The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-24
OUR TIN-PLATE INDUSTRY.
Its Expansion Discussed in N Report
to the British Government.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Mr. Hugh j.
O'Beirne, second secretary of the British
embassy here, has made a special report
to the British Foreign Office on the Ameri-
can tin-plate industry, and 1t has been is
sued from the Foreign Office as an official
document. According to the report the
United States tin-plate industry dates
practically from the passage of tha
Mckinley tariff act, at which time the
American market was wholly supplied by
South Wales Mr.. O'Beirne traces the grad
ual expansion of the industry in this coun-
try and the use of the domestic article in
place of that formerly imported from
Wales. Summing up the situation for the
last calendar year, he says: THE position
of the British export trade may thus be
summed up: The interior market was as
whole lost to British exporters, but the
meat packers continued to use certain
number of drawback plates, and there was
still a limited consumption of British plates
for certain special purposes. The Atlantic
coast still offered very large market for
drawback plates and a much reduced one
for plates not intended to be re-exporteds
and the gulf coast took moderate NUM-
the market that was still wholly
Pacific coast. Taking the Pacific coast i'm
port at 100000 pounds. that OF the gulf
coast at 100000 pounds and that of draw
back plates at 100 100000 there remains an
import of 60,000 000 pounds of last year for
consumption in the United States which
must be distributed between the Atlantic
coast and interior points.
According to Mr.. OBeirne's calculations,
ii is estimated that British plates can be
lantic coast for $3.SS, or IS cents Us 2d)
above the price of American plates tnere5
at Pacific port for 1884 or 22l4 cents Qld)
below price Of American plates there. at
Chicago for $685. or over 30 cents Us 3d)
above the price of Indiana made tin plates,
there: at New Orleans for $3S1 or Is cents
(Sd) above price of Indiana plates there.
Under existing rates of duty therefore,"
the report proceeds, and at present prices
the only section Of the American market in
British plates Of ordinary grades, exclusive
of drawback plates, can continue in the
long run to compete is the Pacific coast
market, representing an annual conSump-
ton of about nifty million pounds. In other
portions of the United States the only i'm
portations that can be expected is of a
limited number Of special brands suited for
special purposes. And this limited importa-
fion can only last so long as the demand
is not of sufficient Importance TO induce ma
tive manufacturers 10 make the necessary
arrangements for producing the special
qualities of tin plate which they are un-
doubtedly able to do.
Mr. OBe4rne points out that the Ameri-
can tin-plate industry is wholly dependent
for its raw material on foreign importa-
ton, as no tin has been produced for the
last four years from any of the deposits
of tin in the United States, namely, south
Riverside, CAL, the Black Hills of South
Dakota, the Cash mine In Rockbridga
county Virginia. and at Kings Mansion, N
G.. In conclusion 1t is stated that after a
strict examination IL appears TO have been
demonstrated that for household or hard
usage. the British tin outlasts the Ameri-
can product. 1t is true the British tin Is
not quite so bright but IL Is far more dur
able: has a more substantial body, Is moro
evenly rolled: does not aggravate the tin
working machines on account of its smooth
body and does not rust so quickly. For tin
ming purposes the American product Is as
good as the British, the report says. but
the latter Is preferable at equal prices.
American tin plate is brighter in color but
it has not thai working body as q rule the
coating is not so evenly run and does not
ish article The statement Is also made that
Italian tin manufacturers have been maxi