The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-09-20
Tin Plates.

Some OF our Democratic contemporaries
make light of the TACT that tin plate is on
the free list in the Mills bills. They do
not seem to understand the questio ion and
what is involved in it, Block tin is now
on the free list but that is not tin plate
only about 3 per cent. of it, But to re-
move the duty on tin plate is different
thing. Free importation of tin plates will
destroy the labor of So 600 persons and the
annual market for the following products:
The sheet iron and steel industry;
The sheet IRON roofing and siding in
dustfy;
The galvanized iron and steel industry;
The market for 100000 tons of coal;
The market for 400 900 tons of iron ore {;
The market for $50 600 tons of pig iron;
The market for Is 900 tons of spelter;
Tue market foI 5000 600 pounds. of nails;
The market for 7 500,0 900 feet of lumber,
boarding and roofing.
The market for 5000 600 iron oxide for
iron roofrg;
The market for 500, 900 gallons of linseed
oil.
Mr.. T. A Scott of the tariff committee
of the National Iron and Roof Association
in the New York Press gives the above
facts and SAYS. further:
'Sheet iron that forms the basis of sheet iron
roofing is assesset a duly OF seventytive per
cent. confronts tin plate filg at dutyi Of
hirty four per cent ninety-fve to ninety
eight per cent. of which is iron or steel Sheet
steel an.i sheet iron, which forms the chief
conlpo ent part. pays twice the duty as that of
finished product OF tin or terne plates. Hence
the reason that tin and Ierne plates are not
made here. The government creates the
anomaly that the more labor cost and material
that is PLACED on sheet iron and steel in max
ing this article the less it is worth in the mar
ket, Common sheet iron is assessed one and
ole half cents per pound duty; tin and terne
plates one cent p. pound duty, and the iron
from which tin plates made, one and three
fourths cents per pound. The Mills bill pro-
poses placing tin and terne plates on the free
list, and, as they are product ofiron and steel
as shown. their entrance free of duty will de-
stroy the entire sheet mill industries in the
country.
Iron roofing and siding consume over SO, 900
tons, or about one third of the sheet iron made
in the United States. Free tin plate will oblit-
crate this vast industry and hence curta1l that
much of the product of the sheet mills from
which the sheet iron and steel manufacturers
derive their supply. But this disaster will go
further, Free tin plates will transfer the man.
ufacture Of ali sheet iron and steel products to
Europe and stop our mills in their present an
nual production i'll cxcess of 100000 tons sheet
iron aud steel; 30 90 tous for roofing purposes,
so 900 tons foI gtlvan1ztng and over $1,000 tons
that erter consumption stove pipes, coal
hods. bread pans ami all the higher grades of
sheet iron and sheet steel C ,ated with the thin
nest I'm of tin or terne dead and tiny will flood
our markets and displace the domestic article of
sheet iron and sheet steel. Neither will the con-
SINNER receive the benefit of the reduction, as
the friction will be too great to ever reach him.
1t is this vast interest that the Demo-
cratic papers would make light of and
seek to minimize in the estimation of the
people. Such triliing with great industry
is in harmony with the spirit of the Mills
bill and those who support it, and ought
to be condemned by every true citizen of
the nation.