Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-11-07
A CHAPTER ON MATCHES.
Results OF Ingenious Machinery Ia
CheapeninR the Product-Arpen
the Fnvoritc wood Usca.


II was found years ago that each
OF the inhabitants Of Great Britain
consumed on an average eight
matches day. The consumption in
this country per capita is consider
ably larger, though exact statistics
cannot be given because treasury
returns Of the imports Of matches
convey no idea of the number
brought into the country, which Is
certainly large. The foreign matches
are not so cheap as ours, but for one
reason or another there is consider
able demand for them, says the New
York Sun.
If we figure on the British basis Of
eight matches per capita a day the
home consumption is G1O,427O90
matches a day. This enormous fig-
ure may be accepted as approxi-
mately the home consumption Of
home made matches in addition Co
the foreign matches that are found
In all our markets, but &c by no
means represents our total output,
for a considerable quantity of Amer
lean matches are sold in European
and other countries.
Success in matchmaking, at the
present time, is largely a question Of
machinery. Matches arc sold at a
price so exceedingly small that the
machinery for eliminating hand la
Dor and producing excellent matches
at minimum cost have a great ad-
vantage in trade. II Is next to inn
possible for one match factory TO
compete with another unless its ma
chinery is equally efficient. Il can
not buy the machinery used in rival
factories, for Il is almost invariably
the case that a manufacturing con-
cern absolutely controls the patents
IL has thought It advantageous to
employ. In order TO compete sue
ccssfully in the match industry, now
adays, IL is practically essential to
own machinery that IS at least as
perfect as any used by rival vstab-
lishments.
American matchmaking machines
are the best in the world. which ac-
counts for the success of the Amer
lean concern in England the other
day in absorbing the plant usd busi-
ness of the largest British HlGsbllsh-
ment. In the meeting held for the
purpose Of voting upon the proposal
TO amalgamato 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 fcl only a
few years 10 was competing success
fully with their own industry on
their own ground, largely for tho
reason that American machinery was
superior 10 that of British invention.
Our public IS paying for matches
to-day less than half what it paid 90
years ago, though they were then re-
garded as very cheap. Elderly per-
sons can remember the time when
matches were husbanded with con-
siderable care, for IL did not take
very many OF them TO represent the
value Of cent. But now, thanks to
machinery and improved processes,
nobody cares very much how many
matches he wastes trying to light his
pipe on windy day. In fact, match
es are so cheap that the cost Of sup
plying n great country with all the
matches il wants does not reach an
impressive figure. The total product
OF all our match factories Is sold for
less than slO,0O0,00O year, which
cuts very small figure when Il is
remembered that the value OF ma
chimes of all kinds that are produced
in this country every year is alone
about $500, 100000. Match manufac-
turing is n small industry after all.
Not many establishments are re-
quired to turn out the matches this
country needs. over in New Jersey,
only few miles from this city, there
are two factories with capacity to-
gether of 00,O0O,OO0 matches a day.
The largest factory in the country,
at Barberton, O., can turn out 1OO,-
100000 matches day probably a
seventh of the entire consumption.
This country has a great adyan-
tage in the abundance Of aspen,
which tree is superior to all other
timber for match making on account
of its natural qualities and the ease
with which 81 is worked. IL g. light.
spongY and splints easily, and
though pine, linden birch and other
woods are also used in this and
other countries, aspen IS preferred
TO them all. European match manu-
facturers have been engaged in n
scramble for years past 10 secure a
sufficient quantity of aspen. Ger
many Is importing from Russia every
year about 100000 cubic feet of as
pen to supplement her own supplies
Awhile ago the German manufae-
turers petitioned the minister of az
riculture and forestry TO cause tho
foresters in the district where mabnh
factories are situated TO give more.
attention TO raising the aspen. A
similar appeal has been made. 10
their government by the matchmalS--
FRS Of France. Russian manufacture.
era have been opposed TO the whole.
sale depletion OF their forests by for
sign matchmakers and have not been
slow TO appeal 10 the government to.
stop the expectation Of aspen. For.
.unately for our matehmakers. the
nome supply Of aspen IS very large
md the wood Is little used for other.
manufacturing purposes.
FOUND HER RING IN A TREE.