The Florence tribune., 1896-02-15
SCARCITY OF GLASS.
The Demand in America Far Ex-
 ceeds the Supply.
Some Interesting Facts About the Trade from a Reliable source-The State of Affairs in Belgian s4...
 Factories.

Foreign window glass has been ai- most completely shut out of the United States. The latest reports show rapid falling of in imported glass, and during the last few months imports have been lower than ever before in the history of the trade. All the glass needed in this country will be manufac- tured at home, as prices and wages across the water are at the lowestnotcll, while the workers are considering the adyisability of demaIAiing an advance 1 in wages. Editor Frank M. Gessner, of the National Glass Budget, who is well posted on the condition of the glass l trade says:
 ''The Belgian manufacturers seem to have about given up the idea that the United States is dependency of that | little kingdom so far as window glass is concerned. Our markets do not even. afford good fighting ground for thems, under present conditions Wages abroad are about as low as they can be reduced, for even now such organiza- ton as exists in Belgium is preparing to ! demand higher wages at the first favor able opportunity. Owing to the large curtailment resulting from the strike last April and May there has been suffi-r cient transatlantic demand to fairly absorb the product until within very reasonable period.
 "A very slight increase in exports to the United States is noted during Sep tember, when there was an uncertainty about American factories starting up,, and importers placed increased orders I in the belief that late resunp- tion would seriously curtail avail. ! able stock. The very full re- sumption of American factories and the organized condition of our manu- lecturers, the wise and liberal policy which has been adopted in their deal-- iDgs with the distributing trade, the ready acceptance of changed conditions by the jobbcrs and the promptness with which they have placed their orders, to- gether with the frmness of manu-. facturers and the satisfactory eondi- tion of jobbers, has about convinced Belgian manufacturers that they have little profit to seek in this country in the future. The 31 tank furnaces in op- eration in Belgium are turning out more glass than can be marketed, now that the American market absorbs so little of their product, and for the first time in the past quarter of a century they are called upon to cope with the. problem of overproduction.
 At recent meeting the matter was fully discussed, and it was decided to reduce production after January |, proportioned to the capacity of firms operating. The matter of arranging de- tails was left to committee of five, and it is believed that production will be reduced fully one-third for several months in the new year. This is the most convincing proof that American window-glass manufacturers have about fought their most formidable foreign rivals to standstill, and it is hoped they will make full use of their opportunities, and not only amply sup
 ply the entire demand, but take prompt measures in their organized capacity to bring the average quality up to the
 high standard established and admira- ply maintained by the leading tank
 manufacturers of the country
 Enough glass to satisfy the demand,
 and of uniform high quality. must be made the watchword of both the Pitts
 burgh and western manufacturers, and
 unless prices are fooiishly advanced to such point as to again stimulate imports we ought to be aAle. in few years. to completely establish our. m: dustrial independence.
 The demand for window glass still Leeps' up and is in excess of the i'm.
 mediate supply. This is largely at
 tributable to orders stimulated by dis
 counts offered large buyers and mem eers of the Jobbers association by tn, organized manufacturers, and on ac
 count of building activity. The regular demand: however, is very large.
 Advices from Belgiisna were that m
 agreement had been reached amopt T manufacturers which will curtail pro auction during December. each of 3 . : firms operating tank furnaces bavine = agreed to close their factories tenno
 rarliy Tn order to prevent overproduc l. sion'-1it1sourgh Chronicle-Telegraph e Yes said Miss Cashton, ''hr. Blicsi n ton proposed to me-
 r Indeed, said her dearest girl fries ! 'r what was the reply?'
 IS T told him he wanted the earth. It Wasn't that-er-just a little. It gerated?"
 e No. My father owns lot of | ie yards, you know. ."--Washingtou S4a X ------- $ Ideas are the factors that Eft eiig 7 ilization. They create rezolusi ions