The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-13

mills, but no sooner did the American
plates appear on the market than. the
British manufacturers began TO cut prices
and kept on cutting until the price was "a
a box. No further effort was made in
this country TO make tin plates, because 1T
was now proved that it was within the
power of the foreign makers to control the
market by cutting prices whenever COM
petitor appeared. The price reached
box again. and continued there.
American iron manufacturers were not
content to leave so valuable an industry
in the hands of foreigners with the power
TO extort any price they might name. Con-
sequently, when the Mckinley tariff law
of 1891 was passed, duty of % cents a
pound was imposed upon tin plates. The
Democratic and free-trade press set up a
howl against the proposition to make tin
plates in this country. They declared that
it could not be done. They belittled every
attempt to start tin plate factories. A
small factory was started in Anderson.
and the Indianapolis Sentinel printed
picture of the small house in which the
timing was done and was exceedingly gay
at the expense of three or four Americans
who were trying to build up new indus
try. But the industry has grown from
an output of 2,2S7,76O pounds in 1891 to ss4.-
All, $40 pounds in 1901. The duty now is
about the same in the German tariff
act, namely 15 cents a pound. American
manufacturers are about supplying the
market. The present price is s432 for a
box of los pounds. While the Welsh man.
ufacturers controlled our market the price
never fell to s4.32, and usually was nearer
ST. The free-traders would cut the duty
on tin plates in order that the old Welsh
monopoly may have another opportunity
to cripple the tin plate industry in this
country with a view of controlling prices.
The first result of a very low duty on tin
! plates would be a cut in the wages of the
American workmen. At the present time
their pay is double that of men employed
in the European factories. There is no
machinery in tin plate making that can
give us the advantage. In the plate mills
of Wales women and children are largely
employed, while very few are employed
in American plate factories.
The making of tin plates is largely an
| Indiana industry. 1t has brought to FL
wood and other places large number of
| skilled workmen with families who con-
tribute to the trade of those towns and
the market for the products of farmers
in the vicinity. The difference between the
present British and American price of
plates makes little or no difference In the
price of ordinary tinware. Canned goods
are no higher because of the price of tin
plate, because. all things considered, the
price Is lower now than 1t was when the
| Welsh factories supplied our market To
| builders who use tin and other coated
plates for roofing the cost is more and
always has been more, here than in Eng
land, but the cost was from so to Is pei
cent. more during all the years that the
| prices of tin plate were made by the
British monopoly. 1t is not worth while
to begin lowering the American standard
| of wages by opening our markets to a freeI
competition in the manufacture of tin
| plates.