The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-01
THE NAIL TRADE.
Past, PrsssAt aud FutuFs-Ths Wire Nall
ASA Competitor,

4Hu NAIL 4hAuHs
Past, PrsSsat aud RutuFs-Ths Wire Nall
asa Competitor,
Age Of slod,
There has been nothing in the whole
range Of hardware which has exhibited
such startling Yiclssitudesin the last few
years as the nail trade. The iRtFoduc.
ton Of the steel cut nail was the begin,
ming Of the trouble, For a time the new
articles made but q slow progress. They
were considerably higher than the iron
nail, and there were but few mills pre-
pared to furnish them, To manufacture
them with any degree OF success and
economy q costly steel plant was neces-
cary, and this was an expense that no
min cared 10 assume while the ven
ture was still in the nature OF an expert
ment, II was urged, aud with much
reason, that the iron nails answer
ed every practical purpose; but,
on the other hand, the steel
nails possessed points Of superiority
that could not DO denied, They were
stronger than iron nails and yet lighter,
thus counting more to tho pound; they
were neater In appearance, and there
were fewer sllyers and poor nails In q
keg Of steel nails than In q keg OF iron
nails. Besides all this, there was one
point which was as valid an argument
as could be advanced, yet really was q
matter OF impression and not OF quality.
The mere fact oil its being steel nail
insured Its permanenCy, for the change
from iron to steel In many breaches Of
hardware was ever making rapid strides.
The most serious difficulty encountered
was from the heads flying OF In use-the
result OF the capitalization OF the steel
when the nail was cut. This was for
some time bugbear, but was overcome
by paying close attention to the proper
proportion OF carbon In the steel, so that
II Is now complaint entirely Of the
past. The whole matter really resolved
Itself into the question, Could the steel
nail DO produced as cheaply as the iron
nail? II soon became evident that 1t
could not only be produced as cheap, but
even cheaper than frst.class iron nail,
TheuCeforth the fate OF the iron nail was
sealed, and its decline was proportions
ateIy rapid, II Is now no longer factor
in the nail market, and the spasmodic
attempts to bring 1t 10 life again have re-
suited in nothing. Tho gain to the gen.
eral trade was very pronounced. The
standard OF cut nails was appreciably
raised, and the trade were assured a bet.
ter article at a less price than they had
before enjoyed. Almost all steel nails
were sure to be good, since OF necessity
they must be made from flrst-class ma.
terial, whereas iron nails had been Of
every grade from good TO Indifferent and
even to bad according 10 whether pig
iron or scrap or old rails had been used
In their manufacture.
But what was the situation that con-
fronted the manufacturers? After an
enormous outlay for steel plants they
were practically In the same position as
before. Competition was as fierce as
ever, and prices averaged even lower.
There was q hopo Of better things TO
come, however, until tho wire nail ap-
peared upon the scene.
Curiously enough the same arguments
were used in favor Of the wire nail as
against the steel nail as had been en-
ployed by the steel nail men 10 rout the
iron nail. They were lighter and strong
or, II was said, and counted more to the
pound-they drove better and drove
easier, and there were fewer imperfect
nails In q key. Tho aght has been long
and severe, aud without expressing any
opinion as to the final outcome there are
a few incontestable facts to he born in
mind. Wire nails have increased very
largely In actual use and ut the expense
OF steel nails. Wherever they have
made a Judgment they have never been
displaCed, and to-day In certain sections
OF tic country they have entirely taken
fireplace OF steel nails. HoweEtenslvely
they have grown may BIO gathered from
the statement that q wire nail mill in
the West has turned out within the last
few months more kegs OF wire nails than
were ever made by any steel nail mill
west OF the Allegheny mountains In
the same period. The prices OF
these two articles have been acting aud
reacting upon each other, until figures
were reached at one time that II Long
perseyered in would doubtless haye
brought some concerns close to the
ragged edge OF disaster A material ad-
vance in one was not possible without o
corresponding advance in the other and
harmony between them was not even
thought OF. The more sanguipp steel
makers maintain that there IL certain
place which the steel nail can fill and
the wire nail cannot, and that matters
will finally readjust themselves on this
basis, while, on the other hand, many
wire nail men openly aver that the final
solution can only be the entire supplant.
ing Of the steel nail by the wire nail.
Meanwhile the spectacle is presented ot
an immense interest like the steel mai
business representing many millions OF
dollars with an unsatisfactory present
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