Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-14
CONFIDENT CAPITAL,
With the Labor Troubles Settled, the
Only Thing Needed to
GUARANTEE AMERICAN TIN PLATE.
Statements From a Manufacturer Who
Knows All About the Welsh Works.
PITTSBURG SURE TO BE THE CENTER

To the Editor of The Dispatch:
In Pittsburg newspaper of Sunday last
was an editorial headed ''Tin Plate in Poll
| tics" While decrying the evil of tamper-
ing with an important special industry in
| politics, the paper itself, through what
seems to me to be (the most charitable ex-
preston can make) it's entire ignorance
of the tin plate industry and its successful
manufacture in this country, could not, if it
made special effort to do so, write more
misrepresentation regarding it and of one
of the most worthy manufacturers in the
United States, as well as Major Mckinley,
who in my opinion is practical, high
minded and conscientious representative OF
the industries of this country.
will say that if the tin plate bubble
bursts, it will be known that it has been
killed by such ridiculous articles as that re-
ferred to, and other such misrepresenta-
tions which help the tree traders to legis-
late against it and prevent capital from
launching out as it would otherwise do.
Niedringhaus, of st. Louis, 1 have known
for over 20 years. He does not need the
kind of advertising specified. Their manu-
tacture of tinware of every kind and sheet
iron is simply enormous. have read most,
if not all, of Mr.. Niedringhaus' articles
published on tin plate, and can strongly
confirm that he has said only what he knows
to be facts.
THE ONLY DIFFICULTIES.
His difficulties with his men and laws, as
published, are the only difficulties in the
way of the successful manufacture of tin
plate, and are unfortunate for both parties,
as we'll as the steel manufacturers generally.
And with American invention and growing
workmen from the boys this industry, like
the steel rail, carpet, plate glass and
many other such industries, will soon
be Americanized in quality and price.
am confident that if mutual concessions
can be arrived at, with what know of the
tin plate business in Wales and of our
progress in every line of important business
that has been undertaken in this country in
my time, that we shall not only make one
third of the tin plate we consume in this
country in five years, but nearly, ifnOt all,
and for less money.
There are a large number of Welshmen in
various sections of this country who GER
tainly feel as I do, shame and pity to
see such Ignorance and prejudice On the tin
plate question from theorists who, through
their Ignorance, misrepresent their coun-
try's facilities and abilities, to their own
detriment and that of the industries of the
country.
have stood this ignorance and nonsense
as long as 1 can from my strong feeling of
Americanism. feel that the many publi-
cations detrimental to the tin plate industry
being established in this country must make
the people who publish them the laughing
stock of those in the business in Wales. I
am personally acquainted with the leading
manufacturers and their manufacture,
simplest of all the lines of steel manufac-
ture, to the finish. Itmakes no difference
whether we have tin in this coun-
try or not We can buy the tin where En-
gland gets her tin, and as cheap. 1t is
commercial commodity sold to the best buy
ers, as any other commodity. We are
already large buyers of the same article for
all lines of manufacture of brass and bronze,
and can buy any additional we may want as
England does, as she buys nearly all the tin
she needs from foreign countries.
MAKING CAPITAL TIIID.
Such publications make capital timid and
it will not embark when doubtful legisla-
put myself on record now, that if our next
Congress will leave the tin plate question
alone, in five years from now the writer of
the article, if alive, will wish he
had not written such an article, and instead
of theory he will have experience.
My desire in writing as 1 do is simply to
counteract Misrepresentation, with practi-
cal facts my knowledge and exper-
ience enable me to do. I am not writing as
a politician, or having some other ak to
grind, or to advertise myself. I am an
American citizen of over 20 years and de-
sire to do my simple best for the welfare
of this country above all others But that
does not prevent me from having a warm
feeling for the country I was born and
raised in. I was born in Merthyr Tydfil, in
South Wales, near the center of the tim
plate industry. 1 commenced my appren-
ticeship in the machine shop three months |
before 1 was IA, and have followed the bust
ness constantly. At 19 1 went to Llanid- |
deli, Monmouthshire, where my business
was the building of machinery necessary
for the tin-plate works we were surrounded |
with. 1 next went to Blaenavon and took
charge of the machinery department of the |
Pontypool Iron and Tin Plate Works, one |
of the most important tin works then exist |
ing and where the business was first founded |
in Britain They manufacture all their |
from the mines to the finished |
article.
THE FIRST TINwARE PLANT.
The first tin plate works built and sue
cessfully operated in this country was the /
American Tin Plate Works, Wellsville, O.,
by lot of Pittsburg men, including many |
Welshmen of practical ability. They were
at the time in bad financial condition. How |
ever, they made large quantities of tin
plate while in operation, as fine as was ever
made in Wales. Rogers & Birchfield and
the United States Tin Plate Works soon
all of whom made excellent tin
plate at the time. Mr.. Rogers at that time
was undoubtedly the most progressive and
a great advantage over all others, having
ample natural gas, which helped largely in
the cost of manufacture The importers,
finding successful competition starting in
this country, reduced the price of plates be-
low the cost of manufacture, so that it was
impossible for any manufacturer in this
country to produce tin plates without loss.
The panic soon followed and crushed the
life out of the American tin plate business.
have no interest in any of the lines of
tin plate, but have had such varying prac-
tice and experience in the business and the
of tinplate that should en-
able me to speak as 1 do am fully con-
with the Welsh practice of to-day,
and feel that if legislation will not tamper
with the tariff as it now exists and the press
and people will give the tin plate business
heir co-operatian one of the best and most
industries will soon be firmly