Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-19
Because One of Their Number De-
cided to Come to This Country.
THEY PREVENT HIM FROM SELLING
Another Western Manufacturer Is Erect.
ing Timed Plate Plant.
PITTSBURGERS BUSY DRAWING PLANS

| Plttsburgers in Wales relate condition of
excitement among the manufacturers which
would be entertaining if it did not place one
of. the tin plate men in a very awkward
position.
The whole affair turns on the publication,
some four weeks ago, in THE DISPATCH,
of the announced determination of Welsh
timed plate manufacturer to dispose of his
interests and re-establish himself in the
same business in this country. 1t was also
stated that other makers, whose names
were also mentioned, would likely foil ow
in his footsteps. This announcement was
made in perfect good faith, and on the
authority of this gentleman's own expressed
declaration to a Pittsburger, and subse-
qrently supported by letters. Some
of the Welshmen attach so much import
ance to what appears in THE DISPATCH
relative to their trade as to have copies of
each issue of this paper regularly mailed to
them. They looked to THE DISPATCH
for reliable news, and were content to ac-
cept what appeared in its colu INNS as trust
worthy.
wELsHMEN POSE AS BoYCoTTERS
When the issue of THE DISPATCH con-
tanning the account of Welshmen propos-
ing to embark in the business in this coun-
try reached Wales it raised a storm around
the head of the manufacturer who had
foresight sufficient to see that this country
would be the future home of the timed
plate industry, and who, with the courage
of his convictions, was preparing to move
with the tide and realize on his plant while
it possessed any value as a young concern.
This gentleman came to be regarded by his
associates as something akin to a traitor to
his cause and his country. The news
papers took up the matter and re-
as harsh term as one Englishman
can call another. This manufacturer
found himself unable to sell his property
when the time came. His countrymen
simply would not invest; they would not be
a party to any such treason as Welshman
packing up his traps, his own traps, and
hieing him to America to make timed
plate there. They assumed that if he could
not dispose of his plant he would likely re-
main in Wales. 1t was similar with
the brokers' They refused to buy the
product of this gentleman's mills; and, in
short, both merchants, capitalists and brok
ers ''boycotted'' this enterprising Welsh
man. This is the substance of advices re-
Gently received here from the scene of hos
tilities in Wales The sequel to the story
is now in course of enaction.
HE WANTS THE STORY CoNTRADICTED.
The Welshman alluded to, when con-
fronted with all the enormity of his offense
in doing as he wished with his own, dis
puted the veracity of the statement
made in THE DISPATCH, and sought
to show the whole story was without
foundation. He represented wherever it
was necessary that what an American news
paper should say of Welshmen's affairs was a
matter not concerning Welshmen, and that,
in fact, the reporter who wrote the story
had mixed up names, facts and dates, and
delivered himself of concoction. The
only way, this manufacturer concluded, by
which he could be set right with his coun
trymen and restored to their confidence was
to have THE DISPATCH contradict the
statements previously made. So a Pitts
burger now in Wales was asked to write to
this city and have contradiction made.
tits reported here in places sauthoritatively
informed that at least half a dozen Welsh
timed plate manufacturers are considering
the question of coming over to this country
to establish timed plate factories.
MACHINERY VERSUS HAND LABOR.
eff the welshmen and English capitalists
are consistent in their actions,'' said
Pittsburg manufacturer yesterday, ''they
must find out where these projected emf
grants are and treat them to dose of the
same free trade medicine they have pre-
scribed for the most intelligent and far
seeing among them. The rapidity with
which timed plate mills are being erected in
this country must at last clearly demonstrate
to British capitalists two things, namely,
that timed plate will shortly be produced
in large quantities in America, and that in
such event the Welsh makers must lose,
ultimately, three-fourths of their trade;
out of AIS, 725 gross tons of timed plates ex-
ported by Great Britain during 1890, 31S,-
10S tons were shipped to the United States.
Welsh manufacturers are also beginning to
understand that other than their old fash
ioned methods, and hand labor will be used
in establishing the industry. With Bes-
semer slabs sold at IL cents a pound
to the timed plate maker, the requisite
machinery for finishing the plate will be
forthcoming to make the article at a cost
which, despite the higher priced labor of
American mills, will enable it to be sold at
little above English prices, duty added.
Of the makers now manufacturing timed
or tern plate, every one has improved upon
the Welsh system, and is using machinery
to execute what is done by hand abroad.
Welsh workmen are not in especial demand,
and are not needed to make the establish
ment ofthe industry here a success. The hope
of manufacturers who have sought to profit
by the knowledge of Welsh tin plate work
ers was that they can get better work done
by the American. The day is not very re-
mote when the timed plate workers of
Wales will be required neither in their own
country nor over here"
A NEW TIMED PLATE PLANK.
Local engineers are receiving many in
quiries for plans, ETC., for timed plate
plants. There are not less than a dozen
being drawn in offices which could be desig-
mated. J. E. Reeves, of the Reeves Iron
Works at Canal Dover, O., is adding a
timed plate to his mill. He has been in
town for day or so making arrangements.
He has given local engineer instructions
to draw plans for two mills, with capacity
of l, 600 boxes week. The directors of the
American Timed Plate Company, of
Elwood, Ind, are receiving plans from
Pittsburg engineers for the new factory
The question of labor saving ma
chinery in manufacturing timed plate
is also receiving attention. One Pittsburg
gentlemen has applied for patents for
machinery for washing, cleaning plates
and separating the pack, all of which is
done by hand in Wales. The evidences are
many to the unprejudiced that the timed
plate industry is taking a grip which
is growing stronger each day, and without
fear of any detrimental legislation from the
next Congress The duty on the imported
product is to remain in force until 1897, and
will be removed then, if one-third of any
one of the six years importations of timed
plate is not being made In American mills
That is to say that 100, 900 tons of timed or
tern plate must be produced in this coun-