The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-15
TIN.

There are in this country Just twenty
one concerns, all told, which propose 10 en-
gage in the business of making tin plate
Not one of these has yet made any tin plate
for commercial purposes. A few have
produced sheets as samples of what may bt
done. Elk Congressman NEIDRINGHAUs
OF ST. Louis, received lot Of free adver
Using few weeks ago on the strength Of
the announcement that he had established
an extensive tin plant. Finally reliable
correspondent was sent from New York to
visit the concern and write it up without
cost to the proprietor. The correspond
ent found the plant to consist OF some old
pots and kettles. an improvised melting
furnace, and an old board shed, while the
employees numbered three-two boys aud
man, the latter having in his youth
dipped plates i n Welsh factory. Mr.
NEIDRINGHAUs got his ''write-up' in the
New York and other papers, and then he
said he would put in plant and max e tin
plate if permitted to violate the contract
labor law and import some of the ''pauper''
workmen Of Europe to do the work at mis-
establishment. 1t is IS near as we have
come to making tin plate in this country,
but it would seem that we are paying well
for tie amusement OF having the twenty
one concerns promise to make tin plates
sometime in the future. The latest issue
of the New York National. Prorisioner, a
leading trade Journal, has this to say
editorially on the subject:
AS we pointed out in our issue OF July4, the
new tariff on tin plate Will, in the course Of
1
/ cent per can, and the result will be an annual
levy Of about So 0o0 on the consumers of
canned meats. lard, milk, fruits, vegetables etc.
AL OF which are staple articles in the provision
line. II il be true that tn plate can be made
in this country in sufficient quantity and in
quality not inferior TO the imported goods a
very large saving would result to the consumers
ana the provision trade in general The point
of quality Is very essential one. II q can be
made OF the best tin, perfectly coated and
thereby free from the danger OF rust and de-
terioration, the meat or other contents is pre-
served in q perfect state and the salt, saltpetre
and other ingredients used in the method OF
preserving have no chance to form a chemical
combination with the iron, which is the
underlying material in the tia plato. II
however, the American tin plate, in order
TO compete with the imported goods, had
q
great danger would threaten the packers and
canning factories using this article on account
of the danger which must arise TO the health of
consumers OF spoiled canned goods. A great
controversy on this important question has been
carried on in the leading papers Of both parties
all over the country, and politics have tine
tured the views expressed on both sides. The
National PToCiSi0nsr, naturally, as a trade jour
nal, does not enter upon political discussions
and. considering only the welfare OF the pro
vision trade. which in all its branches Is large
consumer OF tin plate. has addressed one OF the
leading manufacturers in this country, and in
reply has received letter which, as stated By
the writer's the n. & G. Taylor Co., OF Phila-
delphia, is the first Official answer made by
them TO the charges that they were redipping
low grade English plates and not manufactur-
ing tin plate equal TO the imported qualities, IL
indeed, they were making any at all.
The reply of the TAILoRs was simply q
denial that they were re-dipping infsrior
English plates, and an admission that they
were importers of TIN plates. They are
making some roofing tin, and propose TO
make tin plate for canning purposes some
time in the future. Their answer cut no
figure in the matter except as a denial that
they were cheating the public in palming
OF an inferior article. The fact stands, as
shown by the Prouisioner, that the consum-
ers of canned meats, lard, milk, fruits and
vegetables, staple articles in the provision
line, must pay SIC, 0O0, 900 a year because q
score of men want to make tin plates when
they learn how and can hire cheap foreign
labor.
And the tin plate swindle 10 only one Of
the swindles in that gigantic robber
scheme, the MCKINLEY tariff law.