Trusts had first appeared in the railroads…

Trusts had first appeared in the railroads of the United States, where the capital requirement of railroad construction precluded competitive services in scarcely settled territories.

This trust has allowed railroads to discriminate on rates imposed and services provided to consumers and businesses and to destroy potential competitors.

Different trusts can be dominant in different industries.

The Standard Oil Company trust in the 1880s controls a number of markets, including the market in fuel oil, lead and whiskey.

The National Linseed Oil Trust of St. Louis, Missouri is a major company trust formed in 1885 to protect linseed interests in the United States. (Once used extensively in painting, linseed oil today is also commonly known as flax seed oil.)

Omaha millionaire Clark Woodman is an influential director on the board.

Viewed today as one of many imitators of the Standard Oil Company, the Linseed Oil Trust's peers include the Cotton Oil Trust, Lead Smeltering Trust and the Whiskey Trust.