Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-09
THE AGE OK STEEL
Likely to Prove an Age Of Misery
to Many Wheeling Morkmsn. {
Every MilI Is To Do Away Its Pud-
ding Department


The reputation of Wheeling in the nail
making and nail consuming circles Of the
world must be perpetuated through the nail
of steel. This doughty declaration was
made two years ago. by prominent nail
man of this city, just at the time when that
stupendous plan was formulating by which
all of our local mills were to pool their is
sues in a gigantic steel plant But it now
seems that if that reputation is to be so
perpetuated, it will be at great sacrifice to
the wotkmen of this city. What has been
feared from the first, is now being realized,
When the nail of steel was first contemplated,
the immediate sfterthought was thatit would
DO AWAY WITH THE FORGE DEPARTMENT
of every nail mill and throw out Of employ.
NEXT the hundreds of, men who now make
their living there. The contemplation of
such disaster was mitigated BY the thought
hat in the necessary steel
plant the ousted men could
ind employment Even when the general
steel plant scheme went under to give place
10 individual plants, this thought was not
dissipated. But now comes information
that will certainly be regarded as serious.
and which will command the attention Of
every ironworker in the city. This is that
the mills will not baild steel plants, but
will get their steel bar from Pittsburg, thus
not only throwing out all the force Of men
IN the forge departments, but giving them
no other employment, and forcing them to
leave the city to procure work for their
,laily bread.
THE BREAK BY THE LA BELLE.
Yesterday the boilers and heaters at the
a Belle mill were notified by letter that
heir services at the mill would be dispen-
ed with, as the company intended making
steel nails BY new process. To say tina
he men were surprised On rec ,ipt of the
etters, is to express it mildly. None OF
hem were aware OF any such radical
bange in the working of the mill was going
take place. Just as one of them remark
d. Il, of course, knew the time was rap
dly approaching when the pudding de-
oartment of nail mills would be done away
with, but had no idea that our mill would
70 into the business so quickly. There is
not q man of US that was prepared for any
thing of this kind and we feel bad over the
matter, but the men who own the mill natur-
ally are working to their own interest re-
gardless of us, which is nothing more than
we could expect. Nowadays, you know,
it is every man for hlmselt."
NO INFORMATION GIVEN
A REGISTER reporter visited the mill for
the purpose of ascertaining what the COM
pany intended doing and whether the doing
away with the forge department of the mill
was TO be a permanent thing or was only
done for purpose The first man met was
he manager, Mr. Linch, from whom the
| reporter was unable TO learn the coveted in
formation. In the office the polished sec
rotary was found in all his dignity. He in
formed the scribe that the men had been
dispensed with by the firm, but refused to
enter into details, as business was very
pressing. The president Of the company,
Mr.. Priest, when approached by the news
gatherer, in his usual good humored style
laid, The company had no further use, at
present, for the puddlers and heaters,
and they were so notified. In
answer to the query What
vas the mill going to doY'
he said: I'VE do not feel disposed to let
The public know Just what Ne are doing:
In the course Of q few weeks they will
know enough to satisfy their curiosity about
our affairs"
Have you also discharged the coal dig
gersY'
Not that know of. We will keep as
many of that class of workmen as we need
and no more"
The gentleman, as will be seen by the
above, was very reticent as to what the
company intended doing, therefore nothing
official could be learned of their future in
tentions.