The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-05-21
Report on the lin Plate Industry.

It IS hardly worth While to interrupt the
larceny
Report on the lin Plate Industry.
dispatch from Washington saws
nat W. y. Aver. Il special agent OF the
treasury department, has submitted to
Secretary Foster an exhaustive report
on the tin plate business ofthe country,
the manufacture of tin plate and the
growth fthe industry. Mr. Ayers re-
port makes the following showing:
Quarter ended September 30. 1891, five
manufacturers reported: Fin plates 152-
tN9 pounds; ;erne plates, G7i, ,i;;ii;} pounds:
total. A2i,922 pounds.
Quarter ended December 81, eleven man
utactnrrrS reported: I'm plates. 2i5.alI
pnuItua; tcrur plates. !, i,lG&,9lD pounds:
total, HAS pounds.
Quarter cEdrd March ii. lS9o. nineteen
manufacturers reported: Tn plates, i.o99.
t''ti !ioaniS: rcTnr plates, 1894, ,i3I pounds;
total, :, ,0GI pounds.
These figures do not include the pro-
iuction Of sheet iron or sheet steel used
III the manufacture of articles timed or
tcrne-plated, estimated at 1000, 900
pounds.
MIR. ayers report shows that the aver
age annual imports of tia and terne
plates for the three years ended June
50, 1890, was 61S, ,GO0, 600 pounds In the
year ended June SO, 1891, the imports
amounted 10 ,05S, ,C03. 900 pounds. This
increase of $50, eco, 900 pounds he saws
was due to larger importations to avoid
the new duty OF > 2-l0 cents pound
imposed by the Mckinley law. Mr..
Aver says that if the poriations for
the current year are made to meet only
the actual wants of the country, they
will not exceed 300, ,Oo0, 600 pounds tp
70, ~ 81, 1
only 10 la 900, 900 pounds. The guam
tty of tin plates imported in the
year ended June 81, 1891, which
went into the manufacture Of ex-
ported articles, and upon which a
dra Hback was paid, was 100000. 900
pounds. The year before it was l30,-
uOo,@D pounds, and the year before
that was Uj0G0,0O0 pounds. pou this
basis Mr.. Aver tigures that the Ameri-
can manufacturer, III order to maintain
tie duty on tin plates after October |,
lNHI, must produce III one OF the SIX
years ending at that date, $4,000, 900
pounds of tin and terne plates weighing
lighter than IS pounds to the square
foot Mr.. Aver says the indications
are tha: under existing conditions the
production of the country hefole the
close Of the second fiscal year will be
in excess Of an annual rate of 200 ,UpO,-
$50 pounds.
Accompanying the reports are many
letters from manufacturers giving de-
scriptIons Of their plants and prospects
and generally expressing Il hope that
the law will be permitted to remain un-
changed.
In connection with the foregoing re-
port of Mr.. Aver it will be interesting
to note the fact that one of the largest
Welsh tin plate manufacturers, W. ii.
Edwards, has decided to close his tin
house, or finishing department, mt Car
dit, and To begin at once the erection
of ten mills i'll this country. These
mills will he followed 10y Others as fast
rs the business NAV require. Mr.. Ed
wards will import his black steel plates
from his factory at Swansea for the
present Eventually he intends to re-
move his entire interests here.
The location of the mills has not yet
been decided upon. Mr.. Edwards will
arrive here by the Teutonic about sat
uriav, and, after consulting with his
| manager. will choose Il site for the
works. Mr.. Edwards is connected with
three tin plate firms in Wales, repre-
1entins an invested capital Of 81 80, 900,
W lich VIII undoubtedly soon be divert
eei toward this country in whole or In
part. His fathers firm, that of y. +.
Edwards 4 Co, was selected by the
| British Association at the time OF their
last visit to Wales as the representative
house in the trade. Daniel Edwards
was the first man to employ steel III the
manufacture OF plates. Before that time
iron was used. lie has always been one
OF the chief exporters III the trade.