New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11
UTILIZING OLD TIN CANS.
A PIrTsBURG CONCERN THAT TURNS THEM INTO
GOOD MONEY.
From The Pittsburg News

GOOD MONEY.
From The Pittsburg News.
on the side OF the hill overlooking the Panhandle
Railroad on the south of Forbes-st where for
a number Of years the old city garbage furnace
was located, Is an extensive industry which few
people OF FittspuIg are coenzant Of The labor is
an can industry. At this place all the tin cans
q while at least or until they are Cleaned rolled
bundled and shipped to Eastern cities They fnally
work their way back into the households but In
entirely different condition and shape than when
they were first introduced
II Is estimated that Pittsburg furnishes on an
average TWO tons Of empty tin cans per day. and
these are gathered from all over the city among
tne garpage and rubbish by the wagons which are
constantly on the go. For some years the question
of disposing Of all these cans was vexatious one
and the men who gathered them were willing to
get rid OF them at almost any cost. few years
later George Sehott of Thirty fourth-st. conceived
range for the work. When the old garbage furnace
was vacated. some years ago. Mr. Schott leased the
pace, ana ne was then able 10 go ahead and test
the scheme he mad planned in his mind. For a time
the work was tedious, and there very little
money In II for him and the men who helped him
He soon learned that there an urgent demand
TOYS ana m aSd , OF
while until Mr. sct had worked up S quite ff large
Is supplying them with all the tin OF this kind that
The Pittsburg Reduction Company lifts. on an
average two tons OF these cans every day. and
ave where they are sepsTated from bn
After they are separated they thrown into
are thoroughly washed. and then loaded into wag-
ons and taken 10 where Mr. Schott handles them
When the cans reach him they in fairly good
condition, and they dumped the hill against
his works. The work OF asserting the cans is then
commenced. The small separated from
the larger ones and the defective ones are dis
carded. Having gone through first hands. the cans
then shovelled into furnace. the latter having
an iron bottom and the rims and bottoms are
melted off The solder from the rim Is melted at
the same time, and finds its way through a hole In
the bottom OF the furnace and drops into a De n.
Out OF about Ave hundred cans: which constitute
heating there is produced about pound OF
solder. which is worth at present IL cents. After
the cans thoroughly burned they taken out
OF the furnace and spread the floor and the
work OF asserting them is again in order The ends
are thrown aside. and the remainder Of the Is
placed beside roller. and after all have been han
died the work Of rolling them out straight COM
mences After being rolled the tin which il then
about FIVE inches wide and eight TO ten inches long
Is bundled and tied and is ready for shipment.
There are fourteen heats made per day at the fur
mace, and about FIVE hundred cans to the heat.
making total OF seven thousand cans per day.
shipments ere made about every sixty days. and
consist OF twelve tons or carload 10 every ship
ment The shipments are OF three different sizes,
the lowestpriced shipment being about sos and the
largest bringing about $3.50. The cans are divided
into three sizes. The cans average about
twelve thousand 10 the ton. the tomato cans
about ten thousand 10 the ton and the gallon cans
about f1ve thousand 10 the ton. The ends OF the
cans are sent 10 Allegheny. and there converted
into sash weights