The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-06-04

heralded broadcast all over the country
as being convincing evidence and over
whelming proof of the ability Of Amer
lean manufacturers to produce tin plate
on practical and remunerative basis
with little protection.
While the same veil of secrecy was
not thrown around the local estab-
lishment, and while the plant of
Mr.. Niedringhaus was not guarded with
the same jealous watchfulness, the out
come of the investigation was substan-
TALLY the same as that obtained by the
Evening Post.
This investigation was entered upon
by the Republic in all fairness and with
the determination to report exactly
what it found and to give an accurate,
uncolored account of affairs as at present
existing
The discoveries were, in brief, that
Mr.. Niedringhaus is operating kind Of
kindergarten tin plate factory in which
he employs few boys and one or two
men; that he is turning out just about
enough tin plate 20 supply the current
republican conventions; and that when
the proposed enlargement of his plant
occurs, the total output, even with the
increased facilities, will barely enable
him to supply the numerous conven-
tions to be held during the approach
ing presidential campaign with sam
pies OF homemade tin plate"
plaything, which can be operated at
trihing cost for q couple of years, and
then abandoned as quickly as possible
after it has served its purpose. The
best posted manufacturers here main
tain that Mr.. Niedringhaus cannot
profitably make tin plate, even under
the present tariff, and that the only
direcU and visible effect of the tariff
was to advance the prices of tinware to
consumers.
Some idea of the magnificent little
ness" of the great Niedringhaus tin
plate factory" may be obtained when
it is stated that Mr.. Niedringhaus owns
some three blocks of ground in North
ST. Louis, and that the ''tin plate fac
tory" which the republican papers
point to with SO much pride occupies
just about SKIS feet of this immense
tract
A VISIT TO THE WORKS.
In pursuing the statements made by
the Evening Post relative to the
alleged tin works of the st. Louis
Stamping Company, q Republic re-
porter visited the works of the com
pany at Main and Destrehan streets
The present works cover two blocks of
ground and with the exception of the
newly established tin works are de-
voted to rollingmill purposes. Aided
by an employe, the reporter finally
located the tin works in about the
center of the area occupied by the
buildings of the company. A low,
rambling frame structure, but one
story high, and appearing to be one of
the oldest in the group, was pointed
out as the home of what is destined" I"
by the aid of the Mckinley tariff, to
become one of the greatest industries
of the United States.
Brawny worlSmen were to be seen
rushing to and fro within the hive of
industry, while huge stacks of sheet
iron were being transported from an
adjacent rolling mill into this building
over hand railroad. The reporter
entered, but found no evidence of new
industry. The scenes were simply
those of the ordinary rolling mill His
workman guide explained that the tin
works were on the other side, and here
Inc was hurriedly conducted. This is
what ne found The tin works consisted
OF lean-to of hasty construction at
s tt8 %s se 6ot ssst oSst Saei iG s S RSt S
80 feet In length and 10 feet in height
at its highest point. This structure
was divided into three rooms. In the
first was man of about 30 years and a
boy of about half that age. Scattered
about in piles knee high throughout
this small room was sheet iron eOx30
inches in size. The man was busily
engaged in rubbing with a rag piece
of this sheet iron.
'"This is what is known as the black
Sheet" said the guide, picking up ono
of these sheets. ''After it is piclSled'
twice = that is put in bath of
sulphuric acid--it is then cold rolled
and becomes known as white sheet.
See, you can tell the difference between
the two" picking up q sheet of each
kind. The roughness to be seen on tho
surface of the "blacl sheet" had disap-
peared from the more finished metal.
"Now we will go into the dipping
room, where they arc making these
white sheets into tin"
THE INNER SANCTUARY.
The reporter and his companion then
entered the next room, which is practi-
cally, TO all intents and purposes, the tin
works of the st. Louis Stamping Com
pany. In room about 15x20 in size he
found three men and two boys at work.
In the northwest corner was the dip
ping outfit, inclosed in brick, like q
Furnace. The area Of the dipping
plant was about bx3 feet 1t consisted
of three pots. Two men were at work