What were two ways to avoid legal allegations of monopoly in 1882?

In 1882, companies could avoid legal allegations of monopoly by implementing practices such as establishing partnerships or trusts that allowed for shared control among various businesses, diluting individual market dominance. Additionally, they could diversify their product lines or services to reduce reliance on a single market, thereby presenting themselves as competitive rather than monopolistic entities. These strategies helped companies maintain market presence while mitigating legal risks.