Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-08
WHEELING LEADS
IN THE POTTERY BUSINESS, As SHE DOES N
OTHER LINES.
An Interesting Talk With Leading Pottery Man
About the Industry in This City-ln Certain
Lines None Excel Us.

The pottery business in Wheeling is
steadily and surely growing in extent, and
soon the city will enjoy the proud distinc-
ton Of being the pottery centre OF the
country. as she now is the nail and glass
centre
a REGISTER reporter met gentleman
Yesterday, who is thoroughly conversant
with the business. and is one Of the leading
pottery men Of the city-or OF the country,
/ for the matter of that-and had an inter
esting chat with him about this industry
in Wheeling. where il is comparatively
new.
1--WE haven't had as many buyers come
TO see US this year as last said he, ION
account Of the fact that some Of the glass
manufacturers in this section took their
samples to Pittsburg this year | consider
it wrong move from business point oil
view on the part of these manufacturers
because II makes Pittsburg the glass mar
ket of the country, a distinction that
Wheeling should POSSESSES, by all rights, as
she certainly manufactures most OF
THE FINEST GOODS
made in the Ohio Valley, and they ought
to be shown here.
However. the Wheeling potteries have
l
buyers, who came because they knew il
was to their interest TO do so, and what
buyers we missed will be seen on the road,
although ! would much prefer TO see them
here
Wheeling certainly deserves great
deal of credit for the advancement she has
made in these lines, and ought to keep her
displays at home. Going up to Pittsburg
is merely an experiment, that do not i'm
agine will be followed up next year, be-
cause it does those who 90 no good, and in
lures those who stay at home by giving
Pittsburg the prestige. There are twenty
eight firms represented in the MonOnga-
hela house, this year, most Of which are
in competition with each other.
How is the pottery business nowF'
"Well, generally speaking, the first six
months of the year has not been all that
could be desired, although we have sold
more goods than we could manufacture.
Prices are not what they should be, owing
To FOREIGN COMPETITION.
Cheap Carlsbad ware, which has come
into the country in great quantities, has
had a demoralizing effect on prices, and the
tariff bill now pending in Congress has had
the effect of rushing foreign goods into this
country in advance Of its passage; so that
the prospects for the fall trade which
looked exceedingly bright some time since,
have become of a considerably duller hue.
The number of packages Of pottery received
into this country is 5000 in excess Of the
number received up to the same time last
year, which shows what the people on the
other side are doing Margins on staple
goods are exceedingly close, and we have
to depend on some specially taking shape
or decoration TO get special prices. The
fine lines of goods are about the only ones
for which satisfactory prices are secured.
Il want 10 say that Wheeling has I'M
dOubtedly made more
RAPID STRIDES
in the pottery business than any other pot
terry centre in the west, and in several
lines Of serviceabe goods we lead the mar
ket East or West. Dealers from all over
the country are seeking this market TO buy
their goods, because the Wheeling product
has a splendid reputation everywhere. We
had a customer just now 10 tell US that he
has never been in a pottery with whose
goods he was so highly pleased as with
ours. and that hereafter he would make our
factory his chief purchasing point. He IS
one Of the largest lobDers in the United
States. and came mere not. expecting TO
purchase any pottery at all.
IN tell YOU, it is my honest opinion
that if Wheeling potteries continue TO pro
duce as good goods and as fine shapes and
decorations as they have in the
past, this city will be the centre for
the better class Of goods In fact, Wheel
ing goods are as much sought after and
are getting as great reputation as she has
so long held for nails and glass. And in
the pottery line we are pushing ahead all
the time