Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-23
NOT, CAST DOWN
What Pittsburgh Manufactufers
g Think Of the Situation.
A Decided Feeling that the Depression
Has Been. Exaggerated, and That
the Future is Not as Dark
gae so as Painted.
THE FEELING EAST, AND ELSEWHERE.

gloomy speculation indulged in by some
iron men, manufacturers here are disposed
to view the situation In the best light
possible, and none are going about with
long faces, bemoaning the situation. Last
evening a report was circulated to the
effect that at the Wayne iron and steel
works great reduction of the force was
intended. When the reporter visited that
office this morning Mr.. Brown was busily
engaged, and did not look like man who
was down in the mouth or was expecting
anything like crash. Said he: "In my
opinion it's case of
Great Cry and Little Wool
The Bessemer men have been producing
more than can be consumed, and OF course
they must call halt for awhile. But
can't see how that should effect the gen.
eIal iron trade. know that we can't COM
plain OF business. for we have enough 70
keep rs busy. The report you speak OF
doubtless originated from the fact that we
may soon lay off our puddlers for while.
That is not on account of dull trade, but be-
cause we can produce more puddled bar
than we use, owing TO our big steel pro-
duet. We are now accumulating a lot. OF
puddled iron, and it is our custom to hold
up until we reduce the pile. Taking the
situation all in all, l would report trade
healthy, although
Some Little Depression
may exist on account Of the crops OF this
year not yet being moved. The scare which
the newspapers are making will do us no
good, and it might be well il more care was
in rafa IN these
gloomy forebedings."
Mr.. A. +. keating w.s next called upon,
and he did not seem very badly scared by
the situation "My theory of the whole
matter is this" said be. For some time
past the Bessemer men have been making
large profits, and they deserved them be-
cause il took great deal of time and money
to enter the business. Now, these high
profits attracted a large number to that
line and now when over production has
come they find that their profits must be
lesseped. Their first object is to
Reduce the Price Of Labor
and in order to do this they are endeavor-
ing to show that the entire bottom has
dropped out of the business. Another
point they have is to influence tariff legis-
iation and prevent any further reduction
of the rate on steel rails. The fact that
Vanderbilt has recently placed an order for
40 600 tons, is proof that the business is
not so much depressed as some would have
us think. cannot see how this break can
effect the general iron line. With US trade
is healthy. There is not a mill in Pitts
burgh that is now rushed with orders, but
every pound of iron now being manufac-
tured Is being consumed, and call that a
fair business. This usually the dull period
in the nail trade, but on tho contrary We
nd K
80 1. Busy Time This season.
know that the average customer in order
ing q car of iron now wants it delivered
Just as soon as possible, but no one shows
any disposition to stock up. You know
croakers can easily pull down business, but
they can't build it up again, so the best
way is to 60 ahead and in very short time
it will be seen that some OF our folks have
gone more than half way to meet trouble.
have not heard of one mill where anything
like stoppage is expected, but instead all
report fairly active condition OF trade"
A member of the firm of Shonenberger K
Co. was next seen, and asked whether they
looked for any great depression. IL expect
nothing of the kind" said he. This Bes-
semer matter
VIII Soon Adjust Itself,
and will not affect the iron trade any more
than the depression in one business must
necessarily affect another. | cant see any
reason for anticipating disastrous season
and so am not bit scared or uneasy" .
Moorhead, McLain Il Co., was one firm
which rumor said would soon put off one
turn. A visit was made to their office, but
none of the proprietors could be found.
One Of the clerks said that as yet he had
heard nothing OF reduction of force being
contemplated. At present they are run
ming full and he did not see any evidence
of a shut down.
Another gentleman who Is conversant
with the sheet iron trade, stated that
There is Some Little Dullness
in that line now, caused by the open
weather. when We pass November and
December without any very cold weather.
said he, ''peoEle general defer buying stoves
for that season. In this line sheet iron is
largely consumed, and that fact may ac.
count for the present duIlness in that
branch"
Speaking in reference to the iron situa.
| tion this morning, President Jarrett. OF the
|. Amalgauated Association, said: Tho re-
| duction of wages in the East have no effect
here. The manufacturers never attempt to
cut wages after signing the scale, even
should the price drop TO one cent. The
iron trade is perhaps more dull than before
the strike, but look coDfidentially for a
Frightening up after q little lime. ] think
the trouble in the steel trade is due to an
attempt to squeeze.