Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-15

QOTClOn U the Vd1I6y nave SltuSl CdhCh
stock or are well on with the work.
The custom of pausing once every year
long enough to make a reconing of
assets and liabilities and observe which
side of the ledger has the preponder-
ance, has long been realized by men of
large business affairs as a necessity.
For doing this the mid-winter or holi-
day season has for several reasons
been considered most propitious, and
during that period there is consequent
ly a stoppage of greater or less dura-
ton. This work, as stated is now we'll
on or completed, and a resumption all
along the line may be looked for. The
season which is now approaching is
confidently looked forward to by many
as the brightest Wheeling and its SUI
burban manufactures has seen for
many years, and it is earnestly hoped
such prophecy may not prove ground
less.
The week just passed has witnessed
some important happenings in the in
dustrial matters of this vicinity, not
the least significant of these being the
retirement of Mr.. Cecil A. Robinson
from the presidency of the LaBeIle
iron works, and the selection OF ms
successor in the person OF Mr.. John II:
Wright. The latter has for years hlled
the responsible position OF secretary
and his knowledge Of the business
should naturally give him much pres
tige in assuming his new duties. IL
was with sincere regret upon the part
of the board of directors that Mi. ROD-
inson was allowed to depart, but the
position of superintendent OF all the
tin plants of the Wheeling district
proffered him by the newly organized
American Tin Plate trust was not TO
be rejected through mere sentiment.
The most interesting rumOr of the
week is that which has it that the
Federal Steel Co. has made hand
some offer for the stock of the Bellalre
Steel Co. This institution has recently
been made one of the most modern and
best equipped plants outside OF the
Carnegie intrests of the Pittsburg dis
trict. and the rumOr that the stock
holders would part with 1t OccaSlOned
no little surprise and speculation Inc
stock is recognized as highly prOhtable
and that the possessOrs would part with
it led to the belief that the offer car
ried with it a handsome premium. In
this the public was not mistaken, as it
has been .ascertained that the stock is
to fetch $2.66. The statement, how
ever. that the $1.66 is to be paid for in
stock in the new organization is piaus-
in,
doubtless develop at the next meeting
of the stockholders, which will take
place at the end of the month.
The effect of the organization OF the
American Tin Plate Company upon the
future of the big industries over the
river has been a matter of speculation
not to say apprehension upon the part
of citizens of the towns dependent upon
such industries for their business pros
perity and material welfare. The
Aetna-Standard and Laughlip tin
plants being in the class which are
capable of maximum production at
minimum cost, the hope was entertain
ed that their activity would not be sup
pressed or abridged. This hope APP
pears to have basis in fact, as the
Standard so far gives no evil
dence of early suspension, and the
Laughlin will resume the current week.
The organization Of the Suburban
Brick Company which embraces all
the machine plants in this section, has
created no little interest among con-
tractors and builders The statement
that comes to the outside world is TO
the effect that the price of brick will
no be materially adEanced, but that the
consolidation was formed primarily to
stead the Wheeling market where
competition has been sharp and prices
low. However beneficial such COM
bination may be to those financially in
terested, the average citizen will look
askance upon a syndicate which has an
ostensible purpose other that an high
er and more uniform market. This
same move was inaugurated three
years ago, but failed then because
some of the largest investors were not
then in a position to cooperate. The
company starts off with paid-up cap
ital of 100000 with the privilege of
increasing the stock five fold. The
syndicate will control an output of
20,000,000 bricks annually.
The nine most important carbon fac
tories in the United States have been
gotten into a combine with a capital of
$4,000, 00O. AS the plant at Washing
ton, Pa, is in the list it was feared it
might be shut down, but Mr.. Henry
Buchanan, superintendent of the
works, says it is intended to run the
local plant right along, and that the
number of hours the old and new fac
tories are running would be increased
shortly At present they are in opera
ton thirteen hours every day. 1t is
likely that the local factory will be
made the eastern distributing point.
There are about nine carbon factories
in the United States, and as the local
one is about the best located for ship
ping, it will likely be The one from
which the shipping will be done.
The potteries have begun to show
signs of early resumption, and two
more weeks will likely see both plants
of the Wheeling Pottery Company on
the South Side in operation. The dec
Grating department at the LaBelle
started up Wednesday and the clay
department followed suit on Friday.
AT the Wheeling plant some repairs
which are now we'll under Roadway will
have to be completed before the ma
chinery is set in motion.
The Stamping works at Bellaire, one
of the most thrifty concerns of the
kind to be found anywh gre. has plenty
orders ahead, and the management