The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-24

Rv'ands Iron 7rddt Cre,t,Gr london. Sept D.
Tho iron trade is now We hope at its
worst, but the recent failures in the
textile trades OF Lancashire, which will
affect the engineering departments,
must add a considerable amount OF
anxiety to the position. Tho stoppaEe
Of large works employing thousands OF
hands means falling off in tho de-
mand for machinery aud consequently
oiiron and steel. As regards the iron
trade tho failures and closing OF works
which have taken place the last twelve
months have reduced the supply to
nearly what the demand is, and further
trouble in this branch is not looked for.
Improvement in demand, however,
seems far distant. The late failure in
the Australian trade has caused q
further want OF confidence and has
added to the dullness which prevails.
On the London market rumors OF
more than ono impending failure are
current, and altogether tho position
points to period OF tension in COM
mercial circles which can not but affect
the iron and steel trades. The week
has brought forth nothing new. Iron
and steel are fairly steady in price OH n
production which is Is per cent. below
that OF last year. This We can not help;
we can not 20 on from year to year in
creasing our production, and so the
time has come when We must fall back
again to moderation. We should say
that at the present time the supply Is
about equal to the demaud, but the de-
mand is not sufficient to create any ad-
vance in prices. In steel there is no
Improvement in demand; the ship
building industry is becoming more par:
alyzed, and consequently the prices OF
shipbuilding steel have lately become
shaded from time to time. We have
nothing further to note except that
black sheets are firm, whilst galvanized
corrugated are rather weaker.
The new Ebbw Vale board OF direct
ors have decided to put their house in
order, and with a view to athorough
reorganization have given notices to
the heads OF every department from
the general manager downwards to ter
inmate engagements. There is great
CONSERVATION, therefore, at Ebbw Vale,
but the determination is in the right
direction, and we hope that this con-
Germ, which for many years has not
produced a shilling OF profit for its
shareholders, will become dividend
paying institution and not simply a
Competitor in knocking down prices
below their proper level. 1t is hard
for the new management at such a
time that the whole Of the mechanics
in the engineering department OF the
company have struck work for an adj
vance in wages, but such is the case.
The iron and steel workers OF South
Wales and Monmouthshire have also
terminated the sliding scale for the
regulation OF wages with the object OF
getting the standard raised. The boiler
makers and engine drivers working for
the Blaenavon Iron and Steel Com
pany have also come out on strike oy-
ing to the company refusing their de-
mand for an advance in wages.
Troubles in South Wales are there
fore serious. It is not only in connec-
ton with the steel trade. but the tin plate
trade seems going from bad 10 WorSs. There
are now 10000 tin plate hands idle, fif-
teen works have stopped, sixty mills are
at standstill, and large numbers OF OPP
eratives are now on their way to the
United States to join the works which
are being established there by Welsh
manufacturers.