Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-01

the volume Of business done IN 1881
compared with the previous year.
Judge that our gross output iass year
was about 10 per cent. less than In 1870
probably about 10000 kegs OF paiis less.
There has been a steady decline In the
nail business for several years past, ana
/ cannot say that the prospects ior the
immediate future are particularly
bright-they are decidedly mixed. sew
eral lines OF iron and steel manufacture
have been looking up during the pas.
three or four weeks and the condition OF
trade is somewhat healthier, but In re-
gard TO nails the condition is unchanged.
During the mast year nails nave
dropped to the lowest price ~
the history of the business. DIV
usted as we are the South is our
natural market, but we cannot success
fully compete with Southern nail manu-
facturers in their own field, nor can we
compete with them and operate our
plant profitably in the Western and
Northwestern markets. The reason Tor
this was outlined in the REGISTER this
morning. 1t is due to Discrimination
in freight charges in favor OF the South
ern iron centers."
THE BENwooD MILL.
Major Alonzo Loring, President OF
the Benwood Iron Works, said:
1.-THE coke strike In the early part OF
the year lasting six months caused our
furnace to be Idle during that period,
but it has been in operation ever since.
We have not attempted to turn out
many nails during the depression In
the market. During the year the price
of nails reached the lowest point in the
history Of the trade. We have put an
entire new skelp mill in our Benwood
plant and made other extensive improve
ments, The new mill was not finished
In time to place 1t in operation this
wear, but we expect to do considerable
business in that line In 1872. All the
facts collectively are responsible for the
small volume Of business done by the
Benwood Iron Works during the past
wear. During the past few weeks some
departments of the iron trade have
been looking up, and / expect decided
Improvement in the new year."
THE CRESCENT MILL.
Mr.. Whitaker, of the Whitaker Iron
Works, said:
"The price of both raw material and
finished product during the past year
has been lower than for a number OF
wears past, and while the volume OF
business done by the Whitaker mill
was equal to that OF the preceding year,
the aggregate receipts were not so large.
Whether or not it was remuneratlve
wear we are as yet unable to say. Our
mill has been In operation continuously
with the exception of occasional idle
ness in some departments, caused by
break-downs. On the whole, the year
has been fairly satisfactory, and l look
for an Improvement during the year OF
49,"
THE RIVERSIDE.
Mr.. Vance, of the Riverside Compa-
nv, was seen, but declined TO say any
thing. This company has operated most
of its departments continuously during
the past year, and the volume OF output
was probably greater than ever before.
The nail factory, owing to the dizziness
in the trade. has been running only a
short time. The tube works has been
making a splendid record, and the bust
ness so increased that it was found nee
essary to build large addition to the
Benwood plant, giving employment to O
great many persons. The steel plant,
in Benwood, has also made very salts
factory record, and the blast furnaces
have been in operation most OF the time.
Work is now in progress upon large
addition to the skelp mill in Benwood,
and the building will be pushed to COM
pletion as rapidly as possible. The year
has been apparently a very prosperous
one for the Riverside Company, as we'll
as its employees.
THE STANDARD.
The Standard mill is running in all
departments, and trade is good with
great prospects ahead. This company
Is getting ready to commence theerec
ton of an extensive addition to their
plant, and when completed this mill
will be one of the largest OF its kind In
this country. The growth OF the Stand
ard mill from the small mill it was TO its
present size, and the proposed increase
to double its present capacity, shows
the success Of its operators. They will
not shut down to take stock.
THE LAUGHLIN.
At the Laughlin mill every depart
ment has been running steady for the
past six months but will close down to
make necessary repairs and to take
stock. The trade has been good right
along with the company and they report
prospects as very fair.
THE BENwooD FURNACE.
The Benwnod Furnace has been run
ming steadily with the exception OF
few stops on account Of accidents.
They look for better trade this COM
ing year than they have had in the past.
THE TRADE IN IRON.