The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-07
GhtGnteli9satsr
wllEELIXG IRON INTERESTS.
A Pittsburgh Reporter Looks in
on Us.

on Us.
Coun,rrlrI-GSsOttO Of Yesterday. s'.a
A reporter OF this paper visited Wheel.
ing on Saturday last with a view OF max.
inE tour among the iron mills Of that
thriving city and obtaining information
as to the condition Of that most import.
an. branch Of Wheeling's trade. As a
rule the iron men were not willing TO
SHOW up" their business, but several
we're found, however, who converted very
freely on the subject. F-lsl
The first interview was with perhaps
one Of the heaviest iron and nail manu-
facturees Of that city. This gentleman
started out with accommodation Of per-
sons who are endeAvoring to increase
their business by selling below the card
rates fixed by the Iron Association. "For
instance" said he, awe have heard of
Pittsburgh mills and mills elsewhere,
manufacturing nails out Of railroad iron.
These men can consequently compete
with us in the price Of nails on an
average Of about twenty-five cents
per Reg. Some mills are also max
Ing nails from an article called 'cindsr
iron, and various other inferior quail.
ties Of iron. 1t is true that there are
merchants at present who are buying
their iron and nails from these manu-.
iIcturers, who can sell to them the Cheap.
eat without regard to grade or quality; but
persons who are buying these cheap
qualities Of iron and nails with which
the market is now being stocked, are gel.
ting badly bitten, and those who are en-.
gagged manufacturing these inferior quail.
ties will evidently ruin their own trade.
The mills in Pittsburgh are eIso buying
pig metal at lower figure than it can be
bought for here, and we pay our puddIers
% cent? more per ton than they do, which
gives them somewhatot an advantage
over u.s. tN g -.
Upon being asked IL he could not sug.
Se't remedy for these evils, the gentle.
man replied.
"The evil could be easily remedied if
the manufacturers would only regulate
the production and stick 10 their card
rates.
Another manufacturer stated that the
iron trade was going to sticks; that some
people imagined they saw silver lining
to the cloud rising above the horizon, but
that be failed to see it.
The head Of another very important
firm remarked that they expected TO
start their mill on Monday (meaning
Yesterday, but he could not say how
long they would run. Business looks
very gloomy" he said, "and the prices
still continue to be low. Another dill.
Guilty that the iron men have TO contend
with is that some manufacturers are
making nails from railroad cinder and
many other inferior articles Of iron, and
men who know anything about iron and
Who are laboriDg for their own interest
will purchase nothing but u standard
nail. which they are positive is Of first
class grade" -0ar nE '7.~aFs 4,
Most Of the mills in Wheeling are in
operation, some Of them running double
turn, as the following will show:
The Riverside Iron and Nail Works
are running double turn, employing
about 500 men. These works have 1875
nlchiueS in operation, two train OF muck
rolls anil two squeezers. Their blast fur.
mace at BenWOod is blasting 800 ton OF
metal per week. .al. FL ..ra Ea
The Belmont Nail Works have been
idle for some time on account Of not be.
Ing able to procure metal while the river
ga low. Their forging department
started last week, and it was thought BY
the manaserS that the nail department
SouId 60 into operation some day this
week. Thete works give employment to
$50 meu and boys.
The La Belle Iron Works have not
been running Tor several weeks. The
lorgiug department Of this mill ia being
enlarged, and as soon as the work is com.
PIeted The mill will resume operations.
EenwoOd Iron and Nail Works started
their Jorge department last week, and the
l1clO'y was putinto operation yesterday.
THIS mill has beenidle since the third Of
July last. The Benwood mill is almost
heS, having been completed in the early
VI AS''t ! us mia IN UIl6 OI Tue UeAI
mills ia the country and Is fireproof
throughout. The Whitaker Iron Works
are running in tuIl, manufacturing sheet
iron exclusively, A patent measure and
Les iactory 10 also in operation IN connec.
Hon With the mill, There is passably
lA'r demand for sheet iron but prices con.
IiHae low.
The Iiellaire Iron and Nail Works are
Tuning 10 their full capacity, employing
about 100 men. The mill stopped running
~ July, and alter being idle six weeks,
,e'nmtd operations on Tuesday last. The
managers report the trade very dull, and
haI orders arc low. They have ninety
n'ea'nes running, and turn out 5000
kei' prr week.
The .Ena Iron and Nall MilFof Bridge.
Pon e running in full, giving employ
9'nt to 800 men. This firm consider
mat the trade looks in no way encouras.
',ng, and that prices are exceedingly low.
heU train oErolls will be put into oper.
Alton shortly at this mill.
The Norway tack factory Of Wheeling
hFlnnlng ave days per week, which il
Tne'hing unusual for these works, a.
"sy generally run but four.
n The several glass houses Of Bellaire and
0HtESporIhAye also resumed operations