Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-21
TIE GLASS TRADE

a Review Of the situation in the Glass
City, BeIlaire.
The annual meetings of most Of the glass
companies in BeIlsire have been held. and
yet-not cent Of dividend has been paid, 50
far as We have been able to learn There
are eleven factories and the aggregate cap
ital invested is close 10 100000. Al this
money virtually idle to its owners, some Of
it Cor one, two or even FIVE years, is well
calculated to make capital inquire:
What of the fpturc!' Part Of the money
in years past brought good returns Then
there were no inquiries as to the why's or
Eherefores. As long as it yielded fair
yer cent, or even a greater per cent than
Hhat is usually termed fair, there was little
thought Of the reckoning day that was
ahead. Bot the reckoning day has come.
The men with their capital tied up in
manufacturing establishment that a few
years ago yielded largely sees to-day the
trade commanded by their works then d.
yided among three or perhaps four factU-
ries, the outgrowth Of flush business.
There are factories in Bellaire that have
made some money even during the last
year or two. More Of them have lost,
however ard men who rushed bEndly
into the business on the strength OF what
they then saw, now see the business and
profits divided up so that the margins in
many instances do not equal the wear and
tear Of machinery. II seems that the glass
trade in all It's brances has reached that
point when 1t Is q mere question Of the
survival Of the fittest, as it we're, though
this idea is repulsive to many Of the men
whose money is wrapt up in that business,
and who gradually see it depreciating in
value. Notwithstanding this situation Of
affairs, however, the men who have
watched the course Of trade for many
years see in the future the prospect Of
brighter. better business than has been en-
joyed for year or two past. They say
there may be q wedding out Of some OF the
less fortunate establishments, but that the
market is bare Of q variety Of good goods,
and that the future opens auspiciously for
those with the push and energy that is to
day to necessary for the success Of any
branch Of business. Staple goods will
probably be drag IN the market for some
time to come because everybody makes
hem; but the firms that 90 to the trade
with new patterns, novel designs and Spe-
cialties generally, will create q demand
where there is none and will be crowded and
pushed with orders at good paying prices.
Thus the crisis seems to be past The
situation is fully grasped by the manu-
iacturers and they enter the year 1885 with
full knowledge Of what is necessary to do
q paving business. All have chances, but
all are not equal, and it viii not be a sur
prise, neither will it disturb the business Of
the future to occasionally hear of this or
that furnace closing down or being sold. 1t
is expected that some will 20, but the
majority of them will ride on the crest
of the wave of prosperity that soon mus.
sweep through the Ohio Valley in the natu-
raj course Of events. The silver lining Of
the dark cloud Of depression is gradually
turning, and, though its process is slow, it
is sure, and in the near future the busy
hum of prosperous industry viii gladden. the
hearts Of q discouraged and almost despond
ent populace Industrial depressions come
almost as regularly as the seasons roll by;
not so frequent, but they come ike the
wind and they 60 whittier no man knoWeth,
--Bellaire independent.