Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-10
STEEL PLANTS TO BE MOVED

STEEL PLANTS III BIZ MOfED
Ioterest in the steel strike yesterday
centred In three things: The state.
ment from President Gompers, Of the
American Federation Of Labor, ap-
proving the Amslgamated Associations
position, and Offering aid; the snnoun-
ced determination tf the Steel Trust to
remove the big w. Dew ees Wood Mill
from McKeesport, coupled with q
threat to remove also the plant of the
National Tube Works from the same
city, and the interview with w. G.
Davis, Vice President of the Amalga-
mated In the Chicago district, who re.
signed his place IN the mill yesterday
and expressed regret that Shaffer
should have felt the strike necessary.
The news that the McKeesport Sheet
Mill was to be removed carried con.
stefnation to that town, but late last
night the National Tube Company
N 8de the announcement that the big
tube works in the same town, employ
ing $500 men, we're TO be removed.
This statement was made positively.
The oficaliwho gave the news would
not say where the tube works would
be moved to, but IL is probable that
Conneaut, Pa, is the prospective cite.
Before the formrtion of the United
States Steel Company, the Carnegie
Company announced that it would
build $l2, ,000,0 600 plant at Copneaut.
and that 1t had secured 5000 acres Ct
land for the purpose. rne Carnegie
Company has huge ore docks there.
and the Pittsburg, Bessemer and Lake
Erie Railroad, which has q terminus at
ConDeaut, ls also owned by the United
states Steel Corporation.
During the last week the Anal
gamated Associations organizers have
been ct work In the tube COM
psny's mills, and vile Colonel
Hesrne, the president OF the COM
papy, did not cay that bis men
would obey Shaffer's strike order 1t was
evident that he expected that many OF
them would would quit. This is what
Colonel Hearne says:
"We are grieved over the action OF
our men In forcing the National Tube
Company into this contest sgainst its
will, but now that we are In 1t there is
only one course open. We had intend
ed to make the plant at McKeesport the
best tube works in the world, and to
replace all of the plants with the most
modern land up-to-date equipment.
That we will DOT do so now is most cer-
tain, ss the town has proved 80 hostile
TO company which was working for
its interest that the municipal authori-
ties have taken the remarkable posi-
ton of not only not allowing
any OF the men OF the town to
work for us, but OF not permitting men
to come to the town in search Of work.
At the settlement OF the last strike our
men at Wheeling went under contract
that they were not to demand any in
crease in wages without three months
notice, the company also being pledged
not to reduce wages without like
notice. 10 July we were asked for an
increase and without waiting until
October, when the three months would
be up, we increased their wages, be-
ginning with July l. Now these men
have given US notice that they will 90
out aDd do you wonder we are dis
gusted?'
From the positive statement OF Presi-
dent Hesrne that none Of the improve
ments contemplated at McKeesport
would be undertaken there can only be
one inference. but he absolutely re-
fused to discuss the future plans
of the company. His disappointment
with the stste of affairs at Wheel.
ing Is also significant. A promi'
nent official Of the company, who re-
fused to allow bis name to be used, stat
ed that the Carnegie Compsny's plans
for q big plant at Conneaut were 10 pos
session Of the company, but that while
things were running satisfactorily at
Wheeling and McKeesport there WIS a
reluctance to move the mills.
Workmen will today tear down and
dismantle the w. Devices Wood Mills
OF the American Sheet Steel Company
10 McKeesport. The order was issued
yesterday, and Superintendent Samuel
NJ. Cooper stated yesterday that the
| work Of dismsntliDg would begin to-
day at O'Clock. The strikers are
paraly zed at the suddenness of the or
der to move the mill. especially as ex-
pensive and complete repairs have just
been effected. Vice President Smith
says the company is removing the mills
because of the attitude of Mayor Rob
ert J. Black, who has announced thal
he will not allow the bringing in of any
strike breakers, and will send them 10
the workhouse II they doicome.