The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-27
PLUMBERS NOT IN.
The West Coast Company
Minus a Manager.
ATTACHMENT SUITS BEGUN.
A Firm Founded Upon the Ruins of
a Bankrupt Corporation Goes
to the Wall.
ATTACHMENT SUITS BEGUN

TIE West Coast Plumbing and Supply
Company. which had been doing business
up to couple of weeks ago at 80 FIRST
street and about which number of East
ern creditors are now manlfestlng gooo
deal of interest, appears to have had quite
a vailed and interesting career.
Under another name several years ago
Louis ID. Arnold and his brother cor
Quoted the business. the former. as In the
present firm, being the principal hgure In
all business transactions and apparently
having full sway in that respect.
The original firm got into trouble finan-
cially and went to the wall. At that time
they submitted proposition to their cred
itors offering to settle all claims against
them on a basis of % or 80 cents on the
dollar. their liabilities aggregating about
$4,000. These terms some of the creditors
accepted, while others thought something
more could be gained by holding out.
In the formation of the new firm
Fletcher f. Ryer, son of the late million
aire Washington Ryer and himself pos
sessed of considerable means. and James
a. Mcguire were the gentlemen who fur
nlshed the capital. while the Arnold broth
ers, or Louis d. in particular. gave the
necessary experience and personal alien
tian to fostering the new firms prospects
In the business world.
The reason for the non-appearance OF
Arnold's name as one of the members OF
the new firm is said TO be because OF MS
former failure and the fact that he had no
credit with Eastern houses.
1t might be remarked in this connection
that the father of the Arnold brothers IS
in the same line of business as that re-
Gently followed by his sons, but he bears
the reputation of being straight in all his
transactions.
Louis d. Arnold is said to have made
frequent acquisitions upon Messrs. Ryer
and Mcguire for money; in fact, IL is al
legged that the former at last became weary
of the opportunities OF his manager, and
several weeks ago fatty refused to adj
vance any mpre money
Arnold in the meantime was sustaining
the credit of the house in this city by
promptly meeting all local obligations,
and thus the firm gained reputation for
square dealing III the city. 1t is said, bow
ever, by those In position to know, that
Mr.. Arnold was not so soljcitouS about
the firms good standing in the East. 1t is
charged that he frequently of late sold
goods in transit at FROM % to 80 per cent
below their cost price, and the Eastern
houses are left to mourn their untimely
confidence in the apparently prosperous
new enterprise.
embarrassment but little could be learned
yesterday, gentlemen who were questioned
In regard to the matter variously esti-
mating the shortage at from $4,000 up to a
much larger sum.
The principal sufferers are the J. L.
Mott Iron Works Company of Chicago.
the lrOnclad Manufacturing Company of
New York and the Pesh Brothers, manu-
facturers of brass goods, New Haven,
Conn. That Mr. Arnold was discreet In
the matter of selection of firms with whom
he wanted TO do business in the East is il
lustrated by the following;
1t is said that at the time he and his
brother failed the Standard Manufacture
ing Company of Plttsburg, Pa, were
caught for substantial sum. This firm
and the lronclad Manufacturing Company
of New York are said to own the only two
enameled iron works in the country.
AS the former was still his creditor for
goodly sum, Mr.. Arnold, IL is said did not
trouble them with orders, out transferred
his favors to the Iron clad Company Hav-
ing never done business with him the lat
ter had no nesitancy-as the firm was
quoted we'll herein filling his orders. and
just how much they were caught for prob
ably they and Mr.. Arnold only know
just how far Messrs Ryer and Mcguire
are also In the mire they themselves only
can tell. The Eastern firms have taken
measures to protect themselves, and in this
city yesterday an attachment suit was in
stItuted by the Heap Manufacturing Com
pany to recover 1927 on a prOmissory oie
The stock OF the late firm was bought by
Crane 81 Co., who are In the same line of
business. at very low figure.
Meanwhile Mr.. Arnold is a missing
quantity hereabouts. He left word behind
him that he was going East to straighten
out the firms affairs. buta great many peo-
pie seem TO think that his stay will be
long one.