The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-17


PlrrsDuRoH, Aug. 16.-Englishmen no
longer sheer at the possibility Of Amer
leans making timed plate. They at
length concede that the Mckinley tariff
act will enable this to be done, and
they propose to benefit by 1t themselves.
One of the largest manufacturers in
Wales has decided to move the bulk Of
his plant to this country, and IN Eng
lish corporation in Tennessee will erect
atinned plate plant in connection with
its blast furnaces already in operation.
re. jenkins is q timed plate manu-
faeturer with works in South Wales and
Monmouthshire. At Maesteg, in the
latter country, he is in partnership in a
mandatory with w. II. Edwards,
son-in.law OF William Williams, Of
Ilanelly, known as the "Tin-plate
King" Mr.. jenkins other plant is at
Maechen, in South Wales. The capaci-
ty of both plants is nine mills, equal 10
an output OF 1000 boxes day.
In letters to Pittsburg gentlemen Mr..
Jenkins has expressed his intention Of
moving over here. He will ship the
bulk Of his plant and bring with him
Us many Of his men as he may require
He has studied the contract labor law,
and can find no reason why lie couldn't
do so. He has been offered strong in
ducements TO come across the water,
including the offer % acres OF free land
at Joliet, Ill.
BOUND TO COME TO AMERICA.
Mr.. Jenkins says he has accepted the
offer and will prepare to move in about
two months time. He says that Eng
lishmen now recognize that Americans
can make and underSell them in timed
plate. and that. ms they are already ex-
perienced i'll the trade, while Ameri-
cans are not, they do do not see. why
they should not enter the field under
the new conditions. Mr.. jenkins also
adds that William Williams and his
son-in-law, w. H. Edwards, are seri-
ously thinking OF following his ex-
ample. They may locate here within
the next six months. Mr.. jenkins says
lie is aware that steel plates can be
bought in Chicago at cheaper cost than
in England and the difference in wages
is not so much as to prevent hand
some profit on the investment.
When Mr.. Williams was in Pittsburgh
last October he told reporter
that he would have no hesitancy in in.
vesting capital in the manufacture OF
timed plate in this country, il he felt
any security in the duty being main
tained. He admitted that he came here
as much for the purpose of investing
capital in this business as for any other.
Al the same time he scotIed at the idea
OF timed plate being made at remun-
erative ppice il the Welshmen united in
lessening cost and reducing profits.
Subsequent events show that while they
may have been content with smaller
nrofit 1t is because the cost OF material
aud labor have both become greater in
Wales. Advices from Wales 10 Pitts
burghers point to general acceptance
of the States as competitor, and it is
admitted sooner than was expected that
the protective policy Of the Mckinley
act will throw half the Welsh mills idle.
ANOTHER ENTERPRISE AFooT.
1t developed yesterday that there was
another body OF Englisemen, not asso-
ciated with the timed plate making
industry, who are arranging 10 go into
that business in this country. The
Embreville Freehold Land, Iron and
Railway company is corporation with
S2OO0,000 OF capital, all OF which is
held in England. II owns 5000 acres
Of land in East Tennessee, and has had
two blast furnaces in operation for
some time. The elective committee,
consisting OF three titled Englishmen,
have been here for some time obtaining
data on the cost OF timed plated
plant In company with their general
manager, Mr.. Love. they saw Mr.. John
+. Wilcox, Of the Pittsburgh Iron and
Steel Engineering Company, and en-
tered into negotiations with him in the
matter. The committee sailed last week
to consult with tho board OF directors.
Their project is best outlined In what
MIR. Wilcox said yesterday in relation
thereto.
'.The Embrevilleco he said,
Sis composed entirely OF English capt.
tai, and its enterprises have SO far
$500 acres OF land in Tennessee, and
two blast furnaces in operation, The
enterprise, which has been established
LOT tuIce yeuISl llho pAlu SuCll lluilNSOhlo
dividends that the directors deemed it
advisable to extend operations. They
sent an executive committee Of three
over here TO investigate. These gentle.
men called me in and made exhaustive
inquiries into the probabilities, oil
steel and timed plate plant being
renunerative investment. | prepared
comparative costs OF manufacture here
and in England, and also plans.
CONFIDENT OF RETURNS
81 went with them very fully into the
matter, and at length was able to advise
them that capital invested in a timed
plate plant in this country could not be
otherwise than good Investment. The
result OF several meetings was that the
committee decided to recommend the
project to their board. They sailed for
England last week for that purpose,
and only await instructions to put the
plans into practical effect The plant
is estimated to costS650, 900, with cap
acity OF 5000 boxes OF finished plates
per week, and 200 tons OF steel slabs for
the open market.
II do not think there Is the shadow
OF q doubt" continued Mr.. Wilcox, OF
the security OF timed plate plant as
nm investment. The cost OF a box OF
timed plate shipped at Swansea is s.,
The labor on 1t costs So cents. can
afford TO pay Just double that amount
and yet have profit OF 81 % per box.
The American manufacturer has the
J. = ~. -. all kt,k lnI.