The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-14

The principal topic Of conversation in
local Industrial and financial circles
yesterday was the contamination at
New York on Wednesday Of the great
National tube combine, in which the
Riverside iron works, Of Wheeling Is
m important factor, and OF which
Messrs. j. N. Vance and Frank J.
Hearne are directors, and Mr.. HeaFne
the Arst vice president.
President Vance and General Man
aRer Hearne, of the Riverside, have not
YET returned from New York. The
latter is expected in day or two, but
Mr.. Vance will remain in the east a
week or ten days.
Speaking Of the interview with one OF
the National Tube Company promoters
IN which he said extensive improve
ments that will largely increase pro-
duction are intended. Secretary ]. D.
Culbertson, of the Riverside, said last
night that the Riverside has been add
ing to It's productive ability largely for
some time. He admitted that in gem
eral way his people have plans for still
further improvements and additions
but added that he was not in a position
now to state Just what form and mag
nitude they would assume. He said
the Riverside Iron Works as a corpo-
ration would remain in existence for
some time; its merger into the Nation
al Tube Company combine was already
accomplished, and the stock transfer
has occurred, but there are hundred
and one things yet to do before the old
riverside can be pronounced dead be-
yond doubt and ready for It's final rest
ing place. The Riverside stockholders
without exception, took stock in the
now company.
The plants that are owned by the
National Tube Company are now turn
ing out about 100000 tons Of all classes
Of tubular goods of wrought iron and
steel. embracing hundreds of varieties
from one-slxtenth Of an inch to three
feet in diameter. This includes all
grades of steam, gas and water pipe.
hydraulic pipe, locomotive and station
ary boiler and water tubes, casing,
drive pipe and tubing for oil production
and artesian wells, electric conduit pipe
telephone and telegraph condults, troll
ley poles, ammonia and gas cylinders
bottles, shrapnel shells and projectIles,
hand rails, arch pipe. and innumerable
other varieties for hundreds Of pur-
poses.
President Converse, of the new COM
pany, in statement said: What the
National Tube Company practically
controls the domestic business, 1t is
also powerful factor in the other mar
kets of the world. Year by year the
| American manufacturers have been In
vading new foreign fields, and secur-
ing large business from the British and
German manufacturers. The company
supplies the oil fields of Russia, Bull
garia, Java, Japan, Italy, and Canada
with tubular goods; the Scandinavian
peninsula, Holland, Germany, Mexico,
| Central and South America. China, In
dIa, Australia and other countries and
colonies with large quantities Of mer-
chant pipe: also supplies the South Afri-
can gold and diamond fields with hy-
draullc and tubular supplies. 1t was
but lately that the company shipped
the famous order of ten miles Of TWEEN
ty-eIght-lnch steel, high-pressure.
water-llne pipe to the Rand mines.
earning three bonuses OF 91,OOO each
for quick delivery. This order was
taken in public competition with the
manufacturers of the world. The COM
pany also supply boiler tubes to all OF
the steam-uslng countries OF the world.
Some Of the electric railways in Lon
don are supplied by this company and
It's trolley poles are seen on nearly
every electric line in the world. The
company are now supplying large
quantities of high-pressure gas and
water lines, and have heavy contracts
with the Standard OIL Company for the
supply Of high-pressure oil lines and
other tubular goods used in their oil
production. Very high-grade charcoal.
iron and seamless locomotive boiler
tubes are among the company's spec
ialtles. as also boilers for the battle
ships OF the government, notably the
Oregon, which used these tubes on Its
phenomenal voyage without having a
single leakage or replacement. The for
elgn offices OF the company are located
at Dock house, BiIliten street, Lon
dom"
The company gives employment to
$4,000 men. there being 5000 at its Nc
Reesport mills alone. The consollda-
ton has attracted special interest.
because Of the unusual and exhaustive
methods employed In establishing 1t, as
well as by the large interests involved
The properties have been acquired af-
ter months of negotiation and exnminn-
ton, the latter by famous mechanical
and construction experts.
Mr.. William Nelson Cromwell, gem
eral counsel Of the National Tube Com
pany. and one OF the consolidation pur-
chasers. in IN interview on the future
OF the company. said: 1.-THE company
owns large number Of patents, among
which are several OF such fundamental
character rs to enable 1t TO control