The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-07-17
MR.. WILLIAM HARVEY WRITES
TO HEAD OF STEEL COR
PORATIoN.
Cites Importance Of Local Plant and
Effect Of Its Long Idleness
Upon This Community.


Since the announcement wa made
that the Riverside plant at Benwood.
a subsidiary of the United States
Steel Corporation. would resume op-
erations next Monday there have been
various claims as 10 the influences
which worked TO secure this resump-
ton. Mr.. William Harvey. Of this
city. a large stakeholder in the Riv-
erside. and for 35 years connected
with the firms which were finally
merged into this extensive plant. has
informed The Intelligencer that as
long ago as June / he wrote Judge
Gary. the executive head OF the United
States Steel Corporation. on this sub
ject. and has furnished a copy OF
that letter. which IL revealing IN many
things. and speaks for itself.
Mr.. Harvey's Letter.
Wheeling. W. Va. June /. 1915.
Hon. r. II. Gary.
New York.
Dear Sir.-Enclosed ind newspaper
clipping which Is self explanatory and
quoted a. follows. President Farrell OF
the United states steel Corporation
OF their capacity From this data
there would seem very little hope or
announcement FOR the old employees OF
IS per cent remaining unemployed and
quite a number OF these who were old
and faithful servants have been com
PEELED TO sell their homes. while others
have been mortgagcd as last resort IN
the hope that II ever the mill should
get started again they might save their
property from being sacrificed. This IA
quite natural on their part for the par
ticular reason that the Riverside be-
fore becoming a member OF ne u ,
giving more steady employment TO Its
employees than any other Icon or steel
vicinitles. This record was well earned
they being the FIRST TO manufacture
steel nails In the United States and fur
Their there are quite a number % your
around Pittsburgh that well know that
steel Pipe was nrst made successfully
antaEonism by quite a number Of prom
incnt pipe makers Nho are now classed
among the higher officials OF the Cor
poration. These remarks may appear ~
you a. impolite and dictatoriai but I
have been impOrtun0d BY a number OF
resident stockholders 70 write this In
which is suffering from 80 many idle
workmen.
Only survivor.
You are doubtless aware that all the
died ie IN the past few Years ' and nam am
the only one OF the office force remain
ing and some Of the stockholders
strongly intimated 10 me that by TAX
ing up this subject I would ronly be
performing a duty In their interest and
the community al large. quite a number
% these interested parties were closely
associated with our officials while iv-
Ing and were very familiar with our
financial affairs before the consolids-
ton and know quite we'll as this record
will show that the Riverside" trans
ferrcd. more valuable assets 20 the cor
Yoratlou than any other one OF the cub
further ~ was well Understood that the
Committee ON Organization who visit
loud IN their praise Of the Auditors
statement on our financial report. and
Mr. W Nelson Cromwell individually
complimcnted us by stating very point
cdly after our Directors session with
them had closed that no L. s. Steel Cor
porstion would have been formed ~ the
'hiverside Iron Works had declined
II now close BY hoping that tho old
Riverside will not remain cold much
the rs per cent class and not remain
whore IL has been for 30 many. months
IDLE. shall hope that come reply
may be received from you and remain
Yours Respectfully.
WM. HARVEY.
old Rivalry.
Mr. Harvey brings out a very I'm
pOrtant point. that there would have
been no Steel corporation n the
Riverside had held out from the com
bine. but he makes an equally import
ant statement In that the Riverside
was the pioneer In the manufacture or
steel tubing. which was subsequently
taken up by the McKeesport. IA.
works. Mr. Harvey relates that thore
was considerable rivalry between that
plant and the Riverside. but that the
Benwood plant always held 10 own
After tho merger. however. 20 seems
that all the favors went 20 the Nc
kcc port plant. being IN the PITTS
burRh district and this fact may have
more 20 do with the long spells OF
idleness Of the Riverside than the
reasons given On the following letter
which Mr. Harvey received IN reply
10 the one quoted above This letter
came from tho corporation headquar-
ters. New York. and was dated June
q. being answered for Judge Gary by
Raynal q. Boiling. the general solici-
Tor ~ the corporation. % reads 81
follows.
The Answer
your letter % June 1916. has been
referred tu ue. tt Del RI matter ~ much
regret f0 the officers OF fhf United
states steel Corporation thaf aI tle
National Tube COMPANY ars rrf Ir nr.
GRAFTON. Due fhnt ie sHmrfhInE which
'a.n' 'Hr pc 'tirni .H
DEPENDS UPON fna FrnrrHl business ..r.
I'N.ra "f inc country. NuW hHH fNHa"
condition have been Enu arr i.HbfI.s
VOL aware While am no Familiar
uifn frH reasons which have Iaf our .u.
Grating Officials HH Doc che HIUsraIfH
plant remain iIIe when Other r.ar..
: