Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-05-18

mixed.
A Report on the Tin PIate Industry.
A dispatch from Washington says
| that w. A. Aver, q 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 of the industry. Mr.. Ayers re-
port makes the following showing:
Quarter ended September 80, 1891, five
manufacturers reported Tin plates. 152,-
469 pounds: ternc plates, 674, 433 pounds;
total, SIS, 922 pounds.
UfacturcrS reported: Tin plates, 2l5,9ll
pounds: terne plates, 1,1y3,91O pounds;
total, l.493,S2l pounds.
Quarter ended March 81, 1892. nineteen
manufacturers reported: TIN plates, 1,099,-
G56 pounds; terne plates, 1904, 43l pounds;
total, ), 00I,0 S7 pounds,
These figures do not include the pro-
duction Of sheet IRON or sheet steel used
in the manufacture Of articles timed or
terne-plated, estimated at 1000, 900
pounds.
Mr.. Ayers report shows that the aver
age annual imports of tia and terne
plates for the three years ended June
80, 1890, was CTS, 900, 900 pounds. Inthe
year ended June 80, 1891, the imports
amounted to ,05S, 900. 900 pounds. This
increase of $4,000, 900 pounds he says
was due to larger importations to avoid
| the new duty Of 2 2-lO cents a pound
Aver says that if the importations for
the current year are made to meet only
the actual wants Of the country, they
will not exceed 1000, 900 pounds. Up
to February %, 1892, they amounted
only to III ,O00, 900 pounds. The guam
tity 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 $780,
UO0,OOO pounds, and the year before
that was 1876, 600, 900 pounds. Upon this
| basis Mr.. Aver figures that the Ameri-
can manufacturer, in order to maintain
the duty on tin plates after October l,
| 1897 must produce in one of the six
years ending at that date, 80, zoo, 900
pounds Of tin and terne plates weighing
lighter than SO pounds to the square
foot. Mr.. Aver says the indications
are that under existing conditions the
production Of the country befole the
close OF the second fiscal year will be
in excess of an annual rate Of POO, U00,-
900 pounds.
Accompanying the reports are many
letters from manufacturers giving de-
scriptions Of their plants and prospects
and generally expressing a hope that
the law will be permitted to remain I'M
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, at Car
diff, and to begin at once the erection
of ten mills in this country. These
mills will be followed by others as fast
as the business may 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-
manager, will choose a site for the
works. Mr.. Edwards is connected with
three tin plate firms in Wales, repre-
senting an invested capital o. 81 ,250, 600,
| which will undoubtedly soon be divert
ed toward this country in whole or in
part. His fathers firm, that Of D. E..
Edwards & 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 in the
| manufacture of plates. Before that time
iron was used. He has always been one
Of the chief exporters in the trade.
After Forty Years.
How many of the thousands Of men
who hold lands in the West under a
| certain benefcent law know who was
the father of the homestead bill? Ben