New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-24

chief" Mr.. Stevenson remarked dreamily
and remlniscently why. one OF them
married chorus girl
First In Tinplate Industry.
Imperturbable and easy in manner, Mr.
! Stevenson took the examination as an OPP
portunity to tell Of the most striking Things
OF the struggle I'm tho steel industry before
the great consolidation.
He described the early stages Of the tin
plate industry in which he was the first
successful manufacturer in this country,
the growth Of his enterprises in that lin"
| and their final absorption into the American
Tir Plate Company His story of the New
Castle Sheet and Tnplste Company was
onliyened by his account OF the negotiations
with Judge Moore and Daniel g. Reid for
the sale Of the plant.
| II had ma doots" said Mr.. Stevenson. In
answer TO tho question whether he was to
receive tho whole ~ the agreed price in
cash The thing depended. he said. on
whether Judge Moore and his associates
could raise the money, and finally he took
| 81. jOo. 600. though only S350ooo ~ II was
I'm cash and the rest was stock
lie then told Of his nail plants and other
| steel producing NfUlNl'Ns 'A' "'' VI - 80
| his own mauucr. no matter how hard coun-
self tried to keep him down TO direct an
sTcrs
The producers Of wire nails had IN face
active competition. Mr.. Stevenson said. and
particularly that OF the American Steel
and Wire Company. now subsidiary ot
tho Steel Corporation. Then Nj. Cotton
asked him whether that competition was
very active.
Very" replied Mr.. Stevenson. pronounc-
ing the word rs n II contained hair
dozen RS There were about forty com
NAMES and all were 1shmaelizcd-every
mans hand raised against his ncIEhbor
A Gentlemen's Agreement.
II mind. once We we're meeting al the
Wcdden House I'm Cleveland. and we fixed
prices OF nails AT 81 - a keg. We quit for
luncheon. and Frank Baackes of the
American Steel and Wire Company. went
downstairs TO the telegraph office. We Just
agreed to a pricc-mnd you-and he sent
telegram to n man, saying;
81 booked your order for ten thousand
kegs at 81 40
II was sending a similar telegram 10 my
partners. quoting 81 %, too,' Mr. Steven
son continued. undisturbed by the roar OF
laughter which he produced. and tho girl
got mixed up and handed me Baackes's
telegram to know II It was right l read
it and stuffed it In my pocket
when we got back TO the meeting !
handed IL to the chairman. lie read It and
said: Kick him downstairs. I'll pay the
fine"
Mr.. Stcvenson's apparent desire 10 an
swer questions his own way did not change
when Richard v. Lindabury, OF counsel for
the Steel Corporation. began the cross-ex-
animation, and almost at the outset Mr..
Stevenson scored what he seemed to enjoy
a. a point
He was asked when he first entered into
the steel business, and he replied that this
was in 1875 as a young man.
AS a boy I happened to see Henry Bes-
semer blow his first sheet Of steel, and he
made a fine mess Of It," said Mr.. Steven
son remlniscently.
Didn't you stay and wait till he made
success OF it2' asked Mr. Lindabury.
The man was a lawyer" replied the
witness, and looked innocently toward the
array OF counsel in front OF him
But he finally succeeded. did he not?'
asked counsel.
HE had tried in Sheffield and failed.
Later It was found that Scotch metal was
more luid--you know they brought 1t here
to make the American eagle on stoves and
other decorative designs-but he failed with
,that too. Finally, he went to Sweden and
found pure iron ore and made good steel"
explained Mr.. Stevenson.
That's the way lawyers do said Mr..
Lindabury,, smiling at the witness
successfully steel?' asked Mr.. Steven
son blandly, but finally Joining in the laugh
ter that followed his words.