The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-10
THE TRUST IS DEFEATED
INTERESTING HISTORY OF THE
TROUBLE IN PLATE GLASS.
Rise of the Fords and Organization
Of the Pittsburg Company
Row with the Jobbers.

The closing of the great Kokono plant
of the Pittsburg Plate-glass Company last
saturday evening, with no prospect of re-
sumption of operations until November if
then. recalls the interesting history OF the
piate-glass industry during the two years
that have elapsed since the plants at Ko-
komo and Elwood were gobbled up by the
Pittsburg people. Ii shows that the busi-
ness Of running trust Is not always the
easy and profitable operation 1t is usually
supposed 10 be. The plate glass industry was
first developed I'm this country by wash
ington c. DePauw, who built up a great
plant at New Albany Ind. and conducted
IL so we'll that he died worth nearly SIS. 00O-
600. In his employ was a Welshman named
Ford, who was the practical man of the
concern. In time Ford pulled out and
started a little plant at Jeffersonville
where he and his sons plodded along and
finally went TO the wall, after having been
held I'D good while by Daniel Stewart
the wholesale druggist of this city. who
haLdled glass TO some extent. After break
ing at Jeffersonville Ford went 10 Pitts
burg. where he succeeded in interesting
capital In the industry and built I'D three
great plants. of which he and his sons
managed TO retain control. They were sue
cessful and became enormously wealthy.
In time the great plant at Chrystal. Mo-.
was started by others and shortly after the
opening of the Indiana gas field the Seiber-
lings and their associates established the
big plants of the Diamond company at
Kokomo and Elwood.
In 1898 the DePauw heirs went to the
wall, after having almost completed the
construction of an enormous plate-glass
plant at Alexandria, which was never starr
ed up by them. Shortly afterward the
Fords and their associates at Pittsburg
organized the Pittsburg Plate-glass Com
pany. with capital OF $l00OO.O0O. and swal-
lowed up the New Albany, Kokomo. Ell
wood, Chrystal. ard. in fact all the big
plants of the country except that at Alex
andria. Two little plants in PENNSYLVANIA
were left out, one being tied up in litigation
and the other being In such condition that
il was not thought worth buying. These
plants were purchased outright Enough
their owners for the most part tool, part
payment In the stock and bonds OF the
PittSburg company.
The growth of distribution had kept pace
with the manufacture. and ~ this time the
Plate-giass Jobbers Association represent
ed millions Of capital. For a year and a
half the association and the trust worked
together with fair degree OF harmony
Prices were raised both sides were making
money fast. and the Jobbers were OCCASION
ally helping the trust out by carrying large
stocks that were slow in moving. Friction
arose. however. On various subjects. mostly
over the fact that the jobbers claimed the
right 20 pick up bargains In glass wherever
they could find them. Last summer Charles
T. DOxey, of Anderson organized the
American Pldte-glaSs Company with head
quarters in this city. and succeeded in get
ting the big Alexandria plant out OF the
hands OF its bondholders and starting it up.
When the jobbers began TO purchase sorle
of It's glass the Pittsburg people objected
and served notice that the Jobbers should