchase is
made direct from the mill operating in
that territory, profit is added for the
benefit of local dealers and is divided
among them.
If a contractor seeks to purchase
millwork for use in town not within
the territory of the company with which
he ordinarily deals, he can only pur-
chase of the authorized or regular"
company. If the contractor or car
penter undertakes to manufacture mill
work even on small scale, the price
of the material which he must use is at
once raised to such point as to pro-
hibit its profitable use, nd thus COM
petition, even on a sma scale, is
mi