The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-19

While 1t would not be to his inter-
ests to speak adversely to what he
says below. his standing in the busi-
ness world and the fact that figures
are not biased. make acceptable what
follows from w. NJ. Blocker. vice -pres.-
dent of the Canton Roll and Machine
company. who Is now in this city. WIS.,
iting the trade in the interests of his
company, which makes a specially Of
rolls used in bolt and mt works. steel
mills and like Industries. Speaking tn
a Tribune reporter on the subject in
which Scranton is now intensely inter-
ested-tin plate-Mr. Blocker said:
Tin plate manufacture is, to my
mind one of the most inviting, if not
the most inviting. of any industrial in
vestment ! am familiar with. And
there are others who share my opin-
ion.
I'VE are building a complete plant
or the Waynesburg. Pa. Tin Plate
company. to which the town gave five
acres Of land. a $40. 900 bonus and sub
scribed the capital stock twice over.
I'VE are also building four mills for
the Tyler Charcoal Iron Tin mills. of
Washington. Pa. which has for some
time been operating a two-mill plant,
which has sold all its product for the
coming five years at the market price.
1t will have a capacity of 5000 boxes
a week and expects to work fifty weeks
a year. which means a gross sale of
over a million dollars.
I'VE are also furnishing part OF the
equipment OF the Sharon, Pa. Tin
Plate company's new ten-mill plant.
Those plants are all independent and
located near Pittsburg."
A GOOD LOCATION.
Asked what he thought of Scranton
as a location for a tin plate plant Mr..
Blocker said:
Il have been building tin plate ma =
chinery for eight years, ever since the
industry began to develop in this coun-
try. and have frequently visited all the
tin plate plants in this country. have
also made myself acquainted with the
industrial advantages your city affords
and will say unreservedly that in my
opinion, Scranton is admirably adapted
for tin plate manufacture. Fuel is a
principal factor: railroad facilities and
a nearness to the market are import
ant. You have cheap fuel and an eX-
,ellent railroad service. AS to the mar
ket. all ! need say Is that sixty per
cent. of the tin plate used in this coun-
try Is consumed east of the Alle-
ghenies, and four-fifths Of all sales are
made in New York city.
ITO show the importance OF tin
plate plant to city, look at New
castle. Pa. which has two large plants
OF fifty mills, with a monthly wage ac.
count Of about $165.0OO. That city has
grown from 1900 to $4,000 in eigh
years, largely due to the tin plate in,
dustry. The workmen engaged in the
manufacture of tin plate, according tc
the industrial statistics of Pennsylva
mia, are the best paid in the state.
SIX-MILL PLANT.
"A six-mill plant. such as ] under
stand Is to be established here, is con
sidered to be the limit of economical
management for one good man. Sue!
plant would enable a manufacture
to take advantage of all the economics
ehected by proper division of labor.
when tin plate was selling at $2.6
per box, the manufacturers were re
ceiving twenty per cent returns ol
their investment. Today tin plate 4
selling al the mills for $4.65 a box an,
this price will hold good for this year
In my opinion. no independent plan
well located and judiciouslv manage,
should fail to make big money and tina
for many years. No better investment
in my opinion. can be made, and you
citizens should not fail in locating
tin plate plant in this city"