Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
A PRACTICAL VIEW.
Tin-Plate and its Possibilities in the United
States


States.
RIPARIA, Washington, Aug, 4-Dur-
ing the past few weeks much has been said
and written about the tin industry. have
in the past been engaged both in the South
Wales and Staffordshire districts, and can
say thatI thoroughly understand the man
ufacture in all its processes. | purpose
showing some insight into the methods
now in use and offering a few suggestions,
based on an experience of some years. The
plates are known to the buyers as coke or
charcoal with varied grades of these as
"best, " extra best" etc. The basis of
all is the pig iron, mixtures of pig iron
being used to obtain the necessary quail
ity.
Coke plates are made from puddled
iron. the process varying slightly from
the manufacture OF ordinary bar iron.
Best coke plates are made in similar
way, with the addition by some of a fac
ing of iron N lde in charcoal fires from
scrap iron.
The quality of coke plates varies with
the mixture O. pig iron and methods of
MANUFACTURER ?. Charcoal plates are sup
posed to be n ade from iron manufactured
in charcoal fres, the mixtures of pig iron
processes an selections varying with the
quality of plate desired. A new departure
some twelve years ago brought mild steel
''basic" irto use, ana it is now used large
| ly instead of charcoal, even with II de-
cided gain in regularity of quality, fine
ness of surface and less waste than char
coal iron. Many Welsh makers buy
largely of these steel bars to manufacture
into charcoal plates, the cost being lower
| AMI better average In quality is obtain
ed. Now any works that manufactures
steel rails can put In rolls to
make the bars of mild steel needed for
rolling the charcoal piles, the requi-
site ''miIdness" of steel being only mat
ter of detail.
And, again, the ordinary makers of
merchant iron can produce the bars for
the coke plates, as these bars present no
difference in manufacture from good mer-
chant iron, fair homogeneousness and
average tenacity only is desirable.
Given the bars as indicated above we re-
ouire rolling mills, shearing gear, pick
! ling. cold rolling and annealing plates,
and YOU have the plate ready tc coat with
tin. terne or lead.
We have now all materials and plant to
produce the bar ready for rolling INTO the
plate. | would suggest putting down
plants for manufacturing the pla'e from
! the bar, only leaving this to be made by
the already established iron end steel
rolling.nlilis, who can readily supply all
| that is required and to whom it would be
| a welcome addition. OF their caPabillty
there is no doubt. Our steel rails today
are more than the equal of any British
make. The composition, mlidneSs, or
softness of both the steel and iron bars are
matters of detail that can be easily dealt
with.
As regards other materials, such as palm
oil, we can buy on the west coast OF africa
Just as cheaply as England
The cost of the acid used (sulphurlc) L
don't know. The tin mined in Europe
does not amount to more than One-eighth
of that used. the Straits settlements and
Australia being the chief source Of supply,
and these markets are open and nearer to
us than England. In addition, our own
protection of tin is increasing and building
up of this industry will hasten develop
ment of tin mining.
Tin works should be established within
easy access of the works, rolling the bars to
save freight. Giving that the cost OF
labor is so per cent. higher than IN Eng
land, this additional cost would not add
more than one-half cent On charcoal and
less in coke per pound.
Why the democratic leaders and press
should deride the efforts to establish this
industry is mystery to me. 1t presents
few difficulties. and will give employment
to thousands of hands and profitable IN
vestment to hundreds of thousands OF dol
lars. Is it because it's IN the Mckinley
bill and mo good can come out OF
| Nazareth ?"
On the lines suggested we can in the
time given produce not only the required
quantity but more. and with much less
capital than required to build up tins IN,
dustry from the pig iron to the hnlshed
plate.
A TIN PLATE Works MANAGER.