The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1892-09-08
SOMETHING ABOUT TIN,

In0 SGs LOUIS udEuWdT0 JOuEudI,
strictly trade paper, has the follow,
ing article on American tin plates that
should be conclusive with all men who
are not blind to the truth:
$50 much is said during a political
campaign by the partisan press that 1t
Is very dIthcuiE 1Or people to know
what to believe. the present year
there will be great deal said pro and
con about the manufacture of tin
plates In America, and the eudeaVOr to
make political stock or the question
may lead TO many mIsstatemenES of the
Case.
For this reason it may be we'll to
give some facts concerning the manu-
IacLuTe Of the plates in Lnis country
and their quality in comparison TO In
ported PLACES. There may be doubt
IA The minds of some people as to
whether there are any tin plates man.
ufactured here, but we Can say from
personal observation that there are
plates manufactured IN this country
all IN considerable Quantities also.
a number Ot iTmS who have been
importing Welsh plates for Years ana
who at hrst discouraged the m&nufac-
lures of plates in this country have
not only dropped the Welsh mAnutac-
lures but are making their own Tin
plates in this country.
Several manufacturers from Wales,
recognizing the advantages of this
country. have purchaser locations here
and ale preparing TO turn out plates OF
American manufacture. This Is an
undeniable fact.
1t has been found by expeIienc that
better coated and in every Way super
iOr plates could be turned Lut here
than any that were imported, anu that
information comes from one OF the
largest importers in the country.
lC was our privilege this season to
see samples OF plates manufacI ured in
Ohio. We put some of them III the
hands Of an Old timer, OF years exper-
fence in handling plates, and he stated
that in all his experience he mad never
seen plates that would excel them in
point of even coating. or IN any parti-
cul4r. lie put them through the Sc
Verest tests and they were not found
lacking in any respect.
That Is our personal experience and
we have been TO d by JObDeIs who have
made business OF dealing in Import
ed plates Tor ears that they never saw
any liner plates than are manufactured
in this country.
A Welsh tin plate manufacturer is
authority for the statement that I'm
plates Can not only be made better IN
The United States, but the time is not
far distant when they will be made
cheaper than they have ever bteu.
After the tariff was imposed on tin
plates the Welsh manufacturers had to
nunt up some scheme TO get ahea1 Of
the Americans and keep goods OF In.
trInsic merit out of the market. SO
they started out TO manufacture light
weight plates and OF inferior Coating.
The ruse has been the means of II JUG-
ing the country with goods which are
of very inferior character and in point
of fact are dear at any pr'ce. Ii the
manufacturers expect to hold trade SO.
cured in tn & manner they will find
themselves sadly mistaken. To show
the difference in these plates. A box
of 20x28 1. G. roofing plate should
weigh 216 pounds while plates have
baen put on the market weighing from
160 to 200 pounds. And this reduction
Is the rule and not the exception.
For this reason alone if for no other
consumers should realize why Ameri-
can plates are now necessity for the
continuance of good materials and
honest weights.
In regard to the output of the plates
We would say that We know of II manu-.
featuring company in Philadelphia
who declare that on the first of Septem-
Der they will be turning out plates at
the rate of 90. .0t0 boxes year; and that
is only one concern out OF five in that
city, to say thing of the twenty two
others scattered about the country.
Another thing can be said in favor
of American tin plates. They are
manufactured under the direct super
vision of the manufacturers, who are
experts in the estimate of gu 4iity,
while the Welsh product does not 70
ceive this careful attention. A former
importer who is now large msnufac-
turer in Philadelphia says in regard to
the tariff:
THE tariff cannot be changed now,
If at all, under fifteen months, and i'll
that time American plates ALL be 80
appreciated | predict they will never
again be displaced by Welsh plates. and
inside of one year you will ind prices
much lower than at present"
In the face of all the facts it is fool
ish to assert that the manufacture of
American tin plates is failure. 1t is
an industry that has come to stay and
people will come to realize the truth
OF these statements sooner or later.
There should be no political strife over
q question which is of such Importance
to the best interests of the z merican
people.