The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-26
LUMBER RING GRIPS WEST,
SAYS PROVO GRAND JURY
Lunlbermen's association, the following
findings were reported:


findings were reported:
Independent Nearly Crushed.
THAT the Utah Timber company, an
independent firm In Provo, when 1t be-
gan business about eighteen months ago
found IT impossible to purchase lumber
FOR cash from any OF the wholesale deal
ers of Utah who were doing business
WITH members OF the association. and was
nearly forced out of the lumber business.
until II finally found an independent firm
In Portland, Or, where It could buy
what lumber 1t desired.
THAT contractors have found II DIFF
ficult to buy dimension lumber from an
Independent firm, where they could get
II on an average OF at Least 10 per cent
cheaper, and then got their mill stuff
and work from a member of the asso
citation.
And in one instance they were forced
to give up contract for dimension lum-
Der which had been awarded to an in
dependent firm and to purchase their
lumber from n member OF the assoca-
ton In order to get their mill work done
have been in the habit Of sending out
price lists to the contractors every time
there is any change In prices, and those
price lists are always exactly the same
given that wholesalers charge everybody
the same and each retail dealer has to
figure OH about the Same per cent OF
profit In order 10 keep I'd his business.
'That the prices of lumber are much
lower in Eureka and places where there
is no association than they are In Utah
county, and In one instance q member
OF the association sold lumber 10 con-
tractor on n building In Sanpete county
for from 81 to sic per thousand cheaper
than the same contractor could purchase
The same lumber In Utah county from
the members OF the association"
In connection with the investigation Of
the Butchers and Grocers association
of Provo City. the Jury found:
hat inc Of f1,a toft
held on an average OF once a month, and
sometimes oftener. and at such meetings
the prices OF groceries. meat, flour and
various kinds OF foodstuffs are discussed
and retail price on such articles Is
fixed, Every member of the associa-
tion agrees to sell at such prices.
How They Operated
"It was moved that the president in
struct the Excelsior Spanish Fork anc
SpriugvlIa mills that unless their Gus
toners get profit of 20 cents per hun
dredwcight to cut off the supply from
them and that II they will not do so.
the members of this ASSOCIATION Will no.
handle their flour
all agreed 10 close out Hewlett Bros
goods, and at another meeting 1t was
agreed to get rid OF Crystal White soap,
because the Golden Rule store had been
25 cents.
THE association has the following sys-
TEN by which ii Keeps posted on delin-
quent debtors: The secretary visits each
member OF the association once or twice
a month. and In book kept for that pur-
pose by each member he marks down
the name OF each person owing any mem
Der Of the association blu which Is OF
more than thirty days standing.
mo member of the association is al
lowed 10 give credit To any such debtor
until he has settled In full with the mem
bcr he already owes. Thus, sc any indi-
ridual Is owing any member OF the as
ISOLATION an account for more than thirty
days, oil the other members know IL, and
that individual cannot get credit of any
OF the other members until his account
is settled in full.
ANY member willfully breaking the
rules OF the association with regard to
prices fixed by the association is sub
ject to a fine by the association"