Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-05

The event of the week in manufactur-
ing circles was the step taken by the
directors Of the Aetna-Standard Steel
& Iron Company whereby that plant
entire is to become the property OF
the American Tin Plate Co. The stock
holders have not all been consulted in
the matter yet, but the sale is fore
gone conclusion, as the action OF the d.
rectory will undoubtedly be the policy
of all. Some months ago the combine
secured control of the tin plate pro-
duct of the mill, but the present deal
takes in all departments, the property
and ground and the steel plant at MIN
go. The trust, it appears, on second
thought, has deemed it insufficient to
simply control the tin product OF the
country, but wishes to get possession
of all interests which contribute to the
, manufacture of that article. This VIII
obviously make their grip firmer and
their tenure OF greater duration.
The recent aggregation of certain
branches of manufacture in the Wheel
ing district and elsewhere in the ONO
Valley has brought into prominence
phases of industrial consolidation that
were entirely unforeseen. In many
towns dependent upon the activity or
mills and factories the local banking
interests have been wrought up over
the prospect of the combines carrying
on all financial operations through
central head, and thereby cutting OFF
certain class of heavy borrowers and
depositors that have heretofore been
as reliable as they have been consld-
cradle. But at Martins Ferry there
has developed another phase which is
at present being discussed quite gen
orally. The town has always been I'D
eral with her industries, and the CITY
Council has never been slow to make
reasonable concessions whenever called
upon to do so. When the Laughlln
tin plant was erected three years ago,
streets in the north end OF the city
were vacated and a measure was got
ten through the water board giving
the company better terms than those
granted private consumers. Inc
Aetna-Standard was also permitted TO
occupy streets at the southern eXtrem-
ity of the city, and erected their fur
mace stacks upon the public highway
This the citizens, at the time, thought
due to the mill owners whose indus
tries were such an important factor IN
the cityAs welfare and prosperity.
Now, however, that the plants are to
pass out of the hands of the original
owners, public sentiment has eXper-
fenced a revulsiOn which is manifest
in no small degree. For the taxpayers
to keep up a pumping station to sup
ply the American Tin Plate Co. with
free water is not being reflected upon
with the greatest satisfaction, and TO
undergo the inconvenience of block
AIDED streets and alleys for the privil-
eye of paying a higher price for TIN
plate, they say, is not what they bar
gained for when the concessions were
advocated. But there is no recourse
now, and the people, when the first
excitement caused by the trust craze
shall have passed. may look upon mat
ters differently. They will doubtless
have learned wisdom by their eXper-
fence and will be more cautious and
look farther into the future when such
problems hereafter present themselves.
The determination of the Wheeling &
Lake, Erie receivers to make Wheeling
the freight terminus instead of War
renton was carried into effect the past
week, and that class of traffic will be
run through to the Wheeling yards.
Freight trains for the north will be
made up here, making additional bus
mess at this end of the line, and en-
abling freight crews to locate here.
The change is one contemplated for
some time, but owing to the financial
condition of the road necessary expen-
diture has not been made heretofore
to carry it into effect
Contractors anu dealers in building
supplies anticipate a more active sea-
son in Wheeling and vicinity than for
many years Plans are being asked for
almost daily and planning mill men
dealers in brick and stone are busy
with estimates. Unless indications are
misleading there will be quite a boom
in building when spring open up.
At a meeting held in this city Tues
day afternoon a consolidation OF the
brick companies operating in the vi
entity of Wheeling was effected. The
combine is under the name of the Su
burban Brick Company and is composed
of the following concerns: Mound City
Brick Co., Moundsville; George o.
Robinson and Barnard Co.'S, Bellaire;
Belmont Brick and Tile Co., Martins
Ferry, and Mt. De Chantal Brick Co,
of Wheeling. The stockholders of the
Suburban are made up Of the owners
of the various companies with the fol-
lowing directors Geo. X. Wheat and
E. B. Bowie, of Wheeling; B. F. Hodge
man, of MOundsville; Geo. Robinson,
of Bellaire, and c. H. Carpenter, Of
Martins Ferry. The directors elected
the following officers: President, Geo.
K. Wheat; Secretary, B. F. Hodgeman;
General Manager, C. H. Carpenter.
The company will have headquarters in
the Exchange building and will control
the entire product.
There are scores Of paying positions
in connection with all the big manu-
featuring concerns that have recently
Joined the divers combinations, and
the question as to who shall fill these
under the new regime is agitating the
mind of more than one mill owner,
manager, bOokkeeper or clerk. In
deed. the question is not only interest
ing those directly connected, but is en-
gaging the solicitation of the public in
general 1t will be much more CRAFTY
ing to the community if present man
ayers and employers are left unmoles-
ted, but the history of great combines
is not reassuring upon this point. The
query as to whether or not the mills