Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-19

LOCAL AND TELE6RApHIc LABoRsNEws.

The industries of Wheeling and Vi
cinity have, in the main, been active
during the past week, but there are
several exceptions to this desirable
condition. All the factories affected
one way or another by the exceptional
ly cold weather and the attendant cir
cumstances, have not yet recovered,
and will likely not be in full operation
until navigation again opens up. Inc
Top mill furnace is still banked on ac-
count of the difficulty in getting ore ana
the Aetna Standard has been idle IN the
sheet department owing to a shortage
of bars. The business of the planning
mills has also been reduced to mini
mum on account Of the enforced sus-
pension on the part of contractors, but
more activity will follow Immediately
upon the betterment of climatic con-
ditions. The coming week may be, ex-
pected to witness a resumption in most
if not all the factories which have been
temporarily quiet.
The Laughlin tin mill went on again
the first of the week after ten days
shut down. The rather uncertain move
ments at this plant since it passed into
possession of the trust has made the
EMPLOYEES apprehensive every time a
suspension occurs and all we're natur-
allv glad to see the fires lighted again.
The nail factory at the La Belle start
ed up on Monday and has been active
with prospects bright for continuous
run. With the operation of this de-
partment the big plant may be said to
be all on The plate mill which has
been idle for repairs is not running yet
and will not be in all probability for
several weeks.
According to the New York Crock
cry and Glass Journal, which seems TO
be able to speak with authority on the
plans of the pottery trust promoters,
there is one change in pottery manu-
facture that will be inaugurated almost
as soon as full possession OF the pot
teries of the country is obtained, that
will eliminate to a large extent the ele-
ment of uncertainty that now exists
throughout the trade in regard to
grades of ware and values.
The trust people according to this
story, will insist on calling products
by their. correct names. The Journal
says: "They propose to do away with
the numerous hybrid grades and makes
and brand every kind exactly what it
is represented to be. C. c. will be
strictly the C. c. grade, the cheapest
quality of white and decorated goods;
white granite will be white granite in
body and glaze; while semi-pOrcelain
will have purely porcelain body, etc.
There will be no so-called semi-porce-
lain on granite body, and no c. c. with
granite or nearly porcelain body, as is
now put out to greater or less extent
to capture trade.
The simultaneous closing of the river
and interference with railroad traffic
caused something akin to a coal famine
in some Ohio valley towns and Wheel
ing was mildly reminded of the incon-
venience of such a condition, but to no
great extent Several Of the local deal
ers were short at times and had to meet
the demand by buyingNfrom their bus
mess rivals and in one or two instances
customers were turned away With the
return to normal conditions the receipts
are ample and trade goes on as usual.
The creditors of Wood Bros have
been trying to reach an agreement
which will permit the big planning mill
on the South Side to resume, and some
progress was made in that direction
during the last six days, but the way
is not yet clasr for satisfactory adjust
ment.
An interesting test of potters' clay is
to be made at the Wheeling plant
within the next few days. Oswald
Schick of Bridgeport, a few days ago
received a box of clay from his
brother in Hamburg, Germany, and he
purposes to turn it over to the Wheel
ing Pottery Company to be tested 1t
is said to be something entirely new
to American potters, and if it proves
satisfactory a demand may be created
for it for certain lines of fine ware.
The second set of bids for the large
barn of the Wheeling & Elm Grove
Street Car Company were opened We'd
nesday evening, but the contract has
not yet been awarded. The new build
ing is to cost $4,000. The new ma
chinery to be put in by this company
Is expected to be on hands soon.
The dullness in the coal mining dis
tricts along the c., l.. & w. railroad in
Belmont county continues. but the
near approach of spring makes the en-
ployes and operators hopeful that the
depression will not last long. Most Of
the mines are running half time, but
one of the tipples from which Wheel
ing dealers are supplied could not get
cars last week, and for a few days
operations were Ia standstill.
The Wheeling Street Railway Com
pany took advantage of the frozen con-
dition of the river last week to lay a
cable from their power house at Forty
second street to the opposite side Of
the river where it connects with the
B., B. & NJ. F. line. This has been con-
templated ever since the consolidation
of the two interests and the ice upon
the river suggested a novel plan for
accomplishing the work Accordingly
a narrow channel was cut from bank
to bank and the workmen walked along
the ice and uncoied the big cable
which buried itself at the bottom of
the river, quite as easily as they could
have stretched it upon the open
ground. Power for both lines will pre-
sently be furnished from the South
Side plant, and the power house at
West Wheeling will remain inOpera-
bn Iypnf siU1Dly- for pnpr-