Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-04
NEW INDUSTRIES CREATED.
The Valley Furnaces 0verhauled
During the Shutdown.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MANY PLANTS
Several Mills Crowded With Orders In
Spite Of the Dullness.
GETTING READY FOR BIG BUSINESS


ity is likely to set in for some few months.
The consumption of finished iron at present.
is very small, considering the enormous con-
sumptive capacity of the country, and large
| buyers of all kinds of finished materials in
tend to retrench purchases owing to the un-
settled condition of the money and stock
markets both at home and abroad. The
| opinion seems general that the first six
months of 1891 will witness q decreased
amount of business transactions at values
scraping very low level.
1t is an open secret that several prominent
firms engaged in the iron and steel business
in this neighborhood were rudely shaken up
| financially during the past winter owing to
| the suddenness with which they were con-
| fronted with an extremely tight money mar
ket, and the consequent reluctance of mou-
| eyed institutions to advance loans even on
gilt-edged collateral. The abnormal de-
preston in livestock markets, in which the
values of railroad shares declined in many
cases 25 and 80 per cent, compelled the rail-
road companies to greatly decrease the
| amount of their contemplated purchases
and practice economy SO as to declare the
| regular dividends. An evidence of the
truth Of this is the fact that the Edgar Thom-
son mill has not as yet resumed operations
owing to lack of orders.
The result of this combined pressure upon
the important industry of this locality has
been to check its volume to no inconsidera-
BILE extent, but the acknowledged supremacy
of this beehive gives US unequaled powers
of recuperation, which it is hoped will
greatly shorten the time of the convalescence
of the iron and steel trades.
The Disastrous Coke Strike.
There have been several strong attempts
made by the operators to break the coke
strike, and while some few small independ-
ent operators are running their works with
non-union men, the efforts of the operators
so far cannot be said to have met with en-
couraging success. The most important
change in the status Of affairs occurred on
Wednesday, the 25th inst, when the Nc
| Clure Coke Company caused considerable
| excitement throughout the region as re-
| suit Of their proposition to the men that the
latter return to work at a reduction OF per
| cent, with the assurance that the price OF
| mining will not fall below 81 per 100
| of coke advances to 50 Is the COM
pany agrees to pay the scale of wages
ruling last year. The H. G. Friek Company
also posted sliding scale, similar to that
proposed by the Mcclure Company, The
attempt to effect settlement of the trouble
by the sliding scale principle led to demon
strations on the part of the strikers, which
eliminated Thursday morning in the bloody
tragedy at Mt. Pleasant, with which all are
familiar. What effect the killing of the
rioters and the presence of the militia will
have on the situation in the Connellsville
region can only be conjectured. Both sides
still assert they will be firm, and time alone
will tell the story.
The Furnaces Still Cold.
The general shutdown of the blast fur
naces in the Mahoning and Shenango Val-
leys also remains unchanged from the con.
dition it assumed when the shut in movement
was inaugurated, January l. Extensive
improvements and engagements have been
made to all furnaces in those districts, and
they are now in excellent shape for q re-
newal of operations, but no resumption OF
work is looked for until at least the settle
ment of the coke strike. The number Of
men idle is estimated at 1000, and general
business throughout both valleys is greatly
depressed as a result.
Recently, further interruptions have arisen
as result of a temporary suspension in the
supply OF natuIal gas, and the Solar Iron
Works, of William Clark's Son g Co., has
resolved to return to the use of coal in their
pudding furnaces This department is
supplied with coal and steam, making now
in all six mills wherein the superheated
steam and slack process is being used. At
Spang, Chalfant s. Co. s their steel mill has
Just been changed to use coal. The limited
af frOpa fho raJuSa Tryata
wells is scarcely sufficient to supply their
Etna mill.
At present there are probably SO out of
total of almost 900 pudding furnaces idle,
and the output of muck bar is estimated to
reach 2, 200 tons per day.
New Industries in Sight.
1t is expected that the structure now being
built at Braddock for the newly organized
firm contemplating the manufacture Of cop
per rods. wire nails, etc., will be completed
by August.
A charter has been granted to A. W.
Cadman, A. N. Potter, J. 6. Taylor and
w. j. McDermitt for a concern to be known
as the A. W. Cadman Manufacturing Com
pany, to manufacture iron and steel.
The Keystone Manufacturing and Supply
Company, of this city, has also been char
tered for the purpose of engaging in the
manufacture of iron, steel and other metals.
McVay q Walker, of Braddock, have
commenced the erection of u new foundry
adjoining their present plant that will be
90x45 in dimensions and employ about 60
men. This firm at present turns out nearly
all the foundry work for the Edgar Thom-
son works.
The Transparent Wire Roofing Company,
the Ellwood Shafting Tube Company, the
Ellwood Manufacturing Company and the
Ellwood Enamel Company are all new in
dustries that intend locating in the promis-
ing new town of Ellwood, Beaver county.
The Boston Iron and Steel Company,
branch of the National Tube Works, Of
McKeesport, is rapidly pushing to comple-
tion their new rolling mills, near McKees-
port, whereia great part of the machinery
of the old Alikana mill. located near Steu-
benville, will be placed.
1t is rumored that tract of 50 acres,
located at Hays station, p, V. & C. r. r.,
has been purchased by a Pittsburg company
with capital stock of $3.50, 900. The mill
will have 20 pudding furnaces, 12-inch
train of rolls and will probably employ be-
tween 400 and 800 men. Mr.. George Carter,
at present manager Of the Sligo mills. this
city, is spoken of as the possible manager.
The plant is expected to be in operation
next TALL.
Improvements and Additions.
Work on the new sheet mill OF the W.
Daveea Wood Combany McKeeguork in