New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-11

purchases at many establishments that the sell
ing price of tinware was exactly the same that
1t had been before the duty was raised. bu'
the falsohood did its work, nevertheless.
In spite of Democratic victories in 1S9O ana
1892. It was not possible to cut down the NC
Kinley duty on tinplates until OCTOBER l. lo'f'
so that It remained undisturbed few days less
than four years. In that short time 1t achieved
such success and SO fully established the new
industry that the reduction OF the duty from
% to IL cents has not arrested its develop
ment. The quarterly statement just ISSUED
shows that seventeen mills for manufacturing
the black steel sheets were completed and put
in operation during the first quarter Of 1885,
that thrty-nine works are now both rolling ana
coating the steel sheets. while thirty-four others
are coating with tin the black sheets purchased
in the market 1t is further stated that the
present capacity of American tinplatc works Is
300. 900 boxes Il year, which Is enough to meet
the entire consumption of this country, exclusive
of the quantity used in exporting petroleum ana
canned goods, on which rebate Of duty was
given by the Mckinley act and Is still given
So long as the Welsh mills can supply this de-
mand. at less cost without duty than the Ameri-
can mills they may retain it. The rest of the
American consumption 'dl HoN w '"PpA'" ~
American works.
What this means II Will interest many to
know. There was actually paid to foreigners over
S2OWO.lWO year in the three years lSSS-3O Tor
tinplatcs imported The 5.2W,O0O boxes would
cost. If imported. vastly more than the present
price, for five years ago April |, when the Welsh
works supplied the whole consumption in this
country. the price here was 81 % for |. {. Bcs-
scmer plate lix20 Of which | cent per pound
went into the Treasury as duty. and the price mt
Swansea for such plates WAS II shlings. or
about So 80 At that rate the 5.2OOOOO boxes
would be costing $l7,470,OOo-a nice sum to pay
TO foreign mills while many American workers
are seeking work in vain. But now the price Of
the same Bcssemer coke plate at Swansea is
q shlllings. or about s. 16 and the present duty
Of 81 "a per box brings up the cost here to 81 %
without freight. insn ance or profit. while the
selling price here Is So 80 for the foreign plate
The foreigner has given away 81 - of the for
mcr cost in attempting to retain his market
here and yet he fails. The selling price OF
American Bc>Scmcr coke plates is So 30. and
the foreigner is not only undcrsold, but in the
Judgment Of the trade. cxcclled in quality Of
product
Thus ii comes 10 pass that the importations
Of tinplitcs from Great Britain which In 1889
averaged 2S.WO tons per month. dropped in
February to $3.50 tons. Perhaps the movement
in that month may be exceptionally small but
during the last twelve months the import, from
Great Britain have been less than 100000 tons.
against 33G.GN9 tons In 1>N?. and as the excel
encc OF American plates becomes known. and
the competition Of makers here puts down the
price. there is every reason 10 believe that
American workers will get the $1,000. 800
or more yearly which was formerly paid
10 foreigners for tinplate usel in this com
try. But it will be seen that there il
no room for foo.ins. end II the cost ~
Rns>cmcr steel should rise the reduction II
duties Oh tinpldir 10y he Democratic iarilf might
yet prove most disastrous 10 nm industry which
The Mckinley trim created. But disastrous only
FOR a Tine because The people will take care
that the industry once established shall not be-
destroyed In The cnl II will come t. pass that
Sl1.OOO.Woo IA year for all time will have been
saved 10 Americans 10y 4 single provision in the
Mckinley tariff