Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-19
IDLE INDUSTRIES.
The Present DeprsssiW ia the City
of Pittsburgh
sREATERTHAN EVER BEFORE.
Work fer Only Two-Thirds Of the Men
UsaaDy Employed in the Iron Nils
Gloomy Outlook in the
Glass Trade.

PrrrsrrROH, December ls-ln no time:n
the history OF Pittsburgh has there been Q
greater depression OF the material indus.
tries which contribute TO its wealth than
now. II is true that many OF the great
iron mills are in operation, but IL is also
true that not one among them Is running
TO its full capacity. while the prices re-
ceived for the product are such that in
many cases II would be more profitable 10
close the works than to run them. The
cause" say the proprietors, 'is overpro-
duction. We can't help the inevitable,
but We can submit 10 il. We are afflicted
with over. production and ws mutt endure
IT, IL would be better for us to close our
mills, but II we did, il would throw many
men out OF work"
But that is not the only reason that the
mills are run at loss. An iron mill rap
idly deteriorates IN yalue II il Is left idle.
There is too much oxygen in the atmos-
phere, and too much attraction for II In
iron to permit cylinders, wheels, rolls
and couplings to be idle. A rolling mill
Can More Probably be Hun ni Loss
for elk months than be idle ior the same
period. But these crude ideas tell this
story. that OF the 5000 men employed in
the iron mills Of Pittsburgh, l5,nJAt least
are idle-not idle altogether, IL Is true, be-
cause they take turns with their brethren
at the furnace and the rolls. but IL amounts
TO the same in the end, and the money
paid out is only that which would be given
were the men employed only two'thirds the
number now on the pay rolls.
The second Industry OF importance In
Iiitsburg is the manufacture OF glass, ana
II is in even worse condition Than the
iron business II msy be true that the
tarill has had something To do with the lie
preston in this branch OF trace, but IL can
not lie denied that utter stagnstion Is the
term that can best be applied 10 the window
glass industry Mt present. In lNSO there
were imported 2OcOVn boxes OF window
glass from Belgium, each box containing
ijfy feet. Then the customs duties were
2u per cent higher than they Hre now.
There are in the United States at present
so pots devoted exclusively TO
The Maa ufacinre Of window Glass.
OF the so there are now idle 6I', Of which
$50 are located in Pittshurg or its imme.
drate vicinity. Why they are idle is not
unknown--the manufacturers ask the
blowers to accept a reduction in wages of
~ per CtUt slUtlf sttHHN' P''
g, Mt for double strength glass. The blow
rrs have n strong organization, and say they
vii not sccept any reduction In wages.
The man ufacturers are firm In their posi-
tion. because orders ara very scarce. br-
cause glsss can be bou ht from importers
chesper than IL can be msde here, and be-
cau,e building interests do NOT ask Tor
much at present. The result n that IN
PittsbuTg hiOne 1,00J men are idle, or else
have bad TO Geek work N common lnborers.
The blowers are very determined IN their
stand, but capital is combining against
Them.
Pittsburgh il not so largo city but that
whom lI.sU to ~ 'rU men are idle serious
effect is produced upon general bus ness. IL
is not TO be wondered nj, therefore, that
business IL Dull in Every Department.
SILL, tho failures here have been few. In
one recent week there were 2iN failures in
the United States reported through busi.
ness agencies. but sriIl Pittsburgh was
little affected. &. w. Dckcy, manager Of
BradstTeris agency IN this city, remarked
TO me yssts rday that he bad become con-
yinced that Pittsburgh business men had
bought experience during the panic years
which they would not part with for any
price and he bad no fears OF trouble here.
Pittsburgh ought TO ne largely interested
in the refining OF petroleum. And 80 IL
Was. until the Standard OH Company laid
its hands upon the industry here Essry
refinery in the city-Rfd there were MT
less than ico dozen passed into the hsDds
Of The S'Endsrd. with one Dlithfy rHrsp
tion--D. !! R"Rard & 60 For years the
standard Kept up It's fight here. estsb
.ished central cooper sho0pf paid immense
suns a. the owners 81 leased rshnrriss,
etc. but now its pres,iEr has departed.
Recently the Standard formally gh'e up
possession OF lesses Tor no lees than five Of
the largest reRneries In the city abandoned
its cooper shops, and In various other ways
gave indications that
u PvoHosea - Leave PtttsbuvEh
10 its own resources. Far rom being m
injury 10 the city, this action has been .
bentht. Several large reHneries which
had been idle have made preparations 10
resume business. and the refining interests
Of TIt,sburgh will resume their former
activity hefore many weeks have passed.