The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-06
Recent History Of the WOODEN Manmrnr.
Iurc.

During the war, wooden manufacturers
made ONE money. Indeed, their ability
to render their business profitable at that
period seemed to be limited only by the
capacity Of their mills Tor producing goods.
Everything was in demand, and prices
were constantly advancing, while the
mills were running night and day. 1t was
far different with the cotton manufacture
ers. Throughout the entire rebellion,
most OF the cotton mills were Obliged to
suspend operations for want OF the raw
material, and at one time it was said there
was moi Il single cotton spindle in opera.
ton in the whole city Vi Lowell. MANY
OF the cotton manufacturers, therefore.
seeing such Il demand for wOOlcns, and
with no immediate prospect of
the close OF the war, came TO the con-
clusiOn to turn Il portion OF their cstab.
liShment TO the manufacture OF wooden
goods, and purchased and put in operation
expensive machinery for that purpose. In
addition to this, WOODEN mills generally
were continually increasing their capacity
Tor production; and their entire equip.
mcnt was run so rs to produce the largest
possible quantity Of goods. The wo0leu
machinery OF the country was more than
doubled during the war. and the industry
enjoyed an era Of continuous prosperity.
Iiut alter the war was overs reaction came.
and the large increase which had taken
place III the wooden machinery Of the
country became tie main element of
weakness to the industry. In the latter
part Of 1866 the trade awoke to something
OF 4 realization OF the excessive stocks
which they were carrying, but with the
enlarged capacity OF the mills it would
have been found difficult to have depleted
the surplus in any event; and the u~nsatis.
factory condition Of things was still i,Ir.
thcr aggravated by the unloading OF the
national governments immense accumu-
latlOns Of wOOlenS. The army blankets
and blue OvcrCOatS which iOund their way
into all sections OF the country ut that ne.
ROD have not vet entirely disappeared.
Ever since lStG, therefore, the wooden in.
lercSt has been engaged in Il constant
struggle against adverse fortune. and il is
not sayln" too much 10 assert that it has
lost heavily during every one OF the past
II years. II is true that there have been
individual eases where Il lair business
has been done. I;ut many wooden fac.
tories have gone into the hands oi new pro.
rrictorS at large reductions from their
first cost, and what appeared To he fair
dividends upon these decreased valuations
would hav" been equivalent To no divi.
dends upon the original investment.
Wooden mills representing an investment
Of lW,UOO hay" not unfrcIurntly gone
begging fOr Il purchaser at from Sl0,WO
to $2O,OOO, and the capital stock Of old and
famous corporations had in some cases
been all but swept out Of existence.
Wooden manufacturers would now, there.
lore, scCn to be entitled to an oppurluni.
ty to retrieve their losses. The cotton
manufacturers turned the corner solur
lime ago, and thcrearc few whoa are not IN.
cIimci to hope that the occasion has ON
for the wooden interest 10 do tn" samc.-
BpN'm Gppnp r"ini BVihiu.