News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-05-14
Tin plates Without Politics.


The new tin plate industry contin-
ues to be the subject of widely con-
fiicting reports in the newspapers,
though if their editors should devote
to it half as much cure as is given TO
reporting a single baseball game the
matter might easily be simplified. A
summary of the authentic informa-
tion containedin Hardware's news
department within the last few
months shows the situation to be
nothing more nor less than this:
No one in the United States claims
to-day to be making tin plate on "A
large scale. Such thing is not adj
vertised anywhere, and no one is So
Letting orders for large amounts of
tin plate for early delivery. To this
extent it is true that there is no Amer
lean tin plate industry. BY the same
token therei is no worlds fair in Chica-
90. But, while much systematic
work is being done to have the worlds
fair reality by certain date, sew
eral reputable firms and individuals
assert positively that new works
which they are constructing are de-
signed for the making of tin plate on
a large scale soon after the higher
duty on this product shall have taken
effect this summer. Such prepara-
tions are in progress at Cleveland,
st. Louis and Brooklyn, and at sew
eral points in Pennsylvania and Hi
nois. Meanwhile some of the parties
have produced, on a small scale tin
which has meteveTy test in q manner
gratifying to the makers. 1t has
been shown that iron and steel plates
of the requisit quality can be made in
America, and there is here no lack of
special skilled lobor, many Welsh inn
migrants having brought with them
a knowledge of tin plate making. AS
for tin, that has to be imported by
the Welsh concerns, and the same
sources of supply are open to the
United States.
So much for what has been done.
Regarding the future, we see no rea-
son to doubt that the gentlemen ac-
lively interested in the tin plate in
dustry are working in as thorough
good faith as the leaders in any other
industrial enterprise in this country.
They have long been connected with
the metal industries, and have met
with success in their undertakings.
Generally they have preferred to have
little said in print regarding their
plans for making tinplate before they
are ready tosupply large amounts to
the trade, and for the greater part
they have not been responsible for
what has been published about them.
The editor of the Hardware has treat
ed the whole subject from the stand
point of n newsgatherer-without
knowing the tin plate men personally,
without knowing the political bias of
more than two of them, without be-
inc asked by any of them to print n
line upon the subject.
Besides the concerns about which
the facts have been printed in these
pages, there are Others in less advanc-
ed stages of progress, regarding which
Hardware has trustworthy informa-
ton, which their projectors desire
withheld until their plans are more
complete. 1t is no secret that more
than one corporation in process OF
organization at Pittsburg for the
making of tin plate made no further
progress than the elections of Novem-
Der last, through the fear of the cap
italists interested that the policy OF
protecting the new industry might be
reversed. These concerns have not
been considered in this article as hav-
ing any connection with the future OF
tin plate making.
SO far as the newprotective duty is
concerned, no one can derive any di-
rect benefit from it without making
tin plate. 1t would seem rea-
sonable to suppose, therefore, that
any firm engaging in the industry at
all should try TO produce as many
tons per year as possible, in order to
reap the advantages of the duty, es-
pecially since the new tariff law pro-
vides for the repeal of the increased
duty within five years in case it fails
to supply the market to n large ex-
tent with American tin plate.