The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-22


Let us look at the facts. Tho official re-
port of Special Agent Aver. of the treas
ury department. for the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1892, shows that the new indus
try has taken root and fourished to such
an extent that in the first twelve months
after the new law took effect there were
produced in the United States 1856. 719
pounds of tin and terne plates, and moro
than 4, 800. 900 pounds of American sheet
iron or steel were made into articles and
wares tin or terne coated. As the latter
manufactures constitute tin and terne
plate within the meaning Of the law. it
now seems probable that when full re-
turns of the same are received the total
production for the year, inclusive OF such
manufactures, will not fall much short of
10000, 600 pounds.
Mr.. Springer tries to break the force Of
these facts by asserting that all the black
plates have to be imported, but this asser-
ton is met by the figures Of Special Agent
Ayers report which shows that of the pro-
ducsion of tin and terne plates prope. for
the year over 6S per cent. and of the total
production over 70 per cent. were made
from American black plates.
During the first quarter of the fiscal
year Eve firms were engaged in the manu-
facture Of tin and terne plates, eleven
during the second. twenty during the third
and twenty-six during the fourth. The
probability is that at least eight new
names Will be added to the list of manu-
facturers at the end of the present quarter.
The beneficial effect of the Mckinley
tariff upon tin and terne plate in the
United States In shown by the following
official figures of increase in the manu-
facture of those articles since the act went
into effect:
The production of tin and terne plates in
the quarter ended September 80, 1891, was
only 826, pounds; in the next quarter
it was 1,4O9.S2l pounds; in the quarter
ended March 81. 1892, the production
amounted to 3,2Os.225 pounds, or more
than double that of the preceding quarter,
and in the quarter ended June 80. 1892, the
production of the preceding quarter was
again more than doubled, and amounted
to 8, POI, 75l pounds.
All these figures given in MI. Ayers re-
port are based on the sworn returns of the
manufacturers for each quarter of the
year. In each case the name of the COM
pany or firm making the returns is given
in the report. al we'll as the name Of the
place where the establishment 10 situated.
The growth of the new industry under
the circumstances is phenomenal, and
Great Britain is already beginning to feel
the effect Of its establishment, as is
shown by the following figures standing
for the number of gross tons of tin plate
imported into the United States from that
country during the last four years: 1889,
331.67S tons; 1890. 296, 2is tons; 1891, 49,
sos tons; 1892. 1888 tons. The new
tariff on tin did not 60 into effect till July
/, 1892, and since then the amount of
imported tin has fallen off 23S, 366 tons.
or over one-half. A dispatch from Lon.
don published last week said: Several
Welsh tin plate manufacturers closed
their works Saturday. Sixty works are
now closed. and 10000 hands are idle.
Many sailed on Saturday to find employ.
nent IN America.
Mr.. Springer has the impudence to pre-.
tend that the people are taxed" enor-
mousiy to support this infant industry.
Let US glance at the prices. The Mckinley
tariff did not go into effect till July 1,
1891 Below 10 q list Of prices for the six
months Immediately previous to that
event: January. S.. 40 per box: February,
$5.45; March, $3.50; April, 1915; May,
$50; June, $3.50. Compare the above list
with the following, which covers the six
months succeeding the event: July, $5.35:
August, $3.50; September, $5.i5; October.
$3.50; November, $3.50; December, $3.50.
Thus, in spite of the increased tariff of
$40 per box, there was no rise in the
price. June and July prices being exactly
the same.
Where is the tax" on the American
consumer? How does the champion Dem
ocratic 'tin plate liar" explain this? Sun.
pose We had free trade, what would han
PEN? Why. the experience of Is72 would
be repeated. At that time the foreigners
had run the price Of tin up to the exor.
bisant figure of sl2 box; this high price
encouraged Americans to open tin Mate
works. Immediately these British mon
opoiists brought the price Of tin down tn
81 box, below the cost of production.
and having thus killed the industry in our
country. they again raised the price. this
time TO $40 box. Again our peopls
opened mills and again tin dropped 70 s.
q box, and oar works shut down.
This case Of 1872 shows that the for.
e'gn manufacturer will only lower prices
| il!l he has the American market and the
American people completely in his grasp:
then up goes the price OF ali articles.
Fourteen new companies were erecting
works August Is, Is 81. and early in this
month the big tin plate factory of Somers
brothers began operations in BROOKLYN.
y. y. and the projectors expect it will
| turn ont $500 boxes OF TIN plate a week.
This Tin plate factory employs l4o men.
il BIO feet long and seventy wide. The