United Fruit

mowque

Banned
A small part of a much greater TL. Anyone like it?

Business TL


1901- The government of Guatemala hires the United Fruit Company to manage the country's postal service. US Steel is founded due to a massive merger. It controls 2/3 of steel production. Texaco Fuel Company is founded.


1902- Bethlehem Steel gets huge contracts to build steel parts of warships for FAW(First Atlantic War). Bethlehem Steel opens various dockyards. Pure Oil Producing Co. is incorporated. Havemeyer Oil Company get lucky with US Navy contracts for oil for military shipping.


1903- After the FAW, American begins to negotiate with Columbia over Panama.


1904- The United Fruit Company starts large operations in Cuba during USA occupation. Standard Oil is sued under anti-trust laws. They fight off any doubts even thought they control over 60% of the oil market. Texaco continues buying small oil stations along the Gulf.


1905- Panama is 'bought' from Columbia, (in reality, Columbia is threatened with war and revolution. American troops in Venezuela convinces Bogotá). The UFCO takes over the postal system and rail service of Panama. Indian Oil Company is founded, and briefly controls Louisiana oil production.


1907- Bethlehem Steel buys Union Works Dockyard (based in San Francisco) in a highly publicized merger. US Steel attempts to buy Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad but is stopped by anti- trust legislation. Outraged, TR is called an 'Un-American' by the head of US Steel.


1906- Various American businesses set up stock in the Caribbean, buying land and plantations. Despite this influx, UFCO and the newly formed Standard Fruit company are the largest fish. A strike at US Steel plants in Ohio lead to violence and the formation of a American Communist Party.


1908- Byran's election bodes ill for business people. Most business open 'satellite offices' in Cuba, which is still in the throes of civil war. Violence stops soon after the business Exodus. Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad is re-organized into the new Southern Steel, providing steel to oil companies in the Gulf as well as railroads through American and the Caribbean. Pure Oil expands into shipping to Europe, mainly France.


1909- Standard Fruit buys massive shares in Guatemala fruit companies. Elections are beginning to be swayed. Bethlehem steel succeeds in reducing US Steel's productions share to 50%. Byran and Brandeis personally leads the attack on Standard Oil, re-opened due to the concept of 'secret railroad rates' for Standard Oil. Havemeyer Oil buys Indian Oil, and begins to be the largest non-Standard Oil Petroleum company.


1910- UFCO opens a rail and telegraph division. They soon become the standard in the Caribbean, servicing the local elites. Havana becomes a USA business paradise, despite Byran trust busting back home. Cuba struggles for freedom, but has no real chance as anything other then a American protectorate. Steel booms as demand for the SAW (Second Atlantic War) begins. Not only does the USA Army/Navy require items, but European orders fill the waiting lists of all major companies.


1911- The last 'free' sugar on Cuba is bought. South Steel faces charges of abuses and violations of safety laws against its (mainly black and/or convicts) work force. US Steel and Southern steel begin to build 'model' towns, for workers to live in. Gary, Indiana is founded for this reason. Standard Oil is broken up into 32 companies.


1912- Standard fruit expands in Costa Rica, squeezing out many small American business. An abortive workers rebellion in Honduras is put down with American military aid. US Steel is attacked by the Sherman Act but survives, which leads many to consider a new anti-trust bill.


1913- As war rages in Europe, Cuba and Venezuela are totally bought by American interests. A massive strike at Bethlehem Steel is broken up, while Byran lashes out with pro-union laws. Nicurgua passes an anti-black immigration law. Untied Fruit 'finds' a legal loophole.


1914- The last rebels in Cuba are brunt out, as UFCO opens a new shipping line, using Miami as its base in the USA. New headquarters are built in Havana. Texas based Tropical Fruit Company opens and starts to invest in the Caribbean.


