The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-28
IN TIE HOOKING VALLEY.
The Effects of the Democratic Free Trade
Policy ON the Iron Interests.

. nave uput lulIly Nch uuilHS thS PtaS
few months. All that the present AC
ministration could well do was done t
oppress the various industries OF this sec
ton that were slowly recuperating frol
the effects otprevious strikes and dissen
sions between the miners on the one sid
and the coal operators on the Other
Prior to the famous message Of Dir. Cleve
land business in the Hooking Valley wa
in Il most healthy coDditiOn.
There was fair market for coal, AM
eleven large furnaces were in full blast
giving employment to an army OF work
ingmen at fair wages. The effect Of Mr.
Cleveland's order to the National Con
gress to pave the way for England t.
dump her pauper products into tht
United States had q most depressing Of
feet upon all interests in this valley
where vast amount Of money has beer
invested in building up those large es
Establishments that gave hundreds the
means OF earning good wages. While
ironwas not bringing big price in the
market, there was small profit in it,
especially where vast quantities OF ore
was on hand.
This free-trade manifesto OF Grover
Cleveland, however, most eliectually
kicked the underpinning out, and us Il
result iron went tumbling down in price
until nine of the eleven furnaces in the
valley were compelled to close down.
The owners OF the furnaces could not
see their way clear, and instead OF in
vesting large sums in ore, closed up
business. Whileit is generally believed
that the Mills bill will prove dead let
ter, capitalists are not disposed to invest
any more money until the tariff Ques-
ton is decided, as it will be at the No
vember election.
The two furnaces now in operation
will use up what ore Is on hand, and
then probably close until after the
election. One OF these furnaces, the
Bessie" turns out a special brand OF
iron used largely by the stove manu-
lecturers OF the country, both East and
West. 1t is known as "silicon iron,"
and its only rival in the world is made
in Scotland. Under the existing tariff,
the Hooking Valley can compete with
Scotland on this grade, but should the
Mills bill become u law, Hooking Valley
would be completely shut oat OF the
Eastern market, us the bulk Of the iron
goes to Philadelphia, New York, Con-
neCticut and other points in the Eastern
States.
Superintendent Orton, of the "Bes-
sie," states that never since the build
Ing up OF the iron industry in the Hook
ing Valley has the supply OF ore been SO
completely used up. The two furnaces
now in operation have on hand n sutli-
cient amount OF ore to keep them in blast
until October /. At the present moment
iron is tending upward, but the demand
Is light, rs no manufacturer will load up
with heavy stock and trust to the Sher-
IFS unloading him in Ethe event OF
Clevcland's reelection. As SuperintCnd-
cnt Orton very pertinently put it, the
election OF Mr.. Cleveland would, in the
nature OF things, give the so-called tariff
reformeTs the Senate at an early day,
and then men who have their good
money invested in furnaces would have
to hustle to get it out. The furnaces
would have to close, or wages would
have to be sealed down TO meet the re-
duCtion in the tariff, and this would, OF
necessity, reduce the price OF mining, and,
in fact, all labor connected with the
making OF iron.
How do the furnace men regard the
present stand taken by the Democratic
party? When questioned, the Demo-
Gratis, who are in majority, have but
one reply. "We are Democrats but not
free traders" Early in the season,
when the tariff question first came to
the front, there was astrong disposition
on the part OF these men to regard the
matter as campaign lie gotten up by
the Republicans, but the passage OF the
Mills bill by the Lower House of Con.
gress had the effect OF opening their
eyes very wide, and now many re-
| luctantiy admit that the Democratic
policy is loaded, and aimed directly ut
them. The situation isnow well under
stood.
Henry George had many friends in
this section, while others were disposed
to cast their fortunes with the Union
Labor party. The .Ad,Ocdie, the organ
published by Henry George, has quite n
number OF readers here, but his pro-
nounced Free Trade proclivtios have lost
him all, or nearly all, the substantial sup
porters in the mining sections in the
State. Both Democrats and Republicans
say that side shows like the Prohibition
party, the George party and the United
Labor movement will not cut much OF Il
capcr in the coming contest, but the
issue will be fought between the Repub.
Leans on behalf OF Protection and the
Democracy for tariff reform, i, C., Free
Trade.
The "Winona,' at Gore, the only 9TH
er furnace now in blast, started up about
two weeks since, after being idle for Il
number OF weeks. The company own
ing it, the Columbus Hooking Valley
Coal and Iron Company, also control
the Bessie" and will keep the same in
blast until the present stock OF ore is
exhausted. Whether it will close about
October or continue depends largely
upon the tone OF the market. 1t is safe
to say, however, that no move has yet
been made toward laying in n supply oi
ore and other material necessary to Il
continuation OF work after October |.
Mr.. J. II. Ferguson, the Superintend.
ent, confirmed all that Mr.. Orion had
said in regard to the continuation OF
work. He believed that there would be
no general revival of the iron trade un,
til the question of protection to Ameri'
can industry had been settled at the
polls. There might be temporary de.
mand for small quantities OF iron, but
| all OF the manufacturers were timid, and
bought only for the present use.
strikers jailed.
ASHLAND, WIS.,, August 27.-Tht
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