The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-02
HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.
How Southern Iron is crowdins ou

now southern iron 10 Crowdlng OuJ
the Product of Northern Furnaces.
From the Baltimore Manufacturers Record
The Manufacturer Record takes no pleas
ure in seeing misfortune come upon any
business enterprise, and it Is not num-
bered among those who want to sec the
South prosper by seeing other sections
grow poor. Deeply interested asit is-be-
ing of the South, for the South and by the
South-in seeing tho marvellous blessings
Of this section fully utilized and developed,
IL also desires the prosperity OF tho whole
OF our great country. But there are some
industries that have hourished in tho
North, which must dec rcase through the
active competition that is being developed
in the South, where nature has brought
together such combination Of advantages
as can be found nowhere else on this con-
tinent Year after year the Manufacturer
Record has pointed out the inevitable fact
that the South is TO control the iron trade
Of this country, and that many fur
naces in the North unable by rea-
son OF their location, TO compete
with the price at which iron can be
These truths are growing more and more
plain every day, and while the we'll
| located furnaces OF the North may hold
their own, yet they will hardly bc able to
show any great increase in the extent OF
their business. while those not having the
very best advantages must yield TO the
inevitable. This is strkingly illustrated
in letter written by Mr.. Thomas L.
Bouve, treasurer OF the Glendon Iron
Company, OF Easton, Pa, explaining at
length the position of that company in
rcgird TO the recent notice OF n reduction
in WAGES, the number OF employees dis.
charged, and the company's condition.
Mr.. Bouye says
"Thc management Of the company Is
quite sensible Of the hardship that insome
cases must follow the course Of action alb
solu'cly forced upon II, in order 10 meet
competition arising from the flooding OF
our market with Southern and Western
! irons, which aro sold 10 our customers
much below the cost ut which Glondon
| pig iron eau possibly be now produced.
| lis members feel, much more kecnly than
| others will, sympathy for those who have
long served the company faithfully, and
who will necessarily be- deprived OF en-
ploymcnt. The impossiblity OF running
for the present moro than two furnaces
makes II obligatory 10 discharge many for
whom there is no longer work. For those
who can be vet employed it does not seem
20 be very hard case TO ask them to nc.
ccpi wages not 80 low rs the minimum
paid by some other companies on the Lc.
high.
"toresceing, but only partially, the
threatening evil, everything possible has
been done for the past two years TO lessen
the cost OF production without taking the
final steps which now are clearly newt.
able. Most urgent representations were
made TO the coal and transportation com.
panies of tho necessity that everything
should be- done ON their part 10 cheaper
the cost OF material 10 us at the furnaces,
aud To lessen the burden Of high royalties
resting upon the company IL purchased nj
considerable cost mine Of ore, because 10y
80 doing something could be accomplished
toward the end aimed at.
"Reccn, experience has, however, dem.
! onstra,cd that all the company has done Is
short Of what must bc donc In order 10
| continue is operations, as iron hitherto
! unknown In the East has within q short
period come into our markets and been
sold at rates entirely destructive 10 our
hopes OF going on without additional no
trcnchmcnL Indeed, the matter Of put
ting all the furnaces out Of blast, with the
likelihood Ut never rcsumihg work, has
been seriously considered IL was finally
judged best TO make one more effort 10
live; but 10 do this II was necessary TO
charge, rs done by other companies, q
reasonable rent for our houses, aud to pay
no morc IN salaries uu wages than is done
| olssE mere.
II: u by no means sure that by this adj
ditiOnal aclion We cando profitable bust.
ness, or even make both ends meet.
"ihe following dividends have been de-
clarcd by the company during the last live
ycaE