Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-08-18
TIN PLATE.
Steady Increase In Home Production In
Face of Obstruction.

STEADY Increase IN nome PRODUCTION IN
Face of Obstruction.
From Speech of Senator Aldrichl
'No portion of the act of 1890 received
such severe criticism when the measure
was under discussion In Congress as the
provision which levied 2 cents pound
duty upon importations of tin and terne
plates; and the debate in regard to the
wisdom of this feature of the act contin-
ues with undated vigor. The men who
were active in presenting the case in be-
half Of the tin-plate industry to the COM
mittees of congress and who have been
the pioneers in its establishment, have
been subjected to undeserved utilization
and abuse. 1t would appear that in the
eyes Of tariff refOrmer to suggt st the
establishment of a new industry in the
United States is misdemeanor and to
achieve even partial success in such an
enterprise is crime for which no punish
ment Is too severe. None of the pioneers
| have alluded to were rich men but they
were ardent, enthusiastic and certainly
deserve credit from the American people
for their energy and persistence. While
the bill was under discussion the princi-
pal objection urged against the imposi-
ton of the duty was that the industry
could never be established here. 1t was
said that the people of Wales had at
tanned such degree of skill and expert
ence that it was useless to think of COM
peting with them in production of
which they were the complete masters.
1t was further urged that even if the
necessary skill could be secured that the
processes by which tin plates were made
we're so unhealthy and degrading that
American workingmen never would en-
| gage in them. These cries of the oppo-
sition have been abandoned and from
time to time new objections, each one
more trivial and absurd than their pred
ecessors, have been discovered by the
political or business opponents of the
tin-plate duties.
Notwithstanding all the clamor and
plain, downright lying that has been in
dulged in by the men who are putting
every obstacle in the way of success ia
the establishment of this great industry
of the United States, the work of build
ing it up had gone steadily forward.
The number of pounds of tin and terne
plate manufactured in each of the quar-
tiers of the fiscal year which closed June
30, 1892, was as follows: Quarter ending
September 80, 1891, S26,922 pounds
December 30, 1891, ,409,S2l; March 81,
1892, 3,0O4, OS7; June 80, 1892, 1925, SOL.
or the S,225, SOL pounds produced in the
last quarter over 100000 pounds were
made from black plates produced in the
United States. The competent special
agent of the Treasury department who
has in charge the collection of statistics
in regard to tin-plates estimates that the
production for the current year will be
at least lO0,O00,000 pounds and that by
the close of the year the production will
be at the annual rate of 200, 1000, 900
pounds.
The special agent has also prepared
for me list of the twenty-six firms and
corporations who have produced tin or
terne plates in the last quarter, with the
amount produced by each. Seven of the
names appear in the list of producers for
the first time, and Mr.. Aver reports that
some eight or ten additional firms ex-
pect to begin the manufacture within
the present quarter. Many of the names
included in the list represent the strong
est firms in the country, several of
whom were among the most ardent OPP
ponents of the imposition of the addi-
! tional duties.
1 When the act of 1890 was before the
senate L expressed great confidence that
considerable portion of the tin-plate
consumed in the United States would be
of American production. 1 have no
reason whatever to change the views
then expressed. Everything that has
happened since confirms their correct
ness. The tin-plate industry of the
United States is now an accomplished
fact. But one thing is necessary for its
triumphant success and that is the main
| 0f dy1ti
exports from Great Britain to the
United States for the last four years
have been as follows in gross tons: 1889,
80 l, 673 tons 1890, 296, 21S 7; 1891, 442 ,306;
1895, 203. 94l; the exports of the last
twelve months being 23S,365 tons less
than for the previous year, 92,277 tons
less than in 1890, and 127,732 tons less
than in 1889. OF this amount, however,
it should be understood that probably
about 150, 900, 900 pounds, or about 67,-
600 tons are used in the manufacture of
cans for export. On these expectations
a drawback is paid to the exporter, prac-
tically equal to the full amount of the
duties. AS long as anything like the
present difference in the cost Of produc-
ton exists between the United States
and Wales the American producers can
not hope to compete for this trade. So
,, that the portion of the market which the
American producer can have any eXpec-
tations of securing will be represented
this year by an importation Of 10000
tons. Unless we should have reversal
: of the policy of the United States grow
ing out of the elections next November
it is entirely safe to predict that, within
two years from this time, very much the
larger part Of this amount will be pro
! duced in the United States by American
labor.
EIGHTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL.