The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-13
THE NAIL TRADE.
IT'S CONDITION IN THIS MARKET,
Ay,ry small Stock on Hand, and no Nails Selling
Ju.t SOu-EHect Of the StOppagss-Ths Spring
Trade Expected TO Open up At Once
Cheap Eastern Nails Competing.


past day or two develop the fact that the
nail trade now Is dull, but brisk movement
Is looked for on the opening OF the
spring trade, which will begin in few
DAYS. Tho mill OF this district have no stocks
to speak OF on hand, aud 1t Is said there is
scarcely mill that could I'LL an order for a
car load OF assorted sizes. This is the result
nj the recent stoppages OF the mills In the
Western Nail Association, and In SO far these
StoppaRes have attained their aim, prevent.
inY The oyerstocking Of the market and Dol.
stering up prices A reporter asked several
manufacturers II this was expected 10 he
the last suspension OF work In the mills until
the summer vacation.
at Is probable that 1t will be-" was the
general reply, but no person Is authorized
10 saw that 1t will. That question was not
bsfore the Association at its last meeting,
and whether any further suspension will be
ordered depends entirely upon the exigencies
OF the trade"
no CUTTING or RATES.
The reporter referred to reports that nails
were being sold at less than the card rate,
and asked whether there was any iounda'
tion In fact for these stories.
"There Is not" was one manufacturer
emphatic response. "ltis possible that some
bargain has been made TO sell nails at the
fuli card rate, delivered, though know OF
no such sales. This would not be cutting
Of rates, however. See, nails are sold at the
card price agreed upon by the Association,
with a reduction III car load lots and o dis
count for cash. These terms are I. o. b. here.
Now, II sale were made at full card rate:
delivered, the discount usually given would
pay the freight TO most any place. There Is
q great difference III freights, however, III
nails as In everything else. For instance, the
freight TO one place will be, say. Is cents d
key; and to another place at less distance.
but where there Is no composition, % cents.
"'Then you think there has been no cut.
ting of rates by manufacturers; but what
about the johbers? Can they undersell you ~
"The stock OF western nails in the hands
OF jobbers IL rs light In proportion as at the
mills They are all sold out. l tell you,
though, how those impressions originate.
There are now considerable quantities OF cas-
tern nails suld in the west, at less money than
we can sell ours for"
IXcgoAcHMEETs or EASTERN MAILS.
"How does that happen?'
aust this way. Labor Is much cheaper IN
ndynntapes eastern mills enjoy, which enable
them TO sell nails at n profit lower than we
can, in our own markets, that is in the ives
tern country which We have heretofore
monopolized."
1t was also explained by different infor'
mants that during the strike last summer
eastern nails were introduced In western
markets, and while they are admitted to be
not so good as western nails, the lower price
enables them TO hold some OF the trade they
rot during the idle period OF the western
mills. Jobbe.s care less about the Quality oil
the nails they handle than the prott 10 be
realized from their sale, aud ii they can
make ten cents key more on eastern nails
than on western many, At least Tor time,
will prefer the eastern nails.
Speaking OF cheap labor in the east one
gentleman said he had been in an eastern
mill whore SOME sizes OF nails were cut lGr
less than fifty per cent OF the price paid
Railers here, and in the item OF polling a
serious difference existed.
BLOW TO BLAST FURNACES.
mAre blast furnaces commonly operated in
connection with Eastern nail mills, as here?''
was asked.
NC; but there is no advantage in owning
blast furnaces now. The action OF Congress
in increasing the tarlIl Oh ores StTuCk seiI'
GUS blow at the furnaces OF this section. The
increased duty puts 1t in the power OF mine
owners Of this country 10 advance the price
OF ore still higher. With tho disadvantages
wa labor under here in getting our coke, we
are In no condition to combat any additional
determinations against us, and that is the
way this must work"
Finally the talk swings around to the topic
with which all conversation on local indus
trial topics now starts or stops-railroads.
what we want" said one gentleman,
"what we must have to enable US 10 compete
with other manufacturing points In this age,
Is railroad facilities. With direct connection
with the coke fields, and increased compe'
tition In freight transportation, Wheeling
may have glorious future before her, aud
without she might as well give up the fight,
read the burial service and move on.