The Clio messenger., 1918-08-30
HUGE PROFITS IN
j. 5. INDUSTRIES
Startling Facts Revealed by
Treasury Department.
WORST IS IN FOODSTUFFS
Profiteering by Producers OF Common
Necessities, Bad Enough in 1916,
Was Enormously Increased In 1917
In Most Instances.

Washington, Aug. 17.-Amazing prof
It's in almost every branch of Ameri-
can industry were brought to light
when the treasury department COM
pieted its long-awaited report on prof
iteering.
The report covers 81 800 corpora
tlons. the names Of which are with
held. 1t was prepared In response TO
the Borah resolution. adopted by the
senate after President Wilson. In his
revenue address to congress on May
27, declared that there was abundant
fuel for the light" in the treasury de-
partment with regard to Drofiteering.
The treasury department takes the
position that II would be violation
of existing law to make public the
names of corporations and their earn
ings. The senate resolution Is not suf-
ficient to suspend the law; II would
require joint resolution, the treasury
department holds.
The most extraordinary profiteerng
revealed by the report was in food
stuffs. Producers of nearly all the
common necessities of life We're shown
to have made enormously increased
profits in 1917 over 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 $19,000000 more 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 lib
eral share Of the increased prosperity
Large Profits Of Dalries.
Among the dairy concerns large in
creases of profits were shown. One
company with 100000 capital made
$166,OOO In 1917, against $4,000 the
year before. The small dairymen
made the largest percentages of in
creased profits. One little concern
with a capital Of $2.4OO made $11.659,
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 24O per cent
more for 1917 than for 1916. Concerns
with small capital showed the largest
increases.
not so profitable, according to the re-
turns. One concern with $425 900 cap
ital 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 were 255 per
cent more In 1917 than In 1916.
A large number Of industries listed
as miscellaneous agricultural indus
tries" showed some strikingly large
profits. beginning in 1916 and increas-
Ing rapidly In 1917.
Food Men Gain Riches.
OF PIC concerns listed under the cap
tion Bread and other baking prod
ucts," profiteering Of an amazing char
acter was shown. For example, one
company capitalized at $4,000 in
creased its profits from $4,000 In 1916
to $107,O In 1917. Few of them
showed Increases Of less than 20 per
cent on their capital stock.
In the canning industry one COM
pany which earned 377 per cent in
1915 earned 1,047 per cent in 1917.
Another, capitalized at $4,000, made
$247. 900 in 1917, against $4,000 in
1915. A $4,000 concern which made
$25, 900 In 1915 made $142, 900 In 1917.
The manufacture Of syrups, molas-
ses and glucose netted much increased
profit. One company with $35O,OOO
capital earned $363, 900 in 1917 against
$4,000 In 1915. Ice cream was an
especially big money maker.
OF more than 500 -four. feed and
grist mills listed only n few failed to
show largely increased profits. One
$2,5O0,0O0 concern made S752,0OO in
1915 and 81 100000 In 1917.
There was a general upward rise In
most packing companies profits. The
largest concern listed had a capital OF
L
100000 In 1917, against $30,OOO,0OO in
1915.
Startling Profits In Leather.
Leather manufacturers, including the
dealers In hides. and makers Of boots
and shoes and trunks and valises,
made profits in 1916 and 1917 that are
startling. One shoe manufacturing
concern, with $1,OOO,OOO capital, made
313 per cent in 1915, but no excess in
1917.
Scores of boot and shoe manufac-
turing concerns, whose capital was
from 100000 to $1,0OO,OOO, made all
the way from 20 to more than 1000
per cent In 1915.
The profits Of the brewers ranged
from % to ITS per cent in 1915, and
their excess profits In 1917 were from
to 50 per cent, most Of the large
breweries making an average profit Of
~ to 50 per cent In 1916, and an ex-