The herald., 1896-11-19
TO DOUBLE THE PRICE OF TIN

Inc ln-plate COmDlne Is SettlnS
things in shape to swoop down upon con-
gress to reinstate the Mckinley tariff.
The public is not generally aware of the
fact but it is nevertheless true, that
the first suggestion to establish tin
plate factories in this country came
from a little band of miners who thought
they had discovered rich deposits of tin
ore. They were not quite certain that
the ore was in paying quantities, but
they did know that what they had found
was quite enough of basis to organize
few companies and issue enough
stock to make them all roll in wealth.
if they could sell it. A few leading
corporation promoters in the east were
invited to join in the scheme. which
they did and the mines were capitalized
''for all they were worth" At this juno
ture it was found that if the government
could be inveigled into giving the ven
ture some sort of a public recognition
the stock could be unloaded upon the
innocent at fabulous price. The sub
committee on tariff legislation was at
that time formulating what was subse-
quently called the Mckinley BILL" and
when the draft of the bill reached the
house there was an item which imposed
tin ore and 2-10 cents pound on fin
ished tin product. That gave the re-
quired Importance and the stock was
worked off upon individuals who had
more money than sense.
The scheme called attention to the
tin-plate industry, however, but cap
ital rather hesitated to go into the busi~
ness because by this time it had become
apparent that the duty on tin ore was for
the purpose of booming the stock of GER
tain alleged tin mines, and, besides, there
was no certainty that the American
mines could be depended upon to fur
nish ore. OF course the tariff on i'm
ported ore was practically prohibitory.
But, anyway, four tin-plate factories
were started under the Mckinley act,
and they flourished fairly we'll, although
their output was small They demon
strated, however, that we could COM
pete with Wales as to quality, but the
tariff was so high that tinware became
a luxury.
Under the Wilson bill foreign tin ore
was admitted free of duty and the Nc
Kinley tariff on finished plate was cut
in half Capital had by this time be-
come convinced that with free ore tin
this country, with just a little protec-
ton. The consequence was that we
now have thirty-six thoroughly equip
ped tin and more than five times that
number of terne-plate plants, and they
all are making money. The four fac
tories that were started under the Nc
Kinley act did not turn out very great
quantity of plate, so it is quite fair to
give the credit of the enormous output
at this time to the Wilson act. 1t is
estimated that the annual demand for
terne and tin plate in this country is
equal to- in round numbers. $1,000, 900
pounds The capacity of the mills now
in operation, and those under construc-
tion, are capable of turning out 5s5,0O0,-
900 pounds. In the year ended last June
we made nearly 30S, ,O00. 900 pounds, and
port this fiscal year. But notwithstand-
ing all this has been accomplished under
the Wilson act, It is the purpose of Nc
Kinley to do what he can to re-establish
the tariff on tin ore and finished plate
so that the factories may be able to dou-
hle the price of tin to consumers.