The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-30
pIaue OATS anu cIn 14unUon ana lRTerponl
at the dates named:

Bessemer tin plate bars
per ton. 26.76 A.94 800
Tin per ton...... 1919 44467 1895
By this table it appears that while the
price of &c coke tin advanced between
September, 1890, and May, 1891, IS cents a
box, the price of Bessemer bars declined
$1.S2 per ton and the price of pig tin de-
clined STATS per ton.
With the decline which took pla - in
bars alone between September and iEMy.
other things being equal, the price of TN
plate should have declined II cents per
box Instead of this there was an ad.
vance of 65 cents per box, made possible
by the condition of affairs in America,
the American tin plate duties going into
effect July |, 1891, and the profits of the
Welsh manufacturers were increased 76
cents per box in 1891 as compared with
1890.
The price of coal also declined in this
period SO cents per ton. Wages and other
costs undoubtedly remained substantially
unchanged, as the wages paid (union prices)
in tin plate works in Wales have not
changed for fifteen years.
An equally striking exhibition is made
in the comparison between May, 1891, and
July, 1892. In this period the price of bars
further declined S1.90 per ton, and the re-
duction in box of tin plates based upon
this decline should have been i2 cents a
box. other things remaining equal. In
stead of this, the actual decline was ST. O3
per box, or a reduction in this case of the
profits of the Welsh manufacturer of 81
cents per box.
1t is evident from these statements that
the Welsh prices are put up and down in
response to existing exigences in the
United States. When the prophecies of
their allies on this side of the water in re-
gard to high prices were to be verified
prices were put up 80 cents per box in the
face of sharp decline in materials; but
when American manufacturers are to be
discouraged and, if possible, driven out of
the market on the eve of an election, the
price is put down 81 .O3 per box.
The tin plate industry of the United
States is now an accomplished fact. But
one thing is necessary for it's triumphant
success, and that is the maintenance of
the protective duties.
The exports from Great Britain to the
United States for the last four years have
been as follows, amounts stated in gross
tons:
1880. ....... 331, 673 1891. ... 44s,3O6
1890. ........... 296,218 1892. .......... 2O8,9l
The exports of the last twelve months
being $3.50 tons less than for the previ-
Gus year, 92,277 tons less than in 1890 and
1877, 752 tons less than in 1889.
Of the amount imported about $1,000
tons are made into cans which are again
exported, and drawback is paid on them
equal to the duties paid. The larger part
Of the amount used at home will be pro-
duced in the United States within two
years if the protection is maintained. If
we assume the home consumption last
year to be net 450000,000 pounds, per
cent. of it was of American production.
The following list of prices of galvanized
sheet iron. No. "a gauge, for each of the
years from 1888 to 1892, inclusive, has been
furnished me by the Mcdaniel & Harvey
company, one of the largest manufac-
turers of galvanized sheet iron in the coun-
try.
AVERAGE PRICE OF GALVANIZED SHEET