Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-11
Tap POTTERY INTERESTS.

THE POTTERY 1NTEnEofS@
The remarkable growth OF the pottery
industry in this country bids fair to shut
out all competition, although it has been
but few years since We depended al.
most entirely upon foreign wares.
As this business has already become
q part OF the substantial industries OF
Wheeling, few facts and figures COM
piled by census agents showing the ex'
tent Of the business throughout the
country will be interesting.
According to the official statistics, on
the lst of June, 1880, there were Alto
gether at that period existing in the
United States l04 establishments OF all
kinds, large and small, having in the
aggregate about $50 kilns. The amount
OF capital invested was about 81, 900, 600,
the number OF hands employed on the
average $500, the amount OF wages paid
out in one year up to the period
mentioned 3 200, 900, and the total
value Of product 8, 100000. In Trenton,
NJ. alone there were 90 establishments,
representing a capital OF 81 500, 500 and
having 1853 kilns. The average number
Of hands employed was 3,S77, the
amount of wages paid out in one year
1888 III, and the value OF product Tor
that period 81 34l, 1897. East Liverpool,
Ohio, comes next to Trenton in import
anee, having 25 establishments. repre-
senting an aggregate capital OF si,o3''-
900, with about 105 kilns. The number
of hands employed here was l,5l3, the
amount OF wages paid out soos,'
600 and the total value OF pro-
duct 81, 27s,OO0. New York State had "A
establishments, representing a caPitai
of $3.50, 600; hands employed, DO; wages
paid out, Sls5,OO0, and total value OF
product, s3sO,OOO. The rest of the pot
teries are scattered throughout Massa'
chusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Ohio and Kentucky, Since
the completion OF the statistics by the
Census Department, there have been
about ten new potteries stsrted. In
Trenton alone four new establishments
have been put under Roadway since that
time. In the year 1860 there were, &C
cordiug to the census, about 90 estab-
lishments, representing a capital OF
Sl,34l, IA, employing 90S hands, paying
per year S934,9 in wages, and produc'
ing about g, 463, 6sl worth OF ware.
The output of these potteries consisted
chiefly of coarse brown ware and Rock
ingham goods. The class OF wares now
made consists principally of cream col:
ored, white granite, porcelain and the
better class of hotel and staple goods.
Especial attention is being paid to deco
rations, Trentou having several FIRST
class establishments devoted to that pur-
pose, and employ n, some Of the best
talent that can he on both this and the
other side of the Atlantic. Photo-litho'
graphing, however, is carried on in only
one pottery, the New Jersey" while
most of the other turn out very fine
specimens of under and over glaze paint.
ing. and one decorating establishment
is making a specially OF produc'
ing imperishable portraits IN tiles
and plaques. The busts OF President
and Mrs. GARFIELD have recently been
produced with fine effect. Ali sorts OF
new patterns are being continually in
vented, and the great objective point
seems to be to equal imported goods.
Hich mines OF raw material are being
worked in various parts OF New Jersey,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and
there is no scarcity OF it perceptible.
Flint and spar OF the best quality are
within easy reach OF all the potteries,
and all that is apparently needed is
superior skill and workmanship in order
to produce class of goods equal to the
best that is imported. The manutac'
ture of sanitary ware is receiving much
attention, four potteries in Trenton be.
ing devoted to that line.
In the Tariff act OF 1889, passed by
Congress at it's first session, in the city
of New York, duty of 10 per cent. on
imported earthenware was imposed; it
was subsequently advanced to Is per
cent, then to IA, and in 1872 to So per
cent. Under the Tariff act Of 1915 ii was
reduced to 20 per cent, at which rate it
remained until 1912, when it was ad-
vanced to 80. Again in 1857 it vas re-
duced to "a, in 1851 advanced to 25,
a year later to IS, and in 1854 to 40 per
cent which rate Of duty has since con-
tinued. The rates of duty on brown earth
enware and common stoneware are 20
per cent. on china, porcelain and Pari-
an ware, gilded, ornamented or decorat-
ed, so per cent, and on plain white, not
decorated, IS per cent.
The wages paid to operatives are
about as follows: Ordinary labor, per.
week, $50 to $40; kiln work, per day,
81; jigger men, per day. $3.50 to 81;
pressers, - so to 8; boys and girls, per
week, 81 to $3.50. 1t is estimated that
the average remuneration is fully one
hundred per cent greater than that paid
in Europe for the same labor. The cost
OF material is about as follows: China
clay. per ton, ST. to SIS; ball clay, 81 to
s.; feldspar, sl4; flint, Sl2, and coal a
to "a so. The average in favor Of Europe
is said to be over 100 per cent.
TIE Baroness BuRDETr. CoUrTs is COM
~