Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-12-19

auN oiNfl tNNNlIi'"f
Success in matchmaking. az tho
present time. Is largely a question Of
machinery. Matches arc sold az
price so exceedingly small that the
machinery for eliminating hand la
bor and producing excellent matches
at a minimum cost have o great nd-
vantage IN trade. IL Is next 20 Inn
possible FOR one natoh factory to
compete with another unless its ma
chinery Is equally eaicient 10 cam
not buy the machinery used In rival
factories, for 10 Is almost invariably
the case that q manufacturing con-
Germ absolutely controls the patents
Il has thought ~ advantageous TO
employ. In order 20 compete suo-
eessfully in the match industry now
adays, Il Is prGcilcally essential 20
own machinery that is az least as
perfect as any used by rival estab-
hshmeuts.
American match-maEing machines
are the best I'm the world, which ac-
counts for the success OF the Amer
lean concern IN England the other
day In absorbing the plant and busi-
ness OF the largest British establish
ment. In the meeting held for the
purpose OF voting upon the proposal
TO amnlgamate the two concerns, the
president of the American company,
addressing the shareholders Of tho.
British company. told them plainly
that though the American enterprise
had occupied the British iel only a
few years Il was competing success.
fully with their own industry on
their own ground. largely for the
reason that American machinery was
superior to that Of British invention.
Our public IS paying for matches
to-day less than half what IL paid 20
years ago, though they were then re.
garded as very cheap. Elderly per-
sons can remember the time when
mntchos we're husLanded with con
siderable care, for Il did not take
very many OF them 10 represent the
value Of O cent. But now, thanks to
machinery and improved processes.
nobody cares gc-y much how many
matches he wastes trying TO light his
pipe on o windy day. In fact, match
es are so chenp that the cost Of sup
plying n great country with an the
matches It wants does not reach an
impressive figure. The total product
OF all our match factories is sold for
less than SlO,OO0.OO0 a year, which
cuts a very small figure when it IL
remembered that the value Of ma
chimes of all kinds that are produced
IN this country every year Is alone
about $500 100000. Match mapufac.
turing Is a small Industry after al.
Not many establishments are re.
quired TO turn out the matches this
country needs. Over IA New Jersey,
Only a few miles from this city. there
are two factories with capacity to-
getLer OF 0O,0OO,O01 matches day.
The largest factory In the country,
az barbcrton, D., can turn ont i0O,-
o01o00 matches a day, probably
seventh Of the entire consumption.
This country has great adyan-
lage la the abundance OF aspen.
which tree Is superior to al other
timber for match making on account
OF ita nntural qualities and the ease
with which IL Is worked II Is light.
sponey nnd splints easily and
though pine, linden birch and other
woods are also used Ia ihls aud
other countries, aspen is preferred
10 them an European match manu-
mcturers have been engaged in
scramble ior yenrs past 10 secure
,u0ioieni Guaniity of aspcn Ger
many ia importiug from liansia every
year about a.s0oooo cubic feet Of as
pen to supplement her own supplies.