Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06
THE TARIFF ON TIN.
1t Hasn't as Yet Sent Up the Price Of
Fruit Cans Very High,
THE EXTRAORDINARY CROPS
Having Done More to Keep Rates Little
Above Last Seasons.
SHOWING OF THE PRESENT FIGURES

The increased duty on timed plate has
been in force now for two months, and yet
tin cans have not become articles Of luxury.
Neither have they been raised from lowly
position without the kitchen door to posi-
tion of ease aud Importance in the front par
lor. Tin utensils form as necessary an in
tegral part of the domestic economy as they
cid twelve months ago, and, despite the eff
forts of Mckinley to make them SO, they
have not become so costly as to make their
purchase matter for grave consideration.
An illustration of how the Mckinley
tariff on timed plate has not sent up the
cost Of tinware is afforded in the case of
fruit cans. The trade in these. cans has
been very large this year, due to the full
ness of the crops, and yet the selling price
this year is only as much above last years
as was warranted by an unusually brisk
demand. The price of timed fruit cans last
year was "a rs per gross; the price to-day is
from IS 90 to s5 30 per gross. This is the
price of the wholesalers for cans made ont
of American timed plate.
NO INCREASE FROM THE TARIFF.
These cans are being sold by the jobbers
at exactly cents dozen above the prices
of II months ago. AS matter of fact, the
duty of 2-10 per pound has not increased
the cost of these cans to the consumer in
the slightest degree. The increase in price
over last yesr's prices is due, as already
stated, to briskness in business and unusual
demand If this is doubted, it is only 9eces-
sary to take the case of glass fruit jars, the
price of which would be affected in the
same manner as the timed fruit cans The
glass fruit jars are not subject to heavy
import, and yet, while Mason's quart fruit
Jars last year sold for 81, this season the
price has jumped to $11. The glass jars,
not affected by the tariff, have become more
costly than the timed fruit cans, paying
heavy duty.
CHOW has the duty on timed plate af-
fected the retail price of tinware?" was
asked Mr.. Henry Demmler, of Smithfeld
street, yesterday.
''Not to any appreciable extent" he re-
piled. ''The price is very little higher than
last year before the duty was imposed But
then timed plate had sustaineda rise owing
to the prospective tariff The increase in
the cost Of tinware is as much due to the in
crease in labor as to anything else. Tin
makers last year were paid 50 25 for ten
hours work; they are now getting % 30 for
nine hours. Quite proportion Of our tin
ware is made from American timed plate.
We think it superior to the foreign because
there is less acid in it, being treated differ
emily, In place of tinware becoming dearer,
we fear it may get cheaper In consequence
of the cheaper methods which will be nsed
to make it"
LITTLE FEAR OF HIGH PRICES
There is little apprehension of tinware
costing very much mora than it does at.
present, in the minds of inen who looked at
the matter without bias. Twenty-inch and
14-inch plates, a standard size, sold last
year for 81 60 per box. The same grade of
timed plate is being made in this city to-
day at cost of less than "a 80 per
IT., J. xI.z.I