Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-22

with the coal operators and miners.
The conference which has been going
on at Pittsburg has been anxiously
watched, for Upon the result hinges the
profit of gigantic investment and the
welfare of hundreds Of thousands of
workmen. OF all labor contentious
and strikes there is perhaps none so far
reaching and so soon felt by the gener-
al public as striking down OF the
miners Of the country, and for this rea-
son each movement in the present ne
gotiations have been duly noted by
people even remotely concerned. An
indication which is not assuring is dis
cernable in the action Of the railroads
some of which have laid in large
stock of the fuel to be used in case a
dearth should arise from cessation of
operation because of failure to agree
upon an equitable wage scale. Some of
the railroads have been caught before,
and getting wisdom by experience,
have made haste to provide against a
day of want. This is notably the case
with the G. l.. & w. road which has
dumped along its siding on the north
end of the line vast quantities of the
black diamonds which it is evidently
cornering for future emergency. Other
roads are doing the same thing and
such action may be accepted as hint
of the uncertainty existing iii the minds
OF those best informed as to the imme-
date status of the coal business.
The iron interests of Youngstown,
o., are endeavoring to get together in a
combination that will economic eX-
penses and at the same time increase
production. The rolling mills and fur
naceS are the particular branches in
cluded and the similar concerns of the
Mahoning and Shenango Valley may
join those of Youngstown. The pro-
jected combination does not contem-
plate anything more at the outset than
pooling Of interests but it is tacitly
admitted that If conSummated and sue
cessful, practical consideration is likely
to ensue before the year is out. A
Wheeling manufacturer says the con-
solidation is simply local and is not
significant so far as similar interests
here are concerned. An announcement
comes from Cambridge that an addition
is to be made to the iron interests of
that locality by the erection of a new
rolling mill at Byesville, Guernesy
county. 1t is proposed to make sheet
iron and possibly later tin depart
ment will be started. 1t is calculated
the plant will be in operation by June
/.
Among the glass plants of this vicin-
ity which have run and apparently
prospered during hard times and good
times is the Crystal at Bridgeport. The
CT m
provements that will greatly facilitate
operation and increase the output. A
neg boiler and engine have been put in
and one of the furnaces has been re-
modelled. The pots have arrived and
will be put in Immediately.
The Tiltonville pottery under the old
management experienced many vicis-
STUDIES and now with the announce
ment that the American Pottery Co.,
has gained possession of it, it is fondly
hoped by people there that it will be
run up to its full capacity. The plant
makes nothing but sanitary ware and
those who have looked over the field
use this fact as a basis for prophecy of
an early resumption.
The week just passed has witnessed
the taking of stock in all the East Liv-
erpool potteries but there was a little
furry over the report that the trust
would not order them into operation.
This called forth threat upon the part
of some operators to start without Or
ders but due authority appears to be
forthcoming.
A gentleman identified with the
American Pottery Co., argues thus in
support of the recent move: This is
an era of business combinations" I'VE
have been saying that for long time,
but we have better cause to believe it
than ever before. There is no way in
which the courts can count a combina-
ton OF business interests illegal. There
have been more combinations in the
last year than ever before, and there
will be still more in 1899. BY the end
of the year, it is safe to predict that
there will be a combination in every
independent industry that is not al
ready covered. 1t is the only refuge
the manufacturer has from ruinous
competition. The combination of in
terests reduces the cost of production,
and gives to the consumer an article
of better material and one that costs
less. The workmen have steady work
and are better paid and the principals
get more. 1t is advantageous all
around.
One OF the latest efforts to form a
trust emanates from the bottle makers
of the country. 1t is rumored, and ap-
parently with some show of foundation
that a few more months will witness a
pooling of these interests after the
fashion of the tin plate trust and the
American Potteries combine.
An occurrence that was literally
commented upon in industrial circles
during the week was the Inauguration
of strike by the coal miners at the
Wheeling Steel and Iron Company's
plant at Benwood. The cause of this
action on the part of the men was due
to the refusal of the manager of the
mines, Squire Henry Riddle, to rein
state two of the miners whom he had
discharged. The two men were dis
missed on Thursday morning and at
noon of the same day, the entire force
OF coal dlggerS went out on strike, af-
ter they had met together and inter
viewed the manager The decision of
the men at their meeting was unani-
nous and they stand firmly together to
remain out until some adjustment Of
the difficulty has been brought about.
Squire Riddle dismissed the two men
on information received from one of
the miners, to the effect that they were
coEspiring against the management, in
socr,onob fbou bad boo,, a..