The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-10-01
SCARCITY OF GLASS.
The Demand In America Far Ex-
ceeds the Supply.


Of Affairs I'm Belgian
factories.
Foreign window glass has been al
most completely shut out OF the United
States. The latest reports show
rapid falling off in imported glass, and
during the last few months imports
have been lower than ever before in the
history of the trade. All the glass
needed in this country will be manufac-
tured at home, as prices and wages
across the water are at the lowestnotch.
while the workers aro considering the
advisability of demart1ing an advance
in wages. Editor Frank M. Gessner, of
the National Glass Budget. who is well
posted on the condition of the glass
trade says:
sThe Belgian manufacturers seem to
have about given up the idea that the
United States. is dependency of that
little kingdom SO far as window glass
is concerned. Our markets do not even
afford good fighting ground for them,
under present conditions. Wages
abroad are about as low as they can be
reduced, for even now such organiza-
ton as exists in Belgium is preparing to
demand higher wages at the first favor
able opportunity. Owing to the large
curtailment resulting from the strike
last April and May there has been suff-
ciemt transatlantic demand to fairly
absorb the product until within q very
reasonable period.
"a very slight increase in exports to
the United States is noted during Sep
tember, when there was an uncertainty
about American factories starting up,
and importers placed increased orders
in the belief that late resump-
ton would seriouslys curtail avail
able stock The very full re-
sumption of American factories and
the organized condition of our manu-
facturers, the wise and liberal policy
which has been adopted in their deal
ings with the distributing trade, the
ready acceptance of changed conditions
by the jobbers and the promptness with
which they have placed their orders, to-
gether with the frmness of manu-
facturers and the satisfactory condi-
lfOA OA JOOOC1S, 4dS dOOuC COAfAACCA
Belgian manufacturers that they have
little profit to seek in this country in
the future. The 81 tank furnaces in op-
Grafton in Belgium are turning out
more glass than can be marketed, now
that the American market absorbs SO
little of their product, and for the first
time in the past quarter of a century
they are called upon to cope with the
problem of overproduction.
"At recent meeting the matter
was fully discussed, and it was decided
to reduce production after January l.,
proportioned to the capacity of firms
operating. The matter of arranging de-
| tails was left to a committee of five, and
7: it is believed that production will be
reduced fully one-third for several
! months in the new year. This is the
most convincing proof that American
window-glass manufacturers have
about fought their most formidable
| foreign rivals to standstill, and it is
hoped they will make full use of their
opportunities, and not only amply sup
| ply the entire demand, but take prompt
measures in their organized capacity
to bring the average quality up to the
/ high standard established and admira-
| bly, maintained by the leading tank
manufacturers of the country.
Enough glass to satisfy the demand,
/ and of uniform high quality, must be
! made the watchword of both the Pitts
burgh and western manufacturers, and
unless prices are foolishly advanced
to such point as to again stimulate
/ imports we ought to be able, in few
| years, to completely establish our In
dustrial independence"
/ The demand for window glass still
keeps up and is in excess of the i'm
! mediate supply. This is largely at.
tributable to orders stimulated by dis.
counts offered large buyers and mem.
bers of the Jobbers' association by the
organized manufacturers, and on ac.
count of building activity. The regular
demand, however, is very large.
Advices from Belgium were that ar
agreement had been reached among
manufacturers which will curtail pro
duction during December, each of 81
firms operating tank furnaces having
agreed to close their factories tempo
rarily in order to prevent overproduc
tion.-Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph
III