The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-03
Facts From the History of Our
Local Industries
N GOOD" DEMOCRATIC TINES
Before the War and Under the Walker
TariH-HOw Our Industries Did Not
Prosper Until the RspublIcaa Tariff
of 1sol-Facts From a Wheeling
Man Who Speaks From Personal
Knowledge.

and was 90 situated az TO know what
were the conditions then. and eau
truthfully say that the facts do not
Justify that claim, q. least for the
country hereabouts. It Is true that
there was great progress between 1870
and 1857, bat this progress was owing
to other causes, aud despite the malign
influence Of the tariff Of 1916.
, One Of tho principal of these was the
protective tariff Of 1912, which enabled
the PROSTATE industry Of the country to
rise to its feet, and the marvellous effect
OF which was resurrection Of all indus
try and ali business, and gave them a
strength aud vitality which lasted long
after the passage OF tho destructive law
Of 1876.
Another influence OF vast importance
was the Mexican war, which com.
menced In tho fall Of 1916 and lasted
into 1913, employing some hundred
thousand men and q hundred millions
of dollars OF public money moro or less
in the operations, circulating this
money through all the rami6cations OF
trade and giving great impetus to
business.
About the same time camo famine in
Ireland and the necessities OF the six or
seven millions OF people there caused
large export Of our agricultural pro-
ducts and gave full employment to our
transportation facilities and correspond
iugly benefited our trade.
n Nhn 1Paata1t
event OF them all, in the discovery oil
gold in California. This occurred early
In l84S, and stirred not only this coun-
try, but the whole civilized world. This
discovery carried to the golden gate or
furnished employment hero to hun:
dreds OF thousands OF our people and
provided the gold to pay for tho goods
which the tariff OF 1915 was throwing
upon our markets. These great events
occupied the minds Of the public, 30
that but little attention was given TO
tariff matters, and their beneficial effect
was sufficient 10 compensate to some
xtent for the blighting influence OF the
Walker tariff for some years, and gave
an appearance OF prosperity to the
country which was far from real, but
enabled many industries to survive
longer than otherwise would have been
possible.
But this deadly instrument was get
ting IN it's work all the time; and by
the end Of 1852 had paralvzed the iron
industry OF the country, and so stopped
the production OF pig iron that even the
diminished wants could not be supplied
and as a result tho most violent huctu-
atoms followed aud the price jumped to
$50 per ton in the spring OF 1858 and
even higher in this valley, and the
country was thus treated to an exper-
fence in prices which cost It much
more than any benefits claimed TO FOL
low the Walker tariff.
The years following up to 1861 were
years OF decline in prices, fluctuations,
strikes and lockouts, irregular employ
ment at falling wages with much OF
store pay; with struggles. disasters and
many bankruptcies OF employers; we
had local paper currency for money
which was generally distrusted when
issued aud subject to heavy discounts
away from home. Commerce between
even local points was hampered with
ruinous cost in the way OF EXCHANGES
never less than one per cent on Gin:
cinnati or other favorably situated
points; while money lenders shaved
needy borrowers at fancy rates, and ac-
commodated first-class houses who had
10 use their acceptances ut ono per cent.
per month. These were Democratic
times. The industries which competed
with foreign products generally became
bankrupt, otEers barrel y sustained them
selves. Wo had our share Of these ex.
periences as the following record will
show:
+. W. Stephens run the Missouri
mill (now the Top mill into the Wal
ker tariff and gave up. The firm OF Ste,
phens, Shoenberger d Company followed
aud pegged out. Johnston, Sweeney,
& Com pany ran awhile, followed by J.
NJ. Todd & Company, who failed, costing
Hugh Nichols, ono Of tho partners,
part OF his estate TO settle the losses.
After that the property stood idlo for
some wears, until the measures OF the
Republican party again vitaIized 1t.
After that it ran steadily for more than
twenty years following, paying many
millions OF dollars Of cash wages to elm.
ployes. 80 ~,
Tho Creek or Crescent mill (now
Whltaker's) was built under the stimu.
lus OF the discovery OF gold in Calitor-
mia. but could not survive the adverse
times OF the Walker tariff and broke up
every one connected with it, until the
war tariff enabled 1t to run steadily ana
prosperously, which it has done for the
twenty years previous to the RAID oil
Wilsonism-paying out many millions
OF dollars in cash wages.
The first nail mill built in 1915 and
1916 had prosperous start and ran un-
Ill the Walker tariff blight struck 1t,
when II ceased to operate. The ground
was finally sold to be occupied by the
depot OF the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
The plant was removed to Bonwood in
1853. became the Benwood mill OF Gill,
Kelly & Co., which firm failed and the
mill remained idle for some years. until
the war tariff set it going in 1862. II
also has since run steadily Tor more
than twcnty years and paid out many
millions cash wages.
In 1919 en- association consisting OK.
clusiveIy Of skilled operatives, with one
exception, built the Belmont nail mil
and started 1t with sixteen nail ma:
chimes with the aVowed intention OF
producing a superior article oil cut nails.
Having no foreign competition to con:
tend with they had a good share Of
prosperity, but Notwithstanding this,
were brought TO close quarters III 1855
to 1856 and were Obliged to call meet
ting OF creditors aud obtain IN exten.
sion in 1857. They managed to survive
until the war tariff was enacted, under
which lie operations were profitable
and go continued for more than twenty
years.