Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-03
WELSH TIN-PLATE.
The Industry Feels the Effect
Of Our New Tariff.
A Heavy Blow at the Iron and Coal
Trade Also.
Doubts as to the Ability of Our
Manufacturers
TO PRODUCE ANY RESULTS WITH
TO PRODUCE ANY RESULTS WITH
IN FIVE YEARS.

The Welsh Manufacturers Have millions
Invested in the business and viii Not
American Agents in Wales Endeavoring
to Engage $4,000 Men to Work In
Factories at so Per Cent. Advance
Over Their Present Wages.
SWANSEA, July 3.-The past week has
seen the sudden stoppage of tin-plate
shipments from Wales, to the serious
disturbance of the Welsh industry and
of all concerned in it. Out of 4, $3.50 box-
es shipped from Swansea, only 500 were
marked for America. The stocks in the
docks and in the warehouses and vans
of Swansea on Saturday last amounted
to 40, 563 boxes, compared with 20, ,233 in
the previous week, and 179,054 in the
corresponding week of last year.
Despite the enormous business which
has been done in tin-plate since the be-
ginning of the year, inquiries are still be-
ing received for all descriptions of
plates; but the vigorous attempts which
have been made to place orders have not
been very successful. The fact of the
matter is, the manufacturers have had
good time making and selling vast faaa-
titles of their product at big prices and
large profits, and are now perfectly will
ing to await the course of events, and
see what will come of the American ef-
fort.
They Doubt Our Ability.
The Welsh manufacturers are rather
skeptital as to the ability of American
manufacturers to produce any result at
all within the next five years which will
insure the retention by the American
government of the tariff now imposed
ON tin-plate importations. They point
to the fact that the American Tin-Plate
Manufacturing association failed to ac-
cept the "bluF" orders which were
offered it, and they declare that this
leads to the conclusion that the mem
bers of the association are not in posi-
ton to do business on a large scale.
The Welsh makers have an enormous
capital invested in the business, and
they intend to make every effort in their
power to retain command of the trade.
They will try to do this by reducing the
wages of the men, cheapening the cost
of the raw material, lowering the pay
ments for freightage, and curtailing
their profits in order to be able to pay
the extra duty demanded by the new
American tariff which has gone into
effect
The expectation of having their wages
reduced is the cause of the open discon-
tent of the men, which is every day be-
coming more pronounced, Their union
is of the opinion that the shutting of the
mills is merely the first step toward this
end, and they very seriously resent 1t.
The union, therefore, is busily organ
izing for battle, and have no idea Of
yielding without a fierce struggle The
employers, on their part are doing
everything that is possible to alleviate
the condition of the men by giving them
work at repairing the factories and con-
structing new reservoirs.
Many of the mills are still working,
but are placed on short time, and the
cessation of work will have very bad
effect on the iron and, steel and coal in
dustries, which are dependent upon the
tin-plate manufacture. The influence
of these industries will throw many men
out of employment, and the depression
all round threatens to amount to a very
serious affair. American agents who are
over here profess to have authority from
their principals to engage 30, 600 men for
work in American tin-plate factories at
an advance of 80 per cent. over the pres
ent wages which they receive here. II
is estimated that the production Of
Welsh tin-plate will be reducessby from
300. 600 to 4O0, 900 boxes in July, but that
it will largely increase afterward. This
is the sanguine view which is taken by
the manufacturers here
The steamers British Crown and
Fonai are on the berth at Swanzea wait
ing to be loaded with cargoes Of tin
plate for Baltimore, and the steamer
Jersey City is waiting for cargo for
New York The prices range at about
l3s. Cd. per box, but the makers are not
at all anxious TO entertain business on
this basis. The American trade has
heretofore absorbed half the production
of the Welsh tin-plate mills. Future
prices will depend upon how far the
European demand will compensate for
what is regarded rs the temporary loss
of the American market