The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-15
THE TRUTH ABOUT TIN PLATE.

In short paragraph yesterday THE
HERALe quoted an interview with a re-
spectacle and responsible citizen of San
Diego who stated that the famous Temes-
cal tin mines of California had not pro
duced altogether more than fifteen tons of
pig tin. 1t was these mines and those of
the Black Hills in South Dakota that gave
tie impetus on which the tin plate tariff
was raised to p cents per pound by the
MCKINLEY Dill. We recolect that Senator
MOODY of the latter state informed the
Senate in debate that the hills
contained the richest deposits OF
black oxide of tin in the world.
and about the same claim was made
for California. And yet the owners of the
mines wanted stiff protective duty on the
imported pig tin before they were willing
TO embark in the tin plate business Like
al other beneficiaries of protection, they
wanted protective duties on what they
were TO sell and free trade on what they
were to buy. Aud now it would seem that
MOODY and MCKINLEY, as well as other
republican protecuonists, were deceived
by designing men, who raised the protec-
ton cry in order to carry out game of
speculation, pure and simple.
There has probably been on the subject
Of tin and tin plate mere robust and stall
wart lying by Republican politi-
clans and parties interested in high
tariff, than can ever be caught
up with. So brazen-faced have been the
false statements, and so much perplexity
in the public mind has grown out of them,
that there has been meeting in New
York Of business firms consuming three
hfths OF the tin plate used in this country
TO Choke off all tin plate liars in the United
States.n Such at least was the statement
of one of those present. An organization
was effected and officers elected of "Tin
Plate Consumers association" Congress
man-elect BUNTING spoke from the stand
point Of business rather than politics. He
said the canning industry now consumes
more than one-half of the tin plate i'm
ported, and this pays $4,000, 900 yearly, be-
cause 1t was made mark for the disastrous
discrimination. The industry counts nearly
two thousand establishments and gives en-
ployment, directly or indirectly, 10 nearly
two million people. All the promises of
concerns which were to embark in the tin
plate business within thirty days from the
passage OF the act have proved myths. By
anticipating the proposed advance, English
spectators made profit of So, 100000 in
nine months. Mr.. BUNTING produced fig
ures showing that
The increased cost to consumers OF canned
goods, by reason of the duty on the tin in the
cans, is enough to pay $4,000 workmen a salary
Of 500 year, with 500 900 left over. II wonld
require 5000 acres OF land TO grow the corn
represented by this waste In the absence of
the duty the Gamer could pay the farmer e per
cent. more for the fruits ETC., canned ana s.ill
sell them for the old prices The meat packers
used So g09 boxes of tin IN the year ending
March last. or this AIS 0Oo boxes were used AT
home. The duty which the consumers paid was
Sl,221 $50, or enough 10 pay for ST 2S7 more head
of cattle, which would have paid the farmer $50
head and would have required for grazing
over lo00,00 acres. This increase in stock rails
ing, packing and marketing would mean en-.
ployment for 20 0oo persons. This is about the
number Of persons living of the tin-plate indus.
try in the world.
The tin plate industry is getting to be
very much of q chestnut in newspaper
discussion, it is true, but it is SO ilustra
tive Of one Of the foremost topics before
the country and the world at this time that
its full calculation seems far from unim-
portant.