Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
Must be Added Before Foreign Capt.
tai Will Engage to Any Extent
in Its Manufacture Here.
SOME FINE FIGURING is DONE
By Experts, Who Conclude That Americans
Will Also Go Slow in Invest
ing in Tinplate Plants.
THE REASONS FOR THEIR DECISION
Are Based on the Unfsvosbs Conditions Peculiar 10
the Country.

ments have been completed for the invest
ment of English money in an iron and steel
plant in the immediate vicinity OF the city.
The DISPATCH stated some few days age
that certain negotiations pending at the
time, in connection with the prosecution oi
the tinplate industry on an extensive scale,
would be brought to a head when the
English tinplate masters should visit the
city. The negotiations have been completed,
but not with the result anticipated by the
local promoters. The visiting tinplate men
have gone into figures on the matter, and
have come to the conclusion that there is no
money in it-for them, anyway.
When the English tin plate manu-
| facturers arrived here it was with their in
tentIon to invest large sums in plants for the
manufacture of that very necessary commod-
| ity. One of their first acts was to meet and
| 60 into the question of cost. Some halt
dozen or so, most prominent among them
including Sir John Jones Jenkins, David
Jones, William Williams, David Owens
and James Jones assembled, and taking
into council one or two of the local tinplate
authorities, of whom John Jarrett was one,
went very fully into the whole question.
MINDS MADE UP IN A HURRY.
Each OF the Welsh makers had his own
cost made out, and they also had obtained
extensive and accurate data on the cost of
making block plates in this country. Sub
sequently the British makers held still
Iurther consultation. Then their minds
were made up.
They laughed at the Mckinley tariff act;
it would not injure their American trade.
They would continue to enjoy the large
American trade now in their hands, because
tinplste could not be made in America
under less protective tariff than cents a
pound duty.
Americans might invest capital in the
business in this country, and probably
would, but they would not. 1t would not
pay them, Welsh makers, to do so.
This conclusion was not reached until
after very careful investigation. Several
of the makers visited mills in the vicinity,
such as Demmler, Appolo. and inquired
into the elements of cost OF the block plate.
Figures on the raw material were obtained
from the leading iron and steel firms in the
city.
HIGH COST OF RAW MATERIAL.
1t was found that the cost of the unfinished
plate, even under the most favorable condi-
tions, was so high as to prohibit the manu-
facture of tin plate, also under the most
favorable conditions, at a cost low enough to
meet the Welsh article even with the ad-
ditional duty of l 2-10 cent per pound.
The Welshmen can continue making the
article, and will sell it here at fair profit,
after paying the full duty of % cents per
pound. They will do this by curtailing the
cost to themselves to slight degree.
Speaking on this subject. Mr.. David
Jones said that he thought the Welsh max
ers had no reason to lear the tariff ~
don't think" he said, "that the duty of %
cents per pound will prevent the Welsh
manufacturers from pursuing their business
in this country. l expect that we shall be
able to send tin plate in here and compete
with any that Americans may make. OF
course. in the process of time, change may
be effected in certain conditions which now
place the American manufacturers at dis
advantage. And, also. those of them
who elect to invest capital in
the business may find some means to
cheaper the cost after they have acquired
the experience
EXPERIENCE IS WORTH MONEY.
"You see, we old established makers have
the experience, and experience in the bust
ness is one of the primary essentials to sue
cess in the manufacture of tinplate. With
out experience any man who engages in the
trade will only burn his fingers. 1 am not
seeking to discourage anyone from
trying their hands at it, but 1 N.Y.
self would not regard the investment
of capital in that industry as very safe
speculation. Putting on one side the we'll
recognized proneness to change on the part
of your Government, there are still other
conditions existing on which I base my
views. 1 cannot say that 1 think much
money will be put into tinplate plants. We,
however, are not very uneasy regarding the
future.
Mr.. William Williams, of the New
Forest Steel and Tinplate Works at Swan
sea, South Wales, is recognized authority
in the tinplate trade. He is the owner of %
mills, and the largest manufacturer of the
product in the world. Mr.. Williams ex-
pressed his views on the question yesterday,
very tersely.
eff were going to settle in this country"
he said. 81 should not embark any capital in
the manufacture of tinplates. In saying
so 1 am taking the experiences of
those of your people who have already
ventured into the business and were not sue
cessful at it. IF duty of l cent per pound
was insufficient to keep the Welsh makers
from successfully doing business in this
country, 1 do not think that an additional
tax of 1.20 cents will prevent them from
continuing to do so. ...
DRAWBACKS TO INVESTMENTS.
zone thing that would initiate against
tin plate being made here is the much
higher profit desired by your manufacturers
than by ours. Your manufacturers, owing
to the high charges in many directions they
have to take into account, require to carry
larger capital than We have to. They have
to pay higher rentals. higher wages, and
more for their money than we do. These
facts exist. and must be counted into any
scheme having the manufacture of tin plates
in view. I think that the Welsh makers !
will continue to supply this country with
tin plate, and 1 do not think that much |
American capital will find investment in |
an enterprise for making it here. 1 do not |
think that English ca p1tal will be placed in |
any such works here. Some works will, of |
course, start. That is to be expected
Several other Welsh makers whose |
views were obtained. expressed themselves |
similarly. The general opinion was found
to be as stated. Welsh makers had no fear |
of the tariff, and would not themselves in |
vest money in tin plate works in this coun-
try. By inference, they advised others to |
keep aloof also.
THE DISPATCH some time since printed |
interviews with the leading block plate man