The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-14

June ............. 1921 49, 760 IL, 1853 7,1l2
July ............... 1895 16,445 1850 .....
September ........ 1L6l2 Ia501 d.l6d '.'.'
October ........... a S94 !9S0o 1o'99S '''''
Deeember D9eSmosf .:.: .:... ASH iS 2G58s 7o7s :.
Total tonnage. .226. $50 222. .901 1881 51OSO
The lament of London Industries and Iron
that May 1897 was the smallest month on
record regarding exports of tin plate to the
United States may have been repeated
when the figures for June were published
June was the second smallest month on
record. In the first half of last year the
exports to the United States amounted TO
50 622 long tons. so that the exports Tor the
same period this year show decli1e of
about IA per cent. The exports this year
represent tin plates shipped to packers ana
others who get the drawback of 80 per cent
OF the duty, plates shipped by way or Lhe
Pacific ocean and some few special grades
for general consumption.
INCREASE IN A YEAR.
The manufacture of tin plate in the
United States in 1895 amounted to S6,5lS long
tons In 1896 this had been increased to
1877, 1856 long tons, and American manufactur-
ers are confident this year will show an
other big increase. The remarkable decline
of British exports and the equally re-
markable climb Of American manufacture
of tin plate is shown principally in 1896.
This is explained by the manufacturers
by the fact that the tin-plate industry had
at last got its grip on the home market
and had forced it's British competitors out
of the field. The factories at the present
day have a combined capacity OF l2D tons,
or % 600 boxes a day The difference 70 one
Chicago firm that buys American TN TN plate
has amounted into thousands of dollars
year. Sidney Shepard q Co. used TO pay
from $4,000 to 100000 in duties on imported
tin plate. In 1896, though the Wilson law
had cut down the duty to 1-5 cents, the
infant industry started by the Mckinney
law had rushed to the 'front.' IN that year
G. 20 nOl n
for imported tin plate.
l.. A. Norton, of Norton Brothers, Chi
lighted iisf tRat the attempt has been made to
compete with European markets. lie oe-
lieves the higher grades OF tin plate made made
in this country can compete successfully
with English productions. There is no
doubt" he said yesterday, that the tim
plate industry in this country has grown
ish manufacturer has little chance III TINS
market any more. When Bessemer steel
came into use for the making of tin plate
nothing was done here because the manu-
facturer was given little announcement.
1--WE have here the best Bessemer ores,
and the United States is now In position
to produce steel cheaper than any other
country But up TO the passage OF the Nc
Kinley bill tin plate n was not made IN the the
raised from l cent a pound to 10 cents
pound and the industry received the slim
illus which has at last given American
manufacturers the home market. The Dem
ocrats laughed at the time at the idea OF
a in-plate industry n this country. Inc
results show such remarkable auVahce IN
home manufacture as even to surprise the
most sanguine. The Mckinley law started
the tin-plate industry, and from that time
nothing could stop it. Even under the VIII
son law, which placed the duty at l-5
cents a pound so great an impetus had 1t
gained that the manufacture OF tin plate
CharIes c. Denison, of c. Sidney Shepard
& Co., tin-plate merchants, said; II Is
quite probable American tin plate Will with
in a few years be able to enter into COM
petition with European countries. 1t has
already captured the home market. The
cost of labor in this country is too high
at present to enable tin plate manufactur-
ers to enter into big competition with Eu-
rope, but conditions may change In Eng
land and cheaper processes may be used
here which will give the American product
a chance to find ready sale IN other mar
kets. Tin-plate bars are worth $Zl IN WaIes.
They are sold in this country at $lS. Inc
difference to us since the growth or the
American tin-plate industry has been con-
siderable When the duty on tin plate was
! cent a pound, before the Mckinley bill
was passed, paid from $4,000 to $50 900
a wear in duties. Last year under the VIII
son duty of 1-5 cents "a pound we paid
only 81 600 in duties our business has in
crea sed at a tremendous rates but we are
buying the home product and selling 1t in
the home market"
ELWOOD'S GREAT FACTORY.
The American Tin Plate Company Of FL
wood. Ind, feels proud that it has taken
the lead in an important industrial step.
The tin-piate industry in Indiana has had
remarkable growth the first plant in the
State being put in operation in Elwood In
July, 1882. 1t was then a flour mill con-
Germ employing three hundred hands. The
company was Incorporated with paid
up capital stock Of $lS00O0. The factory
was formally opened by monster demon
stration Sept. 10, 1892. William Mckinley
addressed the workingmen and predicted
great success for tie tln-plate industry.
In 1896 the company was reincorporated
with a capital stock OF 81 100000. The fac
tory now has eighteen hot mills and bar
mill rolling department. The iron is re-
ceived from the mines in bars Of five hun
dred pounds each. In the Elwood plant
tin plate is made from the raw material.
The capacity at the present time is about
5000 boxes a week, and the monthly pay
roll amounts to $50 900. When recent addi-
tions are put in operation in September
2200 hands will be employed.
In 1898 a rolling mill and tinhouse was es-
tablishel at Atlanta, Hamilton county, Ind
hot and bar mills being added later. TINS
plant is running with four hundred eni-
ployes. In 1894 tin-plate plants were es-
tablished at Anderson, Madison county
Indiana and Middetown. Henry county
Indiana The plant at Anderson is of eight
mill capacity, and the one at Middietown
has six mills both together employing I 200
hands. One year later a six-mill factory
was established at Montpelier. Blackford
county, Indiana. Owing 70 the unfavorable
tariff legislation of the Wilson bin the plant
closed down in three months. The Ameri-
can Tin-plate Company OF ElWOOd bought
the plant and has had il since in full opera
ton employing four hundred hands The
plant is now enlarging and valuable inn
prOVements are being added. In 1894 the
great Warewood plant at Gas City Grant
county. Indiana, was established, giving
work T. seven hundred men. 1t is of nine
mill capacity and manufactures the product
complete.
With a rapidly growing home trade and
the foreign market opening up under the
operations Of the Dingley tariff law the
lContinued on Second PnReA