Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-02
LIKELY TO UNITE.
PROBABLE FORMATION OF A SECOND CON-
BINS OF TABLEWARE FACTORIES
An Irgrart Meeting Held Yesterday Aheynooa at
Hotel Windsor IN This Gy-A Secret
SsSsila-Nl Conclusions Reached.

The presence OF SeFerat Well-khOWn
glass men jn the city yesterday, repre-
senting quite a number OF prominent
glass centers, naturally attracted some
attention and excited inquiries as to
what new project was on the tapis. II
was not long, however, before it was
learned that another glass combine was
IN the air.
According to the Pi.tsburg Dispatch
of Yesterday the success OF the United
states Glass Company has been so graft
fviDg that q second combination among
the tableware men not in the syndicate
is 10 be formed At present about sew
euteen firms are members Of the United
States Company, and fully that number
are or the outside iu the cold. The
managers OF the United States Com
pauy have decided to admit no more
FIRMS until their business is SyStematiZed
aud the factories are put on an easy
running basis. So far as could be
learned, it is not the intention of the
new combination to fight its rival, and
10 is possible that I'm time they may be
united.
Several days ago a secret circular was
issued by a committee of manufacturers
interested In the scheme, calling a meet
ing az the Windsor Hotel, in this city,
for yesterday afternoon at o'clock.
Favorable replies had been received
from q number of the companies, and
&, was expected there would be a large
attendance. But Of the seventeen
firms proposed not all were represented,
Is in some instances business engage
mentS would not permit The time of
meeting was so arranged that repreSen-
tativeS from Out of town slipped in on
the train Just about iu time 90 make
bee line for the hotel and take
en- the meeting. AS the members gath
cred at the hotel, there was very
little lettering or grouping about the
rOtuuda, nearly all going directly TO the
place Of meeting, which was in one of
the large apartments on the second
floor. The following were the seven
teen firms that were expected TO be
represented at the meeting:-
Among the firms answering favorably
were the Buckeye Glass Company, Mar
tins Ferry; Cooperative Flint Glass
Company, Cumberland Glass Company,
Canton Glass Company, DalzeN, Gilmore
d Leighton, FOstOria; ElsOn Glass Com
pany, Martins Ferry; FOstOria Glass
Company, MOundsvile; FOstOris Shade
and Lamp Company, GreenSburg Glass
Company, Gilliuder Sons, Model Flint
Glass Company, Northwood Glass Com
pany, Of Martins Ferry; Pittsburg Glass
Company, Riverside Glass Company, OF
Wellsburg; WeStmoreland Specially
Glass Company, Zimmerman Glass Com
pany, Brice, Higbee & Co., and the Ro-
chester Tumbler Company.
Some doubt is expressed about the
last company, as so far they have
steadily refused to Join any kind OF
combination, preierring TO paddle their
own canoe. People familiar with the
glass business will see at a glance, how
ever, that most of the concerns not in
the United States Company are men
toned in the above list, and intend to
Join the combination, IL one can be
formed amicably. Wheeling was Sc
lected as the meeting place 70 avoid as
much publicity as possible.
The meeting was called at four o'clock
and was In session about an hour and a
half. The proceedings were all kept
Quiet, as none of the members when ap-
preached az the close Of the meeting,
would say anything about the meeting
or their proposed plans. In answer 10
the question as 20 how many were pres
eut one member said, LESS than fifty"
and from all that could be learned there
was considerably less. Still it is be-
Iieved there was "a sufficient number
present to form q nucleus Of the pro-
iect, and plans for the combine, IL IS
understood, were pretty we'll fOrmu-
lated, although far from the full
extent contemplated owing 10
the limited time. They adjourned
meet at another date, but the time fixed
was not divulged.
One OF the gentlemen interested said
yesterday that they had no intention OF
fighting the United States Company.
On the contrary, their object was to
harmonic existing differences. In the
past prices OF tableware have been cut
TO ruinous extent. A. times agents
were ashamed 20 visit jObhers, and when
asked for the rates on certain lines in
variably replied that they hadn't heard
the latest quotation. The capital In
vested I'm the new combination will be
large. The business this season has
been good, and the United States Com
Dany has gObbled its share, II not more.
Another OF the members was OF the
opinion that the new combination VIII
be Of considerable benefit TO Wheeling,
as likely it will, il the headquarters are
established here as now contemplated,
much the same as the main Office OF the
United Glass Co. Is now at Pittsburg,
The prosperity OF the United Glass Co.,
al present, would seem 20 be owing, in
a measure, 20 cutting down OF expenses
by reason Of the consolidation, and thus
being able to furnish products AZ
figure which could not be touched by
sny individual factory. The single
handed factories cannot reasonably be
expected 10 compete with the combine,
and it is this now being aimed
AZ bv the new combine. They feel they
have been going 10 alone long enough,
longer than the present progressive
spirit tending 70 consolidation Will allow.
The aggregate expense Of running the
several individual factories is very
large. while the proposed combine will
cut down the outlay very materially,
esDeciallv from managerial standpoint.
Just who would bs selected Tor the mead
NJ the main Office is at present only con-
iectured, but IL is thought likely TO be
"A Wheeling man.
The glass aud crOckery jobbers viii
meet i'm convention at the MonOngahela
House in Pittsburg to-day. A few
merchants have been on hand for sew
eral DAYS. The makers aud agents are
little anxious TO find out what the JOB
49, intend 10 do. Ii is anticipated