Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-28

room was found thousands of dollars
worth of extra parts for the Champ
ion, Milwaukee and Plano binders,
and many orders for these parts were
being put up for shipment.
The Townsend report states that
the International and Plymouth Cor
dage company operate together and
control the output of twine and its
price. If such were the case, the
record of twine prices for ten years
past would prove a great credit to the
alleged trust, for the fact is that
binder Irvine prices have fallen stead
lily since 1898 and the 1911 prices
were the lowest in ten years, being
a little more than one-half the price
in 1902, when the International was
organized. However, the people OF
the Northwest fully realize that no
one concern controls the twine mar.
ket. The Minnesota Prison Twine
Plant manufactured about 10000, 900
pounds of Irvine in 1911, while our
own penitentiary plant at Bismarck
is no small factor in the twine trade
of North Dakota. Besides, there are
five other prison plants throughout
the country and six or seven outside
implement trade generally agree that
the international has most vigorous
competition on Irvine, not only from
the Plymouth Cordage company, but
from the other sources mentioned.
Mr.. Townsend's statements regard
ing Irvine trust, seem to be a myth,
and the harvester company's denial
appears to be substantiated. Other
charges made by Mr.. Townsend are
that:
Binder prices have been largely
Increased; terms made less liberal;
facilities for distribution impaired
and prices are all excessive"
The facts in reference to these
charges are not so easily accessible
to one unacquainted with the inner
workings of the implement business
generally. One of the statements,
however, would appear to be entirely
unjust, as to the charge that facilities
for distributing the goods have been
impaired.
The people of western North Dako-
ia are able to judge for themselves
as to this. Before the International
was formed, it will be remembered
that the entire business in the west
ern part of this state was handled
from the branches at Grand Forks
and Fargo, while since that organiza-
ton, independent branch houses have
been established at both Bismarck
and Minot. Last year the harvester
company erected at this point a large
warehouse building; one was also
completed at Minot, and it would an.
pear that it was the policy of the com.
pany to improve their facilities for
distributing goods instead of other.
wise. Were such not the case, it
would seem Unnecessary for them to
spend large sums of money for new
warehouses at Bismarck and Minot
when the trade might have been
handled through Grand Forks or Far.
60 Tor years to come.
The charges that binder prices have
been largely increased and the prices
are all excessive as subjects too deep
for the average layman to pass Judge
ment on, especially the latter.
However, the general increase in
the cost OF labor and material during
the past ten years would probably be
held to justify some increase in the
price of the machines, regardless to
who manufactured them.
AS to the extent to which binder
prices have been increased. the fol-
having statement from Hon. Geo.
WEIGH Of the local firm of French 4
WEIGH, gives his views on the SUBJ
1ect and on the company in general:
I'VE handled International machin.
cry for good many years and every.
thing has been satisfactory. As to
the increase in prices would say that
the international has made one in
crease in the wholesale price of bind
ers since it's organization, and that
amounted to z per cent. l might say
that the company has nothing to do
with retail prices; the dealer makes
those figures himself, and l believe
they vary considerable in different
localities. We sell a 6.foot binder for
$14O. This machine weighs about LOO
pounds and has over a thousand sep.
arate parts and should think it as
reasonable in price as any imple-
ment We SELL"
In view of the general publicity
which has been given to this conflict
or CharGeS against tho International