Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-30
PROSSER Is In DOUBT.
One Of Krupp's Guns Could Not Kick
Harder Than Some People Do
ON THE BIG ARTILLERY SITE STORY
And Yet There are Circumstances and
Stories That Doyetail.
MR.. M'ILVAIN NOT EXPLAINING AS YET

Whether Mr.. Krupp, of Essen, Germany,
is or is not thinking of coming to or near
Pittsburg to establish gun factory, has
been atheme of much speculation ever since
the story was started in an evening paper
last Friday. This interest was naturally
stimulated by publication in The DIS
PATCH yesterday morning of a gentle
mans assurance that he could con-
firm the reported negotiations. The project
seemed to be one whose size might
entitle it to distinction, whether
verified in detail at the outset or
not. There were, however, yesterday some
people who insisted that the publication Of
stories of the intentions of Krupp are in
spired by people attempting to get up a
speculation in lots in the vicinity of Monon-
gahela City, and for no other purpose. In
deed representative Of the firm of Thomas
Prosser & Son, of New York. agents Of
Fred Krupp, of Essen, Germany, called
at The DISPATCH Office yesterday and
stated that he thought the story could hot
be true, or his firm would not have been
given the go-by. He said he thought they
would certainly have been told of the pro-
posed move, as they had been Krupp's
American representatives for 30 years. Mr..
Prosser said he thought the story might
have arisen from the fact that he had been
corresponding, some time ago, with the
Pennsylvania Secretary of State in refer
ence to natural gas fuel and other advan-
tages in a manufacturing way in this
section.
RRTTPp'S LETTER HEAD
He stated that he had thoughtlessly used
Krupp letter head papers in the correspond
ence, and thought the impression might
have gotten out in this way. He referred
to the fact of his being in the city just at
this juncture as curious coincidence, but
stated that he was on his way further west.
Mr.. Prosser also stated that he under
stood son of Herr Krupp was now travel
ing In America, and of course he did not
know what all might be in contemplation
through the young man. There was, how
ever, another and unauthorized person,
formerly connected in some way with
Krupp's works at Essen, who had been
likewise travelling in this country, and
had been doing some unauthorized
talking, unauthorized at least by
competent authority. He professed to be-
lieve that out of this concentration of cir
cumstances had grown the story Of the big
deal up the MonongahelR river.
Further, Mr.. Prosser stated that Krupp
had been offered $1,000,OOJ to allow his
name to head an enterprise in Italy. Mr..
Prosser said he had cabled to Essen to learn
the truth or falsity of the Monongahela
story, but that, owing to the difference of
time between there and Pittsburg, no an
swer could be gotten last night.
M'ILvAIN NOT READY TO TALK.
Attorney McIlvain, when asked further
about the matter yesterday, said that if the
inquirer did not think the negotistor was
Krupp or his representatives, he (the re-
porter) might say it was Belgian plate
glass manufacturer, or anything else he
chose, and talked also as though outside
faith in this case was not an ingredient ON
which salvation was dependent. He init
mated that he was Indifferent whether the
story were credited or not, and said he was
not prepared to do any explaining; but
would say that his part of the business had
been to get options, and that he had gotten
them on tracts aggregating 1900 acres, and
he could already sell one option and make
So, 800 were he privileged to deal for him
SELF
Mr.. McIlvain denied that he had any in
terest in any lot speculation as charged by
some, and said that the man who asserted it
must be relative of Ananias by adoption.
He also stated that there wasn't lot Tor
sale nearer than three miles OF the land in
question.
In conclusion Mr.. McIlvain said he had
nothing to take back, and spoke as though
there was no necessity for either correction
or explanation just at present. Even it
nothing should ever come of the negotiations
or options-any more than there did of the
English overtures for local breweries-that
fact could hardly alter or detract from the
Importance of such project as this, whose
inception was simply and squarely vouched
for by q gentleman who said he was in a
position to know, and which was not denied
by other gentlemen admittedly in such a
position.