Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-05
THE SCALE DECLARED OFF.

Plate Glass Manufacturers Agree to DIS
arree-Prices Have Fallen-Not Afraid
of Tariff Tinkering-FirmsJ Jealous OF
Each Other. {.
About q month ago the plate glass manu-
| facturers of the United States met in Pitts
burg for the purpose of agreeing on plan
to limit production. All admitted that
prices had been ruinously cut the market
had been overstocked, and business was
bad. A committee was appointed con-
sisting of a representative from each
factory to determine the sacrifice that the
makers individually should stand. The
time fixed for the partial shutdown was
January l. t.-s
Now 1t is Learned from good authority
that the manufacturers couldn't agree and
all negotiat tions are of The difficulty was
that each was Jealous of lrts own and afraid
the other fellow would get the best of the
deal. One manufacturer stated yesterday
that he supposed they would continue TO
flood the market as In the past, and it would
be the survival OF the fttest. The weakest
factories will go to the WALL
1t appears that the capacity of the coun-
try is not equal to the production OF plate
glass The time was when j. B. Ford q Co.,
OF this city, were the magnates i'll the busi-
ness. For years their profits were large and
they branched out extensively, building
several new factories, the one at Ford City
being the latest and most modern. The De
Pauws, in Indiana, were their. principal
competitors. With the discovery OF natural
gas the plate, with other glass industries
commenced to boom at lively rate in the
Pittsburg district. Then strips of gas terri
tory were discovered in Indiana, and the
Crystal City. Kokomo, and other plate glass
plants were built. Then came in
rapid succession the big Chaileroi plant
nd ha aot IN
the Howard and Butler factories had been
erected. The production increased so rap
idly that the consumption could not keep
pace with it, The total output OF the coun-
the importations are 100000 yearly. The
imports, however, are beng rapidly re-
duced, without much assistance from the
tariff, and it is cred1table to the Yankee
manufacturers. The price of plate glass, as
everybody knows, has dropped from the
fancy figures of a few years ago to reason
BILE rate, almost within the limit of the poor
mans reach. II the reduction i'll price con-
tinues it will soon be as cheap as window
glass, but such an event Is not possible in
the natural order of things.
The deliberations of the manufacturers Mt
the Pittsburg meeting were suppressed, but
they were in session two days and earnestly
conferred about the plethoric con dftiof OF
the trade. 1t is claimed that the production
is 200 pots ahead OF the consumption. The
problem was to shut down that number and
apportion them between the man ufactories
according to their capacity. Thus, sif a
plant had so pots in operation, one was to be
stopped: ii there ere 100, then two should
be closed. This seemed fair enough,
but it appears some OF the smaller
manufacturers wanted to be rated a
good deal higher than they were. Ono fac
tory, for Instance, had 20 pots, bur its ma
chinery was built to handle the output of Sc.
The owners wanted to be reckoned in the
deal as having TO pots, or they wouldn't
play. The others would not agree 10 this
arrangement, and it can easily be seen why
nothing was accomplished. Some of the
manufacturers have not yet given up, and
they hope to see the shutdown go into effect
January ], rs originally intended. ~
Another thing that worries the plate glass
men is q possible reduction OF the tariff 1t
will be seen, therefore, that others besides
the tin plaIe makers are apprehcnsive on
this score. Certainly the success of the
Democrats hasn't contributed. one iota to
make the manufacturers feel com ortable.
The duty on plate glass has remained the
same Tor nearly 80 years. The man.
ufacturers told Major Mckinley that
they could get along with what
protection they had. One of the
plate glass men remarked the other day
that he was not afraid of Democratic tariff
tinkering. If necessary he is willing to APP
pear before the Ways and Means Committee
ana explain the condition OF their business.
Removing the tariff on pate glass would not
he'll D the poor man, and he is the one Grover
Cleveland and his followers have promised
to relieve. For this reason he is content to
believe that the duty on plate glass will not
be disturbed.