1915- After the war ends, Tropical Fruit, Standard Fruit and UFCO buy old navy ships to bolster there own fleets. Tropical Fruit becomes the third 'leg' in the Caribbean as between them, most fruit companies are squeezed out. The war ens, leaving steel producers to expand into the consumer market.


1916- Bethlehem dockyards are consolidated into one division known as Bethship. Pure Oil is bought by Ohio Cities Gas Company.
 
Last edited:

mowque

Banned
more

1917- Honduras passes a 8 hour work day law. Untied Fruit soon finds a loophole. As Europe reels in depression, steel prices drop, hurting manufacturing.


1918- Kern Act is passed. Honduran-Guatemalan war breaks out over the Motagua-Merendon region. The fruit companies take sides, which leads to bickering. Bethship buys the Alameda Works Shipyard. Lowered wages trigger a huge strike in Michigan US Steel plants. US Steel vows to 'fight unions' everywhere. Ohio Cities Gas Company change sname back to Pure Oil as part of a expasnion out West.


1919- Honduras wins the war, gaining the banana lands, and United Fruit takes ownership. Standard Fruit opens the Standard Lumber division.


1920- Columbian banana growers form the Farmers Alliance to keep out the American Fruit companies. The Alliance deals with Fruit companies on equal terms. Standard Fruit moves most administrative offices to Havana. Southern Steel opens extensive partner ship with United Fruit to supply rails and rail cars. Texaco also buys much steel from South Steel, producing a strong connection. Mobiloil is founded after Mobil buys a few remains of Standard Oil.


1921- Election of Leonard Wood is deemed a victory for Big Business. Disputes over issues cause the 'Banana War' to break out among United Fruit, Standard fruit and Tropical fruit. It consists of a series of tariff battles, port blockages, law manipulation, (in many areas violence) price cutting, and legal action.


1922- The 'Banana War' ends with Tropical fruit being sold and broken up between United Fruit and Standard Fruit. Europe recovers leading to a massive steel boom. US Steel, Bethlehem Steel and Southern Steel all record massive growth. Unions lose power as companies turn even more paternalistic. Havemayer continues to lead the field in ship oils, selling to a now richer Europe.


1923- Both companies radically increase ship buying to augment their banana fleets. United Fruit buys miles of rails in Venezuela and Columbia. Untied Fruit comes under investigation under the Kern Act.


1924- Popular elected President (warlord) of Costa Rica is outed by United Fruit. Bethlehem Steel engages in heavy price war with US Steel. Pure Oil is forced to shed some divisions under anti-trust regulation.


1925- The Columbian Farmers Alliances dissolves under price pressure, and American companies swoop in. Wages plummet as workloads increase on many plantations. US Steel beats another anti-trust investigation. Texaco becomes the first oil company is have sales in all 48 states.
 
Unusual approach to telling history :D

Business interests having their own foreign policy is both turn-of-the-century and very recognizeably regional.
 
One problem- Bryan was somewhat of a pacifist, so he would strongly oppose any US involvement in any war.

Still, this is a fascinating timeline. (Wonder when Smedley Butler will show up- and on whose side...)
 

mowque

Banned
One problem- Bryan was somewhat of a pacifist, so he would strongly oppose any US involvement in any war.

Still, this is a fascinating timeline. (Wonder when Smedley Butler will show up- and on whose side...)

He was a pacifist, and strongly opposed entering WW1 OTL. But remeber he did fight in the SPan-Am war, OTL.

Byran made it clear that if the majority of Americans wanted war, he would do his best to lead them (I don't have the exact quote on me right now, but it is much like that). In TTL Americans favor war (as opposed to OTL) so Byran fights the tide, but he is swept up int he war fever once it becomes clear this is what America wants.

Thanks for the question!:)
 

mowque

Banned
I guess I don't understand the POD - could you briefly summerise or link to the bigger TL please

The POD isn't here. I just want a independent view of this small part of it. I have ones for sports, various fields of science, monarchy lines, and whatnot. All show the effects of my POD.
 
Top