The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-18
PREsiDES'r SCOTT.
The Exports and Imports u GlASS-FOrSign
CompstiLion Feared,

The Exports and Imports u GlA4S-Foroign
Composition Feared,
Hon. N, b. Scott, President Of the Cen
trail Glass Company, operating extensive
works here and factory at Brilliant,
Ohio, has just recovered from severe
sigk spell, but he was found in his office at
the works yesterday. He deprecated any
effort to reduce the duty on imports Of
glassWa As things now are, said he,
American manufacturers have little 70
fear from loIeign glass, because tho
American machinery Is SO vastly superior
10 that used abroad that what inequality
in favor Of Europe exists in the
wages paid is more than compensated by
the gain in quantity Of output and finish
here, But this difference Is rapidly dis
appearing. Germany ID rapidly coming up.
Her manufacturers are introducing Amer
lean presses aud American processes, and
in a lew years II they keep on'adYanCing
as they have been, Germany can compete
IN America with the home manufacturer,
because the wages paid there are not hall
~ high as those prevailing here.
LABOR AND NATRRIAL,
Tho proportion OF labor that enters into
the cost Of glassware Is put by MIR. Scott
At about IS percent on An average, Any
reduction oil price consequent upon q cut
in tue tariff must, therefore, be followed
by a reduction Of wages, This manutaC.
turers do not want, Only on CompulsIOn
would they resort to such measure.
The raw materials which enter into
glass that are imported are not an item.
For instance, salt'petre, or nitrate Of soda,
which now pays q cent pound duty, and
ia nut on the free list IN the Morrison
bill, does not form such q proportion Of
thV component parts VI glass az 70 make
the taFill charge on 1t an item. On soda
ash there Is also small duty, but the
material IL az cheap now w II could III
reason ever be,
On the liner grade IL ware, protected by
duty Of w percent, the American lac
tories 80 far excel those Of Europe IN quail
ity, finish and design that the foreign
maker cannot compete with those ut
home. Were 1t not Tor these advantages
the duty would not be sufficient TO protect
this grade OF glass, such is the discrepancy
III wages here and abroad.
EXPORTS DECRRAsING.
The advance Of the German manuiac-
iacturers in the past few years Is well illus-
trated by some information obtained from
Mr.. Scott. In lS77-SO, the Central export
cd glassware largely, in one year doing an
export business Of $4,000. Now itA bnsl-
ness in this line does not exceed $0,OOO q
year. Then the German processes and APP
pliances were 80 inferior to those in use
nero that in spite Of the higher wages
paid here the American goods could out
sell and undersell the European goods III
Europe. Since, however, American presses
and American science have spread abroad,
this state OF affairs is rapidly disappear
ing, and in few years the boot may be
expected TO be on tue other loot.
Glr. Scott shows some new wares, shades
particularly, from the Brilliant WorGs,
which emphstcally and practically en-
dorse his declaration that the foreign fancy
glass canno. compete in quality with that
made right here in the ONO Valley.