The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-24
FARMERS BUY MACHINES
THE M'KINLEY PROSPERITY is EN-
ABLING THEM TO DO 1T.
Pay Roll of One Muncie Plant In
creased from 100000 to
$432,OOO.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
MUNCIE, Ind, Oct. 23.-The Whitley
Malleable Castings Company of this city,
is the industry here that best indicates the
condition of the farmer. It's product is al
most entirely used by manufacturers of ag-
ricultural machinery. This factory was es-
tablished here in 1895 and has been con-
stantly increasing its output since that
time. There is nothing that better indicates
the condition Of the farmer than his ability
or his lack of ability to buy new machinery
when needed, so that the statement of Mr.
Whitley will be interesting for it's direct
bearing on the farmer as well as the factory
workman. In conversation few days ago
Mr.. Whitley said:
Our business is larger this year than
last, but it is mostly on yearly contracts
made when prices were the lowest on record
SO that it is not bringing us very great
profits. There is now a tendency toward
sitter prices and 1 believe we will soon
have a demand for our entire output at
good prices. This year we will turn out
about 5000 tons of castings, while last year
our output was only $500 tons, a gain of %
per cent for this year We employ this
year average of $50 men, but in the
busiest part of this year we had $50 names
on the pay roll. Our work is largely the
manufacture of castings for agricultural
machinery, so that in winter and spring we
will be rushed to our fullest capacity, while
in summer we may do little work. The indi-
cations for the future are good. 1 think the
users of farm machinery are in good con-
dition financially and are able to replace
their worn out machines. Our advices from
the manufacturers of such machines are
that they will require a large amount of
material. Our customers generally say to us
that they will use this winter as many and
probably more castings as last winter
you think, then, that the farmers are
able to buy literally"
There is no question that the farmers
have raised and saved their best crop in
years The weather was such that the grain
and grass crops were all saved and the
harvest was excellent. Good crops and fair
prices make the farmers able not only to
pay off old debts, but to buy new machinery
too think l may safely say that barring
any disturbance of confidence by the agita-
ton of the silver question the indications
for the next three or four years are very
bright
The Indiana Iron Company is one of
NIuncies best institutions. 1t employs d
possibly be running. w. NJ. Myers. secre-
tary of the company, gave the statement
that follows showing the conditions at the
mill:
Number of employees. 500 600 800
Monthly N pay ro s2ooS sss55
Those figures" said Mr.. Myers. will be
misleading unless explained. They show
that the mill was in operation nine months
in 1894 and eight months in 1896. That is
true. The mill was open and work was be-
ing done, but many of our men were work.
ing half time or less. Sometimes only our
eight-inch mill would be working. So you
see those figures show a condition really
better than existed. While now we are run
ming evey department all the time and will
DO so the whole year.
Business prospects are very bright. We
have good line of orders sold ahead, and
we nave contracts for the future that would
give our mill six months solid work at full
capaclty. Our men are we'll satisfied, espe-
clally our skilled labor. and we are paying
common labor more than is paid by the
Eastern mills During the year ending July
!, lS9S we turned out 1900 tons of iron,
against 1900 tons for the year before. That
gives you a good-idea of the difference to
the men in wages paid for we paid on the
each year.
Making little further analysis of the
figures it will be seen that this year, with
a monthly pay roll of $4,000 this company
will pay $iS2,Oeo i'm wages to 900 men, while
two years ago ii paid only $3.50 eco in wages
to GOO men, There has been no increase in
the wage rate, but the difference is entirely
ON account of the increased time worked
l.. IL. Wlntermuth, timekeeper for the In
diana Iron Company, says his personal con-
tact with the men employed in the mill
said that in 1896 many of the employees i'm
the mill were unable to pay their house
rent for whole year. Inc last two years.
he said. have been paradise compared
TO the two years before"
The Sanitary Enamelng Company is the
successor to the Patton Hollow-ware Com
pany. NJ l.. Horner speaking for the new
company, said: I'VE began getting ready
for business last January and work began
in March Since then we have been working
all the time with full force of eighty
hands. running all the time or orders. We
have not had opportunity to stock up
on many sizes as we would like to do on ac-
count of the rush of orders. Usually at this
season OF the year the demand for bath tubs
drops of, but Ii is not doing so this year
We have orders 10 keep us busy for some
time to come. OF course we cannot compare
with past years, for this is our first but /
can say that the general report in this line
Is that the demand is better than ever be-
Tore WALTER A. ROYSE.