Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-06-27
I'm PLATE HISTORY.
THE DIVERSIFIED USES TO WHICH
1T IS APPLIED.

Industry-what Tin Plato Is and How
II Is Manufactured.
Tin plates since the tariff discussion
concerning them have become an item
Of public interest. There seems to be a
surprising ignorance on the part of the
people concerning their manufacture,
the diversified uses to which they are
applied, as we'll as to the qualities which
make them important in the economy of
living.
Briefly stated, tin plates are iron or
steel sheets cut to a convenient size
plated with tin; in other words, iron or
steel plates painted ON both sides with a
tin coating.
Ninety per cent. of all the tin plates
consumed in the world are made in
Wales. For ITO years that little coun-
try has defied all competition in their
manufacture. Added to a thorough
knowledge Of the practical features of
the trade, the Welsh manufacturers have
proved great inventors in bringing into
use labor saving and material saving
machinery.
AS iron and tin constitute the entire
bulk Of and 90 per cent. of the entire
cost Of tin plates, their price and fluctu-
alton are the history of the tin produc-
ton of the world and the sheet steel in
dustry. Owing to the scarcity of tin,
prices advanced from. 1854, when it was
EST per ton, to e159 in 1892. There was
nearly as marked an advance in iron
during the same period. This sent the
price of tin plates up to 26s. per box. In
1873 tin reached the exceedingly low
price Of G52 los. per ton. Iron reached
correspondingly low price, Philadel-
phia pig being quoted i'll 1875 at $18.50,
as against $53 in 1872. The cheapness
of these ingredients lowered the price of
tin plates to 12s. II Sd. Since that date
the decline In plates has been in strict
keeping with the price of iron and tin
down to June, 1890, when speculation
incident to the Mckinley tariff on tin
plates set in.
The cheapness of tin plates, together
with their durability for certain uses,
and their adsptability as wrappers for
Theoretically sealed canned food has
greatly stimulated their importation. In
1850 the importation was only SOC, 200
boxes; now 1t has reached over 5000, 900
boxes. Our natural increase In con-
sumption Of plates since 1887 amounts
to 800, 900 boxes each year. This increase
Ia directly traceable to the development
Of the canning industry, which now con-
sumes more than $500, 900 boxes yearly
These cans or wrappers for canned
produce are made up with large per-
centage Of tin for soldering, as the SOL
der needs to be strong and noncorrosive.
From 10, 600 to $4,000 tons of pig tin are
required for this purpose annually.
The canning industry would never
have developed to its present status had
it not had the advantage of cheap tin
plates. Glass was found to be too ex-
pensive and the matter of Its breakage
too extensive to prove economical as
wrapper for food product. Tin cans
were found to be as wholesome as glass,
proof against breakage and less than
one-third the cost of the glass jars.
Under the stimulus of these cheap
wrappers made from tin plates the can
ming industry has made wonderful de-
velopment, and being direct evolution
Of agriculture has stimulated class of
intensive farming In the older settled
portions Of the country which has not
only rescued farmers from an actual
retrogression, but has made their farms
remunerative. One million acres of land
are now under exclusive cultivation for
these canneries. AS q farmer on an
average devotes from eight to ten acres
of his farm to this class of culture, it Is
shown that 100000 farmers, or 900, 900
people, are interested in the cultivation,
growing and picking Of these fruits and
vegetables which these can wrappers
convey to the consumers of the country.
1t was under these encouraging con-
ditions of the canning industry, and the
advantages thus created by home
market for the farmers produce, that the
supposed prohibitive duty of 1900 on tin
plates was inflicted.
Put forth as q protection pure and
simple to few sheet roofing men in
order to drive out competing article,
blAo law utIcIly lBuOTeu tne canning
industry, which, unable to substitute
galvanized iron or sheet steel for tin
plates In Its manufacture of Theoretically
sealed food products, hence had no alter
native but to pay the enhanced price or
go put Of the business.
Reports from all sections of the coun-
try indicate clearly the effects Of this ar
hitrary interference on the part of the
government with an established indus
try. Letters received from over 100
concerns, both Gamers and manufaotur-
ers Of tinware, and Of all political
shades, and scattered from Maine to
California, set forth In most emphatic
terms the injury of the increased duty
on tin plates to their business.
The policy of spoliation, however, has
been perfectly vindicated. The sheet
iron mills have been able to advance the
prices of their products according to pro.
gramme, and American consumers Of
tin plates have been taxed $21 ,000, 900 to
create an industry which up TO date has
supplied us with less than twenty-five