Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-19
BLACK PLATE SCARCE.
One Branch of'the Tin Plate Business
That Was Sadly Neglected.
MANUFACTURERS OVERSANGUINE.
James B. Scott Thinks the Welsh Intend
to Undersell Americans.
NOT ENOUGH MILLS FOR THE DEMAND

James B. Scott and his wife went to Phil
adelphia last evening to attend the funeral
of friend. Tomorrow evening he expects
| to be in Johnstown, when he will make ar
| rangements to dedicate the new hospital.
| He says the event will take place
inside OF two weeks, and he
wants the food correspondents
to be present Just now Mr. Scott is very
much interested in tin plate. His accounts
of the new industry are not so glowing as
some of the stories told by the manufact-
urers He charges the latter with being
over-sanguine and neglecting important
features of the business.
''Tin plate, p" he said last evening, "is the
weakest article in the tariff schedule. The
increase in duty was passed with one vote
to spare. 1t shows that even Republicans
were dubious about the industry. Now
the Democrats have taken to tinkering with
the tariff, but what they hope to accomplish
I can't see, with Republican Senate and
President to act on their bills. The attack
on tin plate, however, will not help the
business. The cry is always raised that it
is the poor mans necessity, and prices will
be increased.
ALack of Black Plate In America.
"Just what 1 predicted six months ago
has occurred. We haven't the black plate
in America, and we can't get it here in
sufficient quantities to make tin plate. This
feature of the business has. been overlooked,
and until mills are established to roll the
plates the industry will continue to be at
the mercy of foreign manufacturers. point
ed out some time ago to the timed plate men
that black plate would be needed before tin
plate could be made. 1 am a protectionist
and prefer to patronize Americans, but by
paying the duty of 165 cents per pound on
black plate, l can still buy this material
cheaper in Eng gland than in theU UnitedStates.
If competitors purchase there, business
policy would compel me to do the same.
sI don't think there is any
danger of the price of tin plate
advancing The Welsh manufacturers have
been lying low since the tariff went into
effect, and their conduct bodies no good for
us. My opinion is that they are getting
ready to cut the wages of their men, and
when the Americans think they are ready
to produce tin plate on an extensive scale,
the Welsh makers will make grand and
undl euOTb 10 uuueTscll tlltul III LuclI OWu
market.
Timed Plate Very Shaky Article.
"It wouldn't take more than turn of the
hand, from present indications, to elect a
free trade President. So that the business
is not only menaced from abroad, but the
tariff is liable to be knocked off at any
time. There is no use saying that tin plate
can't be made here. The Americans can
make anything under fair conditions. I
think the critical period of the tin plate
industry is fast approaching"
W. F. Cronemyer, of McKeesport, was
on the same train going east. When asked
what he thought of Mr.. Scott's views he
said the United States Tin Plate Company
was making its black plate and supplying
several other companies, one of them being
located in Cleveland. "The fact is" con-
tinued Mr.. Cronemyer, eve haven't
mills enough in this country to
supply the present demand for black plate.
The business has developed rapidly, bat the
black plate men have not kept up with the
pace. If the people will have little
patience and give us time, all these defects
will be remedied. The tin plate industry
has come to stay, and don't think there is
sny danger of the tariff being lowered.