Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-03
STATE OF THE NAIL TRADE.
What the Recent Action OF tffe
Western Association Means
The Cause Of the Depression in
the Market-Why an Unusu.
ally Lively season L. Antici-
pated, Ne.

pated, Nc.
Pitt Dispatch
IL il difficult Ia avert suspicion when
any unusual action Is taken 10y an indi-
yldual or set III meu. A case in point
respects the Western Nail Association.
Two weeks ago, at the regular meeting,
Il was deciied that no nails should be-
made by the mills belonging to the As.
snciation for two weeks. This week, at
the expiration of that term, another
meeting was held, and IL was determined
tO manufacture no more nails Tor a
iurther term OF two weeks. This action
was the opportunity for which the
grOwlers have long been praying, and
they improved Il for the purpose of ex-
pressing their belief that the boon Il
nothing but a hollow sham and a
mOckeTy. They declare that the bot
tom has fallen cut ii the thing, aud that
the action OF the nail men simply lndl-
Gates that there is M longer market
Tor their product.
A gentleman prominently known IN
the nail traie was yesterday questioned
by reporter OF the Dispatch with refer
ence 20 the real state ot the trade AMI
the reasons that IN the midst of such
unexampled prosperity ~ Is claimed To
characterize the business al this time,
IL should become necessary tn limit the
production by closing down the mills
The gentleman interviewed declined 10
20 before the public as the mouthpleCe
OF the nail men, but while ayerse to the
use of his name, he vas perfectly will
a ..N Nh.s NasFE
In the FIRST place, notwithstanding the
frequent denials that have been made,
il is a fact that during the period of bus.
mess depression large stocks we're accu-
mulated in certain quarters which we're
not thrown upon the market until the
very last aiVance made IN the price ol
iron. While these stocks aTe Teierrri
to as he,ng large, !. ~ not intended L.
convey the Idea that they wrrr Ut such
proportion a. b. bear any sort IT CON-
parisOn 70 the prJIuy, Ot the mills iOT a
year. Upon the other hand, Il is the
tirm belief at the manufacturers that
the cessation ior one month will
he sufficient o. clear the market
entirely Ot the surplus The closing 0t
the mills for iour weeks, scconiIng 10
the estimate ot the Association, Is equiv
slent % a restrIetluu ot production equal
tn 0ne-eighth oi the whole estimated
production OF the country, that Is to say,
the One-eighth OF 1000 O,O kegs, Or hall
a million kegs In point OF fact, said
our informant, L Is not believed by the
members 1T the Association that the
speCulatOrs have held To EXCEED luO,OO
Kegs, bat at this particular season that
amount Of nails beyOnd the demand
which can be easily supplied at this
time by the immediate productiOn-ls
sufficient 70 break the price.
There are two reasOns Why the season
which one wOuh naturally suppose 20
be close at hand has not yet opened. In
the first plaos the winter AMI spring
have been unusually backward, greatly
retArding every class OF work oets,de OF
.iaa lspse cities, BY resson OF the maserA-
- - ,liti0n Oi The rOsds. IL has been
oo4 that in AZ the Soen,ty d~,s.I,sss ~
- <<-- V,snlltt,n a ''hab-,teep' mud
waScli il usually rsck kOnsSi O. attach only
A he month % Mar,h. The Way that
th,s Mas operated to keep back al. Kinds
Of hauling and retAni building would
scArcely be believed by the unlnltlated.
Then, again, the building season under
the most favorable circumstances can
not be SAid 10 tAirly begin until May, or
later, and until about that time the de-
msnd Tor nails is limited. During this
month what work in the direction oi
huilding improvements - done will be
coadne1 almost entirely 10 the digging
OF toundAtions and the erection ot cellar
walls.
The manufacturer, without excep-
ton, believe that the coming season
vii b one Of the aosf prosperous ever
knoSu IN their buslnsssL They bAss
their opinion upon the fAct that the ar
ehitscts aud oontr.cton al rsport an ex-
trAordihsry amount oi inQuiry with ~
spect . bnildinx. and IN unusual num-
eer al contracts alrsady let They also
rexArd lt ss UNLIKELY that prices of nails
sih advance. a the peculiar relations
between the ron nAs1ers and iron
Sorkers a. regards ths eovernm>nt q
priecs or labor b. The slidins sale ars
likely 40 Keep The prise of ,irea jasl
xh-rs h - tOs ssar a nes oosapiicxtion.
arising TIE f4el thsf prbces Il nah.
vn PfOashly not advance 10 The IN
usual card ~ even o. sixht dolizur-
! vhich oFa<rty ruie4 upon tho occxsioi
: % Just such bai,a,ng activity - Rs0pa
. i.ss ~ sh4rscs<az3 the sspnins ssssoa--
4 ne maeatActarers think Will teud 70 IN
, ers
 NE snoant al the sales q tb
4 year. 49, M &
wA.uSorox. d. O., Ian. 10, rsSo
H " xzrS<s a o. 4. 'tH4A-t -
l. f. u -.