Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-08
BELG|AHS NOT IN IT,
A Syndicate's Offer to Import
1000 Skilled WOrkmen
DECLINED WITH THANKS.
The New Town of Charleroi Refuses
Million Dollars.
ITS WORKS OPEN TO AMERICANS

The report that Belgian plate glass syn
dicate had received big slice Of stock In
Charleroi and would transfer its 1000 en-
ployes to America, thus evading the
stringent provisions of the contract labor
law, created considerable excitement in
labor and business circles yesterday. 1t
proves to be lacking the elements OF truth,
except that such deal was at one time very
seriously considered by the promoters Of
Charleroi
Mr.. w. D. Hartupee, consulting engineer
of the new plate glass scheme, was seen late
last night and consented to give the facts for
publication. He said while we were form
ing our plans for the building of Charleroi,
Pittsburg was visited by Mr.. Franz Colna,
4 member Of the New York firm of Lanier,
winslow & Co. Mr.. Colna was one of the
Judges OF the glass exhibit at the 1878 Paris
Exposition. His credentials indicated that
he represented a syndicate of Belgian plate
glass manufacturers, and he visited the
Ford CITY works and endeavored to secure
an option on the controlling interest OF that
enterprise.
NOT OPEN TO CONVICTION.
"The firm refused to entertain any propo-
sition He also visited the Butler plate
glass works and endeavored to reach an un-
derstanding in that quarter. When he
came to US to negotiate be stated that he
had been instructed 70 buy a plant or else
secure site and proceed with the erection
of large factory, the syndicate expressing
a desire to transfer its entire business to
Western Pennsylvania, in order to secure
the advantages peculiar to this locality.
IL IL pa1r aIf III
move to be imperative, not only because
they were rapidly losing the most paying
market here in the United States, but be-
cause natural gas enabled manufacturers
to make a really superior quality Of glass.
1--WE really prefer the American work
man as compared to the Belgian, for a
variety of reasons The plate glass busi-
ness is not like the window glass trade.
The American workman is receptive, and
our expert foremen now under contract can
instruct any number of men as TO the skill
involved in the heating and polishing of the
material. Beside that, the American work
man becomes a citizen, and that counts in
the stability of the city we are building.
CAN GET THE BEST.
"There is another reason that justifes us
in depending upon Americans. We shall
have the most improved, automatic
and labor-saving machinery and will pay
the best wages. 1t is but reasonable to sup
pose that the best workmen now in America
will naturally be attracted to CharleroI. Out
of the l, 200 men to be employed, only 800 or
so will be skilled laborers,' and We will
have no trouble in securin the men need d
without clashing with the contract labor
law.
The present adjustment OF the tariff was
also factor against the foreign article, in
asmuch as American plate glass could un.
dercut them in price and still have mar
gin of profit. The superior clearness of
American glass had been counteracted in a
measure by the secret processes in grinding
and polishing possessed and used by the
foreigners, but when American ingenuity
penetrated the secrets the competition be-
came too keen for comfort. All this was
not news to us who had been studying the
situation, but was pleasantly corroborative
of the conclusions we had formed in regard
to the expediency of Charleroi.
WANTED SOME OF THE STOCK.
"Mr. Colna offered, on behalf of the syn
dicate, to take 81, 600 900 worth of stock in
Charleroi, and, as an extra inducement, said |
be would transfer the entire working force |
of five Belgian factories to our plant. He |
argued that in this way we would be able TO |
evade the contract labor law. We refused |
the offer after deliberation.
"Mr. Colin. returned to New York and |
sent several letters subsequently,. His last |
contained proposition ior site in Char |
leroi upon which another large factory could |
be constructed. Our reply was not encour- |
aging, and the matter has been dropped, so
far as know. l think we would hear of it |
if the Belgian gentlemen formed any plans. |
They may be moving in some other diree- |
tion, but 1 hardly think it possible. 1t |
would not change our plans at all, and |
Charleroi is going to be built as quickly as |
plenty of money can do 1t. We have i
enough capital to rub along without help |
from any source"