New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-16
TIN PLATE MORALS
SWaasea's Enlarged Trade-The
Payne Tariff.
Swansea. April %.

This stronghold of Welsh industry
edapts itself TO foreign nepetition and
profits by il. When the Mckinley tariff
WAS enacted years ago manufacturers
and shippers here were panicstricken-
America had been the largest market Tor
lin plate, the staple prodgct of the town,
and il was suddenly closed by what
seemed a prohibitive protective duty.
For long time a revenue duty had been
imposed, and as il was not high enough
10 foster the home industry there was
no competition in the manufacture OF
tin plate. and the price was not reduced
because the demand exceeded the sup
ply. Under the Mckinley act the in
dustry was introduced in America under
favorable conditions: the processes OF
manufacture were simplified by the SUBJ
stitution of machinery for manual labor.
and there was terrible depression in
swansea over what appeared the in
evitable loss of the best market.
welshmen are not easily beaten when
they are fighting for life blood. They
have survived the Mckinley tariff and
several variants of it which have left the
-AfEtitNCA. .-lciltS AiiADSAAS 80
vantage over rival manufactures abroad
Swansea, instead OF being ruined. has
multiplied its foreign markets, enor-
mously increased its product of tin plate
improved its processes Of manufacture,
adapted itself TO American requirements
and prospered generally. There are no
signs of decadence either in the ware
houses, with their floor area of three
hundred thousand square feet, or in the
three and one-llalf miles of quays and
docks for shipping The tin plate works,
the copper smelling furnaces. the patent
fuel factories and the coal mines pro-
vide trustworthy employment for pop
aiIation of over hundred thousand.
Tin plate is now shipped to thirty-six
countries, Japan, China, Corea and Siam
being among them, and the home con-
sumption has been largely increased.
Every improved process adopted in
America has been employed here
thinner wash Of tin is used in the treat
naert Of the steel plates, economies have
been introduced in the acid and palm oil
baths. and a man and hoy with SUI
rerior machinery accomplish the work
which formerly employed seven pairs of
hands Swansea has kept abreast of the
times and saved her principal industry
from destruction.
America remains the best foreign Gus
TONER for tin plate. notwithstanding the
development of its own industry. The
shipments TO the United States amounted
last wear TO 55,3SS tons out of an aggre
gate export of $4,000 tons to foreign
countries by coastwise commerce here
end in Liverpool This was twice as
much as Was exported ia either Russia,
Germany, Japan or Holland Tin plate
makes 81. 015.094 of the direct exports
Of 81. 22S.0Il for last year from Swansea
10 the United states, but as much more
went out Of the district through Liver
pool.
There was a reduction of duties from
~ cents a pound under the Dingley law
tc = cents under the Payne tariff. This
does not seem 10 have materially in
creased the shipments to America, al
though it may ultimately 10 SO. The
experienced vice-consub w. p. Rees,
tells me thai a considerable portion Of
the steel used in the tin plate manu-
Tacture here comes from America.
Manufacturers can get the bars more
economically. in that way than by pur-
chasing thorn in the home market.
American steel is washed in Swansea
with solutions Of tin and sent back as
tin plate. and not a little of it returns to
Europe ia cans for oil and tins Tor meat
and other food products.
4 The last anomaly is explained by the
I. provisions of the American tariff for re-
bate when the tin plate is used in the
manufacture Of cans or tins for export.
OF the duty Of ! > cents pound on i'm
ported tin plate there is a drawback of
~ per cent when the tins go out of the
country in. the export trade. Swansea,
while obtaining a considerable supply of
steel from America, profits by the ex-
I port of oil and food products. because
much of its tin plate is shipped to New
York or Chicago and converted into
! cans and tins, which are filleG and sent
abroad
The duty, which was reduced in the
Payne act. sufices to protect the tin
. plate industry in America. and the pro-
!. visions for rebate help TO promote the
. manufacture Of tins and cans and TO en-