The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-18
NAILS, srnEL AND IRON.
: Leading MRnufaCtuToFA' opinion OF the
TArIH In General.

: Leading MRnufaCtuToFL opinion OF the
TaEIG In General.
Among the iron manufacturers OF this
community, MIR. J. N. Vance, President OF
the Riverside Iron Works, the most ex.
tsnsive in this section, and President Of
the Western Nail AHOoCiatiop, may be re.
garded as a leader, He Is well posted,
has studied the tariff in its bearings on
his particular industry, and has by OK.
perienCe gained practical knowledge OF
he needs ot the iron industry. Mr..
Vance, 1t Is needless to say, Is In favor OIL
a protective tariff, nor does he take the
same selfish view OF the subject which
many OF his fellow manufacturers express.
be does not favor "free raw material" !"
Said he yesterday In the course OF an In.
terView with an ISTELLldENCRR man on
the subject Of the Morrison bill:
ORE IS CHEAP BNoUuu.
ave do not need any reduction Of the
duty on iron ore. Ore is cheap enough
as cheap as ever knew 1t, and as cheap
as 1t can be and pay labor living wages for
digging II. The duty on iron ore Is only
80 cents a ton, and Is not sufficient to keep
1t out Of this country. Train loads OF
African ore come into this very town all
the time. 1t Is imported via Baltimore,
and is used by one mill, at least, because
1t is cheaper than the grade OF superior
ore which takes It's place. We use no
foreign ore, and need none. We find all the
grades desirable among the Superior ores.
OreiS quoted now at from 81 for the cheap
grades to $5.75 for the finest. Nobody
need want 1t any cheaper. The African
ore comes in at about S., duty paid"
As to cut nails, Mr.. Vance says there is
no need OF any duty To protect them. They
protect themselves by their superior quail.
ity and the better appliances used by
American manufacturers.
Steel rails, at $34, the current quotation,
can be made at Q Legitimate profit. Any
reduction Of the tariff would necessitate q
reduction Of prices, for under the present
tariff foreign rails are sold In this country
on an even footing with the home product.
FOR LABoR's pENEnT.
II the price must be cut down, there
must be corresponding reduction in the
cost Of producing, and the only item oi
cost subject 10 reduction is labor. Raw
materials are as cheap as they can we'll be
tall resolves itself down To protection ol
the laborer whose work enters into the
product, for that Is the one great difference
In cost abroad and here.
Bar iron cannot stand q reduction oil
duty. AS 1t now Is foreign bar is brought
into this country and almost monopolizea
the large eastern markets and governs the
selling price for the whole country. Nc
bar mill hiss been making money iol
several years past, and any further in.
crease Of competition from abroad would
compel the mills here to close down.
"What we want" said Mr.. Vance, "in
all lines OF manufacture, is sufficient de.
gree Of protection TO place tile price OF the
imported article, made by cheap labor
on an equality with the fair selling price
OF the same article produced by labor 90
liberally paid as to enable the American
workman 10 wear good clothes, live com.
foTtably, educate his children, and main,
tain the high standard Of intelligence and
manliness which has been erected undel
o protective tariff"
ptoeI luBUbt hIa huCe hAyBj M6 lnl
ported now. Any reduction Of the duty
on imported steel must have q disastroul
effect.
ANoTHER's vikws.
Mr.. Vance deplored the tendency 10 {
constant agitation Of this question. The
industries Of the country are injutiouslJ
affected by the very possibility OF redus
tionof the tarin,.
A similar remark was made by another
manufacturer, Democrat, and be added.
'There are just enough asses In thelowGi
house Of Congress TO pass that bill but
fortunately 1t cannot 20 through the
Senate"
Asa general thing the manufacturer
do not regard 1t as at all possible that The
Morrison bill will ever even pass the
House.