The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-26
Mr.. LANSING'S LETTER.
He Writes Of the Welsh Tin
Plate Sheet Workers.
COMPARE 'EM WITH HOMESTEAD.
Tho Demand for the Iron Sheets OF
which Tin Plate is Made is Failing
Ofr-work Wages and Expenses


Tidvil is both long and somewhat
tedious. The country all along is very
fine, with acres upon acres of cultivated
land. Numerous large wheels sus-
pended in mid-air appearing from time to
time, sometimes in clusters, and again
scattered, inform us we are approach
ing again the land of coal. Kiddermin-
ster and Hereford are passed in quick
succession, and, after numerous changes
of cars, we cross the boundary line and
realize we are in Wales. Wales is a
wonderful country. Unfortunately, we
have only an opportunity of viewing
South Wales, and thus miss Holyhead,
and, in fact, many beautiful places along
the north coast as well as inland.
Let us be satisfied, however. with the
South, which is surely the most busy
and active. From the boundary Of
w ales to the town of Merthyr, which
is far down in the south, one sees vast
amount of rugged scenery, between
mountains, through long tunnels, here q
little village perched upon hill with
adjacent coal mine, and there deep in
the valley. As we cross long suspension
bridge we witness singular sight.
From the bridge, as we quickly pass,
one can see miles in either direction. large
and lofty chimneys starting seemingly
from the mountains themselves with
volumes of smoke issuing proclaiming
life, and around them little clusters of
dwellings with the peculiar red twisted
tile roofs and whitewashed sides.
This portion of our journey is too
quickly finished, and changing once
more, we in few moments, reach one
of the worst of mean looking and unin-
viting towns, have ever visited. AS |
left the depot and started in search of
the hotel, fancy leads me TO think /
must have looked uncommonly forlorn
but with an additional determination to
finish business and retire at the earliest
possible moment.
Now for a few words regarding
Merthyr. The population is about TO-
600, most of whom are allied in some
way with the iron industry. The streets
are narrow, dwelling houses, stores and
public buildings on an inferior scale,
and with few of the advantages town
of this population should enjoy. Again,
both day and night, on the streets, one
sees streams OF miners with oil can and
lantern, black as pitch, passing to and
fro.
In conjunction with this, il might be
said, that the majority, at least a large
number, seem to enjoy this dirt and
CRIME for upon visit to some of the
homes in the neighborhood, found
them just the same. Perhaps this ex-
hausted dont-care spirit which natur-
ally grows upon them, is one of the
principal reasons of their condition to-
day as shall describe it. A great curse
In Merthyr is drink. / passed house
after house, looked in many more with
four, three and even two rooms, where
Eve or six people would eat and sleep,
while above them on promontory over
looking all, in beautiful home with ex- |
tensive grounds, lives the brewer who |
supplies these people.
Before giving information regarding |
condition, etc., let me explain moment |
the occupation and industry. Coal is
abundant, easily mined, and naturally
In consequence cheap. Probably for
this reason are the iron and steel works |
located especially at Merthyr. There is
also good supply of ironstone, although |
! am informed large percentage is now
brought from Spain. either because a
little cheaper or possibly because a
trife better quality. Here from the
crude mineral, the blocks from which |
tin-plate (the great new American in |
dustry) is made, are first prepared. Per- |
haps it would be as well to take YOU
with me through the "Denlais Iron and |
Steel Works, and give wages as we pro-
ceed. There are very few, if any. larger
combined iron and steel works than these.
They run night and day, except Sunday,
all the year round, and employ constant
ly between 5000 and 5000 men. Start
ing with the blast furnace, which re-
quires very skillful men, as everything
must be regulated to such a standard
that there will be no imperfections, they
receive, the very best, after years of
labor, an average from GO to f3, or $9.6
to $14.52. Those in the same line who
have not had as much experience receive
from 30s. to GO, or $7.20 to $9.6s per
week, Including Sunday. This is very
laborious employment, and requires
amount of dexterity. From
these furnaces through trough TO
car, containing a cylindrical
tub, runs the molten metal in stream.
An engine attached conveys it to an
other large building. Here it is agaiu
through a series of troughs to
. large "vessel" shaped similar to a
or mortar.
In the bottom of this mortar or
vessel" are pipes made from clay OBJ
tanned on The grounds (and it may be
said they also make their brick) about |
II or 2 feet long and 4 or inches in
diameter, with holes running through |
them lengthwise. Through these holes, |
after the metal has run from the trough |
into the vessel until il contains eleven |
tons, is given the blast of air which is sup |
posed TO be the all-important thing in |
obtaining the desired quality of metal. |
AS the air passes through the vessel |
automatically turns until the opening is |
nearly perpendicular, when streams of |
sparks gush out, so that i'm the evening |
one can see them for miles. Automatic. |
ally returning to its former position the |
workmen turn il still more, until the |
fluid, for such IL now is, runs into |
another vessel, which can be easily
turned In q circle. where are oblonR