Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-02
OUR MAIL POUCH.
Tin Plate Obstacles Mythical.


To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
The circumstances you delineate az agitating
the minds of certain pessimistic individuals,
who are Of opinion that they will operate
against US in prosecuting tin plate industry
are, as will be seen uDon investigation, per-
fectly fallacious, and therefore of no weight
whatever, as a determent to progress in the
business. One of the most potent reasons"
adduced is the lack of skilled labor, and
which it is enormously stated we cannot i'm
port under the contract labor law;
whereas, instead, provision is made
for the importation of labor in the creation OF
a new industry. Further, Mr.. Cronemyer has
stated that which is perfectly correctwhen say
ing that we can get along. if necessary, without
skilled immigration. as there is a sufficiency Of
such labor now employed in the mills of this
country (old tin plate bandsl to start up the
business and educate others in the art of tin
ning-an art, let it be understood by no means
difhcult TO acquire, as it Is sought to be repre-
sented to the uninitiated; the idea, of course.
being to exaggerate everything in the way of
obstacles TO be encountered before we can be
successful. However, there are now waiting
any number of men who will find their way
over here so soon as the works are erected.
being assured of employment at better wages,
as these will be in line with the millmen's SINH
lar to those at Welsh works. Furthermore;
they Will not be hampered with the edicts OF a
union that restraints them to the output of
specific number of boxes. when it is possible
Tor them to turn out a third more in their days
work; consequently earning third more wages.
and this based on higher rates than they now
get in Wales. As to the cause of failures at
some of the Welsh works, which the manufaet-
urers here are "likely to inquire into before
making Investments" these answered
briefly: Ignorant management and a lack of
adequate capital. The combination of small peo-
pie TO start works. spending their money in the
erection OF plant, and leaving next to nothing
working inaVitaDin
was their being handicapped from the begin
ming, having to seek assistance by overdraftS
at their bankers; this cutting deeply into the
profits OF the business, as shown in the half
yearly charges made in their passbooks AS is
customary in the trade, materials, as pig iron,
etc. were paid for by four months paper
markets occurred. it was impossible to close
down operations at the works. as the money
had to be provided to meet these periodically
recurrent obligations, and their product of tin
plate was sold for what it could fetch,
entaiiing large losses monthly. until the
time arrived when the bankers refused
further assistance, and suspension resulted.
Ihis has been the fake of very many OF the
original founders of Welsh works which have
collapsed; bNt, quickly restarted by new CON-
panies, SO discreetly managed as to give the
gratifying results exhibited in the prosperous
business of Welsh tinplate making TO-DAY. A
striking proof this working upon insufficient
capital, assisted by bankers was furnished
few years ago in the suspension OF the most i'm
portant bank doing business in the center of the
WEIGH tinplate district, whose load OF works in
debsedness was heavier than it could carry
through a period of bad times. 1t will be
patent to everybody that all this has no bear
ing upon our ability TO make tinplates, being
beside the matter altogether.
Two of the leading tin plate makers Just re-
turned from visiting us-Sir John Jones Jenkins
and Mr. Joseph Mayberrys men who speak with
an authority derived from experiences extend
ing over lifetimes in the business, say, through
the Welch press, that there is nothing now to
prevent one establishing the industry, save the
difficulties incident to the Inauguration of any
new manufacture or business; and which are
TO be overcome with little patience and per-
severance. This ought to satisfy the most
timid and faint-hearted If anything would.
Yours, etc.,