Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-27
THE ASSOCIATION FAILS.

Last E6ore Of the Manufacturers OF Wire
Rods to Organize n COmbine-A Big
MeetIDR Ends in NothIng-StructuraI
Iron for the Worlds Fair.
A meeting of wire rod manufacturers of
the United States was held yesterday at the
Hotel Duquesne, the purpose Of the meet
ing being to attempt to form an association
of all the manufacturers of steel wire and
rods. Several previous meetings, with
the same end in view, have
been held, the last one in
this city about two weeks ago. All have
proven to be failures for a peculiar reason.
Some of the mills refused to send representa-
tives to the meetings or to enter into any ne
gotiations looking to the formation of pro-
tective union. Not only that, but one man
ufacturer, who was favorably clrcumstanced,
had intimations conveyed to the firms will
ing to go in that he would fight any combi-
nation from the word go"
The meeting yesterday was a large and
representative one. The interested parties
were saRguine that they would be able to
organize. The promise of II firms out Of
the Is firms making wire rods had been re-
ceiYed to attend, and it was hoped that the
others would forward letters, or possibly
send representatives. The sanguine gentle
men were doomed to disappointment. Pre-
liminary talks by the chief men in several
of the big companies had been held on Tues
day and the outlook was good. The meet
ing yesterday was attended by the following
gentlemen:
George I. Oliver. of the Oliver Roberts Wire
Company Pittsburg; O. 6. Washburn, of the
Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company,
Worcester Mass; L. L. Smith, Superintendent
of the Gautier department ana commercial
agent of the Cambria Iron Company; Cyrus
Elder, solicitor and general agent OF the Cam
bria Iron Company; W. R. Stirling, of the 1lli-
nois Steel Company. Chicago; Mr.. Beach, of
the II. P. Nail Company. Cleveland; George 9.
Douglas of the Iowa Barb Wire Company, Al
lentown, Pa; F. C. Gedge of the American
Wire Nail Company, Covington, KY, and An
derson, Ind; Mr.. Arkless, of the American
Wire Company, of Cleveland; Mr.. Robeling, OF
Robellng & Son, Trenton; and William L. Alb
bott, chairman of Carnegie, Phipps Co.,
Pittsburg.
In addition to the gentlemen who took an
actual part in the conference, there were
present in the city quite a number Of other
gentlemen connected with the firms men,
toned, who were advising and watching
from the outside. Among these were o.
W. Potter, President, and J. G. Hutchins,
Secretary of the Illinois Steel Company;
C. P. Garvey, of the American Wire Nail
Company, Anderson, Ind, and 81. W. Alli-
son, of the Iowa Barb Wire Company,
Allentown, Pa. It seems likely that the
fruitless result of the conference was largely
due to the fact that A. II. Hebard, of the
St. Louis Barb Wire Company, was at the
Hotel Duquesne, and refused to 60 into the
conference. The Braddock Wire Company
had promised to send representative, but
did not do so.
The sessions Of the conference lasted both
forenoon and afternoon, ending at about 8
o'clock. Mr.. Beach was elected to preside
and Mr.. Douglas was chosen secretary.
The whole ground of an association was
talked over and the attitude of the firms mot
represented was freely discussed. For sew
eral reasons, it was decided not to organize
an association. Prices and trade were
talked of in general way. The meeting
was altogether good natured, but it was de-
termined to make no further effort to or
ganize. Mr. Roberts said that no further
meetings would be held, and that nothing
whatever had been accomplished. The
members separated, saying softly 10 them
selves, "Et tu, Brute" A number of the
visitors from out of the city spent the re-
mainder of the afternoon driving about the
city, looking at the big mills and other OBJ
jects of interest.
There was, in addition to the above meet
ing, an important conference yesterday at
the Duquesne Club, between Messrs. Potter
and Hutchins, of the Illinois Steel Com
pany, and the representatives. of Carnegie,
Phipps & Co. and the Cambria Iron Com
pany. The buildings for the Worlds Fair
in Chicago will demand an immense amount
OF structural iron, which the Chicago COM
mittee desires to place with Illinois firms.
Mr.. Potter says that his mills are not pre-
pared to make the immense beams and
other iron which will be needed, because
they have not the rolls. It would not pay
them to put in new trains of rolls for that
work alone. He desired to learn fully
how Pennsylvania establishments were
prepared to turn out such work. He has
been assured that the Homestead mills of
Carnegie, Phipps & Co. and the Johnstown
mills of the Cambria Iron Works would be
able to handle any orders received for the
great iron and glass structures to be erected
in Chicago. The work will begin probably
within six weeks, and will be rush" orders.