Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-20
PUTTING OUT FIRES.
Failure of the American Glass Com
pany Shuts Down Factories.
THE CONCERN NAY BE REVIVED.
Patrick Mcbride Makes Suggestion to the
Miners and Operators.
DAILY GRIsT. FROM LABOR CIRCLES

Word was received in the city yesterday
that nearly dozen window-glass factories
in the United States have been suddenly
blown out on account of an overstocked
market and disastrously low prices.
1t is understood that the United Glass
Company has shut down oil the factories
under its control, including those at Ithica,
N. Y, Covington and Meadville, Pa, and
GAINESVILLE and Ravenna, Ohio. Other fac
tories at Syracuse, N. Y, and other places
have heen closed down and more are e1-
pected to follow. None of the local factories
have yet been closed, but the epidemic will
certainly strike this city unless an improve
ment in prices comes very soon.
The failure of the American Window
Glass Company is said to have much to do
with the closing of the factories. The con-
Germ came into existence with a rush and
was hailed with a flourish of trumpets, and
its mission, which was to restore the Grade to
its once prosperous and healthy condition,
was to be fulfilled forthwith. v
Why Hands Are Now Thrown Up.
But since its failure, caused by many
difficulties, the manufacturers are simply
throwing up their hands. The usual de-
pressed condition of the trade at this season of
the year Is made more intense by constantly
increasing competition from the outside; a
heavily over-srocked home market. and a
slackened activity in the building industry,
which, of course, decreases the demand for the
product
AS the result of so many factories shutting
down. there is likely to be an attempt to re-
vive the combination. One manufacturer in
A~I f. ~Iaxr ,arn
is no doubt that the failure of our company
had much to do with the closing of the fac
tories. Some of them closed on account OF
shortage in the gas. but those controlled by the
United Glass Company and several others were
blown out purely and wholly on account OF
present prices and the condition of the market.
IF we had been able to hold the company to-
gether. We could have prevented this. Our
object was to keep out the foreign manufac-
turers keep up prices and so regulate the
product that everybody might be busy all the
time. 1t was not a trust. as it was called, but
simply consolidated company organized for
the purpose of controlling and regulating the
trade"
No One Surprised at the News.
7. J. O'Leary. of O'Leary Brothers, said he
was not surprised to hear Of the factories shut
ting down. 1.-THE business is in such a condi-
tion now," said he. that there is absolutely
nothing in 1t. Prices are SO low that the man.
ufactnrers do not care whether they operate or
not. Unless the business picks up soon all the
factories in the country will be shut down.
am not posted as to the cause of the present
shutdown but 1 would not be surprised II it
was on account of the failure Of the American
Window Glass Company"
Another manufacturer said: II do not think
it will be long until the company will be revived.
The manufacturers must do something to pro-
tect the industry in America or it is los"
4 call was made at the Office of William
Loeffier, Secretary of the deceased combna-
tion, but he declined to say anything about the
shutdown or its causes. He had no absolute
information that the factories were blown out
but he had heard they were. Concerning the
probable revival of the company he would say
nothing. He thought the papers had had too
istence, and probably had much toward making
it an obnoxious affair to those interested in 1t.