Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-08-29
HUGE PROFITS N
j. s INDUSTRIES
Starting Facts Rsveaied BY
Treasury Department.
WORST IS IN Fooos1uFFs
pFsAtssriMs BY Predveers 81 cemmen
easeeesitiss, Dad Enough In 1915.
Was ga~erNewsly Increased In 1917
In MoeG tnstaneea

VIZ 8WOVWvOOOsy sVsssWO
In llese instaneea
Washington, Aug. 17.-Aluazinx prof.
"a In almost every branch Of Ameh-
can industry we're brought to light
when the treasury department COM
pleted ID long-awaited report ON prof
lteering.
The report covers 1880 corpora.
e1oua the names Of which are with.
held. It was prepared in response to
the Borah resolution. adopted BY the
senate after President Wilson. In his
evenue address to congress on May
n. declared that there was abundant
fuel for the light" In the treasury de.
partment with regard to p~roiteertng.
The treasury department takes the
position that It would be q violation
Of existing law to make public the
names of corporations and their earn
ings. The senate resolution is not suf-
flcient to suspend the law; It would
feQuire a Joint resolution, the treasury
department holds.
The most extraordinary proiteering
revealed by the report was In food
etuffs Producers Of nearly all the
common necessities OF life were shown
to have made enormously increased
profits in 1917 ver 1916. although their
earnings in 1916 were In numerous
cases far above the 100 per cent mark.
Meat packers profits were shown to
have increased substantially. One
large packer made $19,000,O0O nor in
1917 than In 1916.
In the iron and steel industry sensa.
tional profits were disclosed. In coal
and oil profits mounted to unparalleled
figures. Public utilities of virtually
every character also came in for a lib.
eral share Of the increased prosperity.
Large Profits OF Diaries.
Among the dairy concerns large In
creases Of profits were shown. One
company with $t0o.0U capital made
$l66,W in 1917. against $4,000 the
year before. The small iairymen
made the largest percentages of in
creased profits. One little concern
with a capital Of So, 400 made S11,659,
as compared with $4,000 for 1916.
Fruit and vegetable growing indus
try's profits increased considerably
over those for 1916, although they
were fairly large for that year. One
concerns profits were $40 pei cent
more for 1917 than for 1915. Concerns
with small capital showed the larges,
increases.
Wheat. corr and barley growing was
not 80 profitable. according to the re,
turns. One concern with S425,0OO cap
ttal lost money. ..
Stock breeding showed substantially
Increased profit in nearly all the con
Germs listed. The industry also showed
large profits for the previous year
One concerns profits we're 255 pei
cent more In 1917 than In 1915.
A large number of industries LISTED
as miscellaneous agricultural indus
tries' showed some strikingly larg,
profits, beginning In 1916 and increas
ting rapidly in 1917.
Food Men Gain Riches.
OF ZIG concerns listed under the cap
flor Bread and other baking prod
ucts." p%rofteering Of an amazing char
acter was shown. For example, on,
company capitalized at $4,000 In
creased its profits from $4,000 In 1911,
to 100000 In 1917. Few Of then
showed Increases Of less than 20 pc
cent on their capital stock.
In the canning industry one CON
pany which earned 377 per cent ii
1915 earned 1,O47 per cent in 1911
Another, capitalized at 500, 600. mad
$247,OW In 1917, against $4,000 4
1915. A $4,000 oncern which mad
$4,000 In 1915 made $4,000 In 1911
The manufacture Of syrups. mola,
~ and glucose Melted much Increase
profit. One company with $4,000
capital earned s363. 900 In 1917 again.
e178,0O0 in 1916, Ice cream was a
especially big money maker.
OF more than 200 -four feed an
grtst mills listed only a few failed
show largely Increased profits. Or
Tc.S00,0M concern made s752,OOO
1915 and Sl,2O0.NOO In 1917.
There was II general upward rise
most packing companies profits. TT
largest concern listed had n tapltnl
S1ncWGM upon which 1t enrned 81.
o0!OO In 1917. against 1000. 600
1910.
Startling Profits In Lsather.
Leather manufacturers. including Il
dealers In hides, and makers Of boo
and shoes and trunks and wallis.
made profits In 1916 md 1917 that a
startling. Ono shoe manufacture
concern. with $1.OOO.OO0 cnpitni, ma
S13 per cent In 1915. but no excess
1917.
Scores " boot and shoe manuf,
tr"'n: concerns, whOxc capital v
from sl00!O0O to &l.O0OyOOO. made
ehc way from 20 to more than Ia
per cent IN 1915.
The profits IT the brewers ram
from n 70 115 PR rent 10 1919. a
sAeir excess profits Ia 1017 were In
. 10 30 per- cent, most Of the u,
Hrewesics making an average proSt