Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-03

m6QJ-In6 w neellIg 1IOu o. OCOCi
Co., and the Bellaire Concern,
Represented - Better Prices and
Profits TO be Demandee.
New York. April Representatives
of the twenty-one leading manufactur-
ers of Bessemer steel in this country
were in session to-day here.
The following were present:
Carnegie Steel Company, John G.. A.
Leishmann. President; Hainsworth
Steel Company, Pittsburg, Geo. T. Oil
yer, President; Jones and Laughlins
Company, Pittsburg, Willis L. King,
General Manager; Bethlehem Iron Com
pany. South Bethlehem, J. B. Nell
vaine: Cambria Iron Company, Johns
town. Pa. ]. D. Stackhouse; Johnson
Company, Cleveland, works at Loraln'
Ohio. Tom Johnson King, Gilbert d
Warner Company Columbus, o., X. NJ.
Gilbert: Lackawanna Iron and steel
Company, Scranton; Pennsylvania
Steel Company, Steelton; Cleveland
Rolling Mill Company, Cleveland; Gus
Steel Company, Cleveland; Ohio steer
COMPANY. Youngstown; Bellaire Steel
Company, Bellaire, o.; Union steer
Company. Alexandria, Ind; Shenandoah
Valley Steel Company, New Castle;
Maryland Steel Company, Sparrow
Point; Wheeling Steel and Iron Com
many. Wheeling, and the Ashland steel
Company, Ashland, Ky.
AT the conclusion of the meeting
George T. Oliver. President OF the
Hainsworth Steel Company, of Pitts
burg, Pa, made the following state
ment:
with the exception Of few weeks
last fall the manufacturers Of Bessemer
steel in the United States have been
conducting a losing business
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
This has resulted more through the
growing influence of middlemen than
on account of competition among the
manufacturers themselves.
with the purpose in view OF elimin-
ating such influences and of bringing
about closer relations between buyer
anu SElltI. lIlt cAttt lllNl AAAtN anu lAelf W
succeeded in agreeing among them
selves that in the future all negotia-
tions shall be confined strictly TO the
producer on the one hand and the con-
sUmer on the other.
1T is not intended to restrict pro-
ductiOn except so far as such
restriction shall be brought about
by doing away with such fc-
titious transactions and the
confning Of business to the actual wants
of the country In many instances a
middle-man will purchase steel in
large quantities from manufacture,
for " hich he has no customer in sight.
When the time for delivery arrives the
manufacturer will naturally expect his
customer to furnish specifications for
the steel. His only course is to dump
ii on the market at any price ii will
bring One such transaction has in
many instances resulted in the demOral-
izatiOn of the entire market and even
the business for the rest of the season.
We hope through the influence of this
organization and by frequent meetings
and interchange of views, to do away
with this evil We think we can do so.
This organization does not include
all the manufacturers of Bessemer
steel, nor Is such unanimous action
necessary. The great firm of Schoen-
berger q Co. of Pittsburg, is not rep
resented at all, neither is the Illinois
Steel Company. of Chicago, bound by
the action of our members, but there
Is no doubt in our mind that both Of
INT mill in bQT-
mOny with other manufacturers. as
neither has the reputation OF being
disturber in the market
1T is not our intention to bring
about any undue advance in the price
of steel The price which has been
agreed upon for the present, $40 per
ton,
IS FULLY JUSTIFIED
by the strong advance which has taken
place within the last two weeks in pig
iron and iron ore. and it is really doubt
ful whether in view of the existing con-
ditiOns manufacturers can make any
profit at that price
Mr.. Oliver admitted with some reluc-
tance that another meeting would be
held tomorrow afternoon. He init
mated that organization would prob
ably be affected a this meeting.
Andrew Carnegie, who has just re-
turned from Florida. said to a reporter
that he had not heard of the proposed
combination of steel manufacturers.
Il don't think it will amount to
much" continued Mr.. Carnegie. In
times of depression and stagnation peo-
pie are disposed to get together and
agree TO suspend the law of competition.
But no permanent results follow. l
never believed in combinations. They
are only for weak people. They give
a little temporary strength to these
weak persons. bur they are not good
for the strong and healthy
What is your opinion of the general
outlook in business"
well. business is not good he re
piled. a general depression prevails
and think that we must get the Pres
idential election over before We can
hope for general prosperity. After
that l hope that the currency system
Of the government will be placed upon
a proper basis, so that we will get rid
of the agitation for chance Of stand
ard.
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Ti++shrror Pa Anri1 . Tho Amor