The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-29
GozD closed Saturday at 1908.
TROUBLE AMONG THE NAIL MEN

TROUBLE AMONG THE NAIL MEN.
In the United States there are some
thing over fifty nail mills, large ard
small, OF this number some sixteen or
eighteen are situated in the Eastern and
New England States and compose what
is known as the Eastern Association.
Twenty six mills, located at Pittsburgh,
Wheeling, S:eubenyille, the Mahoning
Valley, Cleveland and the West, 60 to
make up the Western Nail Association.
Besides these, there is mill at Belle
willie, Illinois, one at Aurora, Indiana,
the recently reorgsnized mill at Martins
Ferry and new one in course
OF erection near Chicago, making
thirty mills IN all which contribute their
product to the trade of the West and
South. In addition there are two or
three mills located IN the Southern
States-Alabama and Georgia. The
Western Association, composed as we
have stated, agreed early last Fall, upon
an advance in the card price OF nails
from the ruinous figures which had pre-
vailed for months previously, and also
upon plan of curtailment of production
by the stoppsge of all machines stipu-
lated portion of the time. All the mills
of the Association with the exception of
the LsBelle, OF this city, the Jefferson
at Steubenville, and possibly one or two
Others, strictly adhered to the stoppsge
part of the programme, and all of them
stood pretty well together as to the price.
The two Western Mills not in the Assc-
cistion, the Aurora and the BelLevllle
Mills, have mover observed either the
card price or the plan of curtailment Of
production. The Bellevllle Mill uses old
rails in the place OF pig iron, AMI is thus
enabled to make nails something cheaper
than can be made out of pig iron at the
present price of ore, coke and labor. 1t
is true, the product of these mills is small,
but 1t is sufficient TO somewhat democrat
ize the market.
There is a mill located at Terra Hsute,
Indiana, which steadily sbided the orders
of the Association up to the beginning Of
March. At that time it broke over sad
Iun slong regardless of the resolves of the
majority; bu: during this month it has
been disposed TO cooperate with It's $3.50.
cistes again. On Saturday, however,
word was received in this city that the
Terra Hal.e mil had Lelegraphed the
Secretary o. the Association that it pro-
posed to start up again, as somebody,
probably some Of the Pittsburgh mills,
had been cutting under as to price. Our
nail men at once held meeting and re-
solved to observe the agreements Of the
Association in good faith 70 the end,
provided their Pittsburgh brethren
would stand f2m, and so telegrsphed to
that city. Bat one weeks additional
3 oppags is required until the next meet
log wrich takes place on the 10Th OF
NAV; snd in that snort time he Terre
uaute mill, f permitted to run alone,
could not denoralze The market very
grestly, whereas, fall the mills start up
their machinery, the bottom goes out of
the market at once.
Experience hss shown that the de-
mand for nails in this country will absorb
about one 1slf OF all that can be manu-
featured by the mills now IN existence
1t matters not how chesply they can be
afforded. no more can be used. There
fore, there is but one solution to the diff
Guilty, and that is the limitation of pro-
duction.
We are informed that the mills of the
Eastern Association get their labor COZ.
sderaOly cheaper than the Western mills
from Is to 80 per cent. cheaper while
they now get their coal as cheap and
their IRON on little better terms. This
gives them an advantage. They are also
credited with using more old rails than
are used in the West.
Now, suppose the mills in this v!cinl-
ty should say to labor, you must come
down or we will be compelled 70 shut up
shop; and suppose labor would say
rather thgn be thrown out Of employ
ment altogether we will Sbate one-'ourth
or one-third the wages now paid, would
that better the situation for either party?
Not a parLcle. The result would be
chesper nails, but the manufacturer
would not be permitted to pocket that Of
which he had robbed suffering labor.
Consumption would not be increased by
q single keg, and competition would force
the selling price down to the minimum
st last.
The fact is, the day of the nail bust
ness as an Immensely lucrative industry
over for many years, 4. least; and that
fact may as well be looked suusrely in
the face. 1t cannot revive even as q
satisfactory business rs long as al other
branches Of business are prost-sted.
HALE OLD BEN. SMITH.