Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-19
TWO DAYS MEETING HERE.
The Boom in Iron and Steel Causes
the Increase in Rates.
ALL FIRMS ARE In AGREEMENT.
Manufacturers Cannot Supply the Demand
for Wire Nails.
A LOVE FEAST AFTER THE BUSINESS

AT meeting OF oarD wire ana wire nall
manufacturers held in this city yesterday,
the price of the former product was ad-
vanced about per cent and the latter from
z to per cent The advance goes into ef-
feet Immediately, and was made to corre-
spond with the advance in the price of raw
materials.
The meeting was held in room No. S12 Of
the Lewis block and was begun on Thurs
day. Thirty-two firms, or about go per cent
of the total tonnage of both branches of the
business, was represented. Among those
present we're George 7. Oliver, of this city,
representing the Oliver & Roberts Wire
Company; John w. Gates, OF st. Louis;
President of the Braddock Wire Company,
officials of the St. Louis Barb Wire
Company, Iowa Barb Wire Com
pany, at Burlington, Iowa, and
Allentown, Pa; H. B. Scutt
G. Co., Of Joliet, ILL.,; Hawkeye Steel Barb
Fence Company, of Burlington, Iowa;
American Wire Company, of Cleveland;
American Wire Nail Company, of Coving-
ton, Ky.; the Cincinnati Wire Company
and the Cincinnati Barb Wire Fence Com
pany, of Cincinnati, o., and the ID. L. n all
Company, of Cleveland, o.
THE STATE OF TRADE.
An organization was formed, BY the cleo
tion of Thomas Jopling, of Cleveland, as
President, Stewart Chisholm, of the same
city, Vice President, and E. ]. Burlington,
Of Cincinnati, Secretary. Most of the time
was consumed in a discussion about the
state of trade and the outlook. 1t was ar
gued that as the price of raw material had
advanced considerably, especially Bessemer
pig iron and steel billets, it LETT but mar
row margin of profit for the wire manufac-
turerS At the conclusion of the discussion
it was decided to advance the price to the
following card figures:
2A cents per pound for wire nails and 81 cents
per pound for painted barb wire. A reduction
of 10 cents per 100 pounds or s. 90 per ton, will
be made on these figures on carload orders.
The price on galvanized wire was advanced to
ass with the same reduction.
MR.. oLIvER's VIEWS.
In speaking OF the cause for the advance,
George G Oliver said:
I'VE have been selling wire nails of certain
sizes at lower price than we were receiving
for the wire from which the nails were made
The cause of this was too much competition
and partly on account of the demoralized con-
L
impossible to supply the demand for wire nails,
ana the growth of the industry is something
enormous. Two years ago we started several
wire nail machines in our factory to use up the
wire left over. The business kept growing
until we were turning out 800 kegs per day.
This has been increased to twice that number
Our factory is small one, but the antagon-
ism between the cut nail and the wire nail, may
be understood when it is known that we are
running out more product than all the cut nail
manufacturers put together. few years ago
wire nails were put up in half pound boxes
The product of 1889 will aggregate about $780,
600 kegs. As the price of steel billets was ad-
vanced within che past four months IS or SO
ton, we found it necessary to make a cor
responding ADVANCE"
REFUSING TO PAY ROYALTY.
The large concern Of Washburne & Moen,
at st. Louis, the principal barb wire manu-
facturers in the world, was not represented
at the meeting. This is the COMPANY that
has been fighting the Oliver & Roberts
and all other companies against infringe
ment on their patents. Oliver & Roberts
now pay the st. Louis company a royalty of
5 cents per 100 pounds on all the barb wire
they turn out. The Braddock Wire Com
pany are among those who refuse to paw
the royalty and will not recognize
the alleged rights of Washburne 6 Moen.
The latter company will agree to the ad-
vance made yesterday, as they have been
wanting it for some time. The st. Louis
concern are still engaged in the pleasant
task of sending out notices of warning to
jobbers and consumers, threatening prose-
cution if they do not stop handling the
product of the Braddock company. The
Oliver Company is the only one in this CITY
making the barb wire fencing. They send
it to all parts of the world. Their principal
export trade is in Central and South Amer
lea and Mexico.
1t was the intention to hold another meet
ing to-day one week, but it was finally de-
cided to postpone it until later day. The
meeting will probably be held within
month
After the meeting banquet and general
love feast was held. Mr.. Oliver was pre.
sented with a silver water pitcher; Mr..
Gates, of st. Louis, was the recipient of an
elegant gold-headed cane, and Mr.. George
Douglass, of Iowa. received gold watch.