New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-04
TIN PLATE ALREADY BEINU M"DN'
AID AMERICAN TIN METAL PROBABLY ~
MINED IN QUANTITY LARGE ENoo'h


sir: Following few questions TO WHICH "''
as full and complete answer as posslbie' A.
1st-When and where. prior to the passaso r, ~ In
Mckinley bill, were manufactures OK ,n s''
'' sdDWcrc they obliged in all to suspend pSG
ducton, after time, on account OF iore's" 'o"P0
3d-what the present outlook of the tin industry
Ia tth-What assurance have we that our mines VIII
yield right kinds Of ore for all necessary purpose
anu thWlIl not the greatly increased tariff tend 70
foster monopoly In Tin manufactures, anu merIy Il
10, ,hWhy Should not protective tariff be imposed
o" 7tNwhat material benefit will the A Am nIa
farmer receive from p the sen Respeetfniy
Fargo y. D., Feb 20, 1891. b. W. HosMHn'
This correspondent makes the very common
mistake of confoundiug tin with TIN Plates iner0
bovo never been, until very recently, any mines
in the United States which produced tan. lin u
= metal that is obtained by smelling TIN ore!
II is NOT a manufactured article any more IMAM
gold or silver or iron. Pure tin is now ana has
been for years on the free list IL Is ieit OH inc
free list in the Mckinley bill until 1898 linen
there will be duty of cents pound on ''h'
but that duty will be levied for only TWO years
unless the mines in this country shall have pro.
duced in some one year previous TO july 1, loVo'
over 5000 tons of pure tin. If they fall 10 pro-
duca that amount then tin will go back upon
the free list. If our mines succeed in producing
that large amount then the duty Will remain IN
force so as to aid in the production OF that
valuable metal, with view to their supplying
our entire demand from the mines OF the Uhlteu
States. 1t is not the duty on tin imposed IN the
Mckinley bill of which our tariff reformers COM
plain.
The clause which has caused so much controversy
is the one which levies a duty OF 22-lo Genus
rer pound on tin plates, after the first day OF
July next
Tin plate is an article used in roofing and in tho
manufacture of utensils of all kinds. We speak
Of a tin pan or a tin pail but these articles are
made of tin plate, and are, as matter OF lact'
mostly composed of iron or steel. The ordinary
tin plate used in making all such goods is. 96 l-2
per cent of it, iron steel and has only IL per
cent of tin. 1t is made by taking sheets of iron
or steel. manufactured for that purpose, and then
coatinp them with a very thin surface OF pure
tin mixed with anthony or lead; for roofing
There is 4 large admiXture of lead with the TIN.
While there were no mines which were actually
producing tin in this country prior to the passage
Of the Mckinley BILL there were several manu-
featuring establishments, however, which had
begun to make these iron and steel plates. There
were some. several years ago, where the coating
Of tin was also put on-one at Demmler, Penn; one.
at leechburg, Penn, and one at Mcheesport,
Penn, and there were no doubt others IN other
parts of the country. hen these works started
up it supposed that there was tarln OF
cents pound tin plates; but afterward, by
ruling of the Treasury Department, it was held
that such was not the case. Owing to that de-
cision these works were all compelled to shut
down. not being able to hold possession of our
markets and pay the high wages here against
the low wages in the Old World. This is com.
pletc answer to your first two questions.
In answer to your third question l will say that
the present outlook of the tin-plate Industry In
this country is excellent Mills are being started
in Brooklyn, y. Y; st. Louis, Mo-; chicago, H.
and in several places in Pennsylvania. IL WILL
be no more than few months before American
works will be turning out tin plate III large guam
titles and these works will run without regard
10 the result in tin mines, because we can
procure the tin cheaply as they can IN ooutn
Wales, the tin being at present on the Tree Lst,
But the outlook also seems fair just now for pro-
Guclng tin from the mines OF the Ihited states;
lin mines now being opened ana WORKED
with a large force of men In the Black HIS III
South Dakota \ letter Just received from inc
largest company there brings the gratifying news
that they have several VEINS OF ore well opened
and the miners have on the dump large amount
Of ore which is rich III TN Ihey VIII s9oh Desli
the erection OF milling and smelling works In the
vicinity of their mines. They hope AFTER lew
months to place American TIM for the first tlme III
the markets of the world. 4 intend IN due time
10 rive a full account OF these mines; but for the
present sufficient answer has been made 10 Sir.
ilosulcr's third question
I'm answer 10 his fourth lnterrogatory, let me
say that the question would not have been asked
had he understood that the klnd OIL ORG
has nothing TO do with the uses OF TN What
we have failed TO do heretofore is TO hnd any orc
whatever rich enough in tin TO pay for milling
and smelling. In the making OF various kliIs
tin plate, the same kind OF TN Is uSed IN an,
,>Io,a hoo pf
the alloy to greater or less extent, according 10
the Use for which the plate Is designed. IN IS
always one and the same thing nut so-cahed un
plates differ greatly in their makeup. Nor uoes
IL matter for two years whether we get enough
American tin to supply the wants OF the United e,i
States or not Our manufacturers oi TN pa,c WIN
prt their supply from the same source as the loT-
cgn manufacturer does his, and 1t comes ID lreo
of duty. ~ ,. .;
In answer TO your fifth question about a I'm
MONOPOLY, my answer Is No, most einphaticaliy,
NO! The surest way to prevent IL monopoy
is to increase the number OF producers. MonoP'
oicS spring up under free-trade urih much
more readily than under protective one;
Let me suggest to Mr. llosmer that ne ana
make IN agreement about this tln-platc business.
The Free Traders all say that TINS new ta.ra law s
pals, etc. etc. Your question indicates thao Sou
possibly have the same impression. NY noIlon
Is exactly the opposite of that. / believe tnas
within Two years we will be getting better tin
plate for less money than IL now costs. ne IL,
suit will be known IN little whlIe. Mnae >
would like is to make agreement that that re.
sult Shall settle the question of protection IL
we do succeed in cheapening tin plate and TN
goods under this law, you shall agree TO ahmit
publicly that the law is a wise one, and that 10
does no; rob the people. II we do not cheaper
Tin plate and keep the quality good, then VIII
own up What do you say?
Your sixth question. to hides, ] cannot answer
so readily. Ny impression is that if were franz.
ing tariff law would put q, duty on hides. II
is branch of the subject that l am not now
Question was examined at great length By the
committee composed of able men and the friends
of protection and that they reported against such
a duty leads me to conclude that there are grave
objections to its being Levied. But am not we'll
enough posted to tell You what those reasons are
A. my earliest opportunity | will examine that
brancG of the subject more carefully, and then
MAJ be able TO discuss it more satisfactorily than