steady supply for use in the various arts; and the statement has been made that the supply of each one of these is in the hands of a trust. To see the effect which these combinations have had on prices, let us examine the prices which have prevailed for two years past on these four articles, as shown in the following table:
Table of wholesale prices (cents per lb.) in New York City of copper, lead, tin, and zinc during 1886, 1887, and 1888:
| Copper | Lead | Tin | Zinc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 Dec. 31 | 11.5 | 4.60 | 5.35 | |
| 1886 Apr. 3 | 11.45 | 4.90 | 5.50 | |
| 1886 July 3 | 10.00 | 4.90 | 5.60 | |
| 1886 Oct. 7 | 11.00 | 4.35 | 5.60 | |
| 1887 Jan. 5 | 12.25 | 4.75 | 24.50 | 6.42 |
| 1887 Apr. 6 | 11.00 | 4.75 | 24.50 | 6.50 |
| 1887 July 6 | 10.50 | 4.92 | 25.00 | 7.00 |
| 1887 Oct. 6 | 11.00 | 4.45 | 23.30 | 6.75 |
| 1887 Dec. 29 | 17.75 | 5.00 | 37.00 | 6.00 |
| 1888 Mar. 29 | 17.50 | 5.50 | 39.50 | 6.75 |
| 1888 July 3 | 17.25 | 4.25 | 22.00 | 6.50 |
| 1888 Oct. 4 | 18.50 | 5.75 | 26.00 | 6.75 |
| 1889 Jan. 3 | 17.50 | 3.85 | 22.00 | 5.50 |
| 1889 Apr. 29 | 16.50 | 4.25 | 23.00 | 6.50 |
Taking the evidence of this table, we conclude that the combination which is said to control the zinc and lead markets is probably not a trust, but a "Producer's syndicate" or corner. The prices of lead show no such firm tendency to advance as would be expected if the production was in the hands of a single combination.