Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-24

startle our imagination, and are almost
beyond comprehension; and recent hg-
ures made up from information collect
ed bv the Department of Commerce
show that in 1916 this was increased by
over one-fourth; and in 1917, according
to the estimates Of the can makers, it
| will be increased by over one-half. --.rs
| There are twelve tin plate mills In
this country, whose combined output,
according to the census Of 1914. is 2,0S4,-
| $50, $50 pounds, requiring 20,S45,366 boxes
| of tin plate.
Between one-third and one-half Of all
the tin plate used in this country Is
used in manufacturing containers for
| food products. The export Of tin plate
last year was 100000 boxes; of these
| 1900. 900 boxes were shipped to Canada.
Large shipments Of tin plate are made
to Asia. used extensively in the oil bus
mess. and for many other purposes. as
is much Of the plate used in this coun-
| try.
Export Of Tin Plate.
The export Of tin plate has been con-
, stantly increasing. and in 1916 was
nearly three times greater than In 1915,
in 1915. to $4,000, 600 pounds in 1916. The
export of tin, including tin cans and
miscellaneous tinware have doubled in
the last two years. The exports Of tin
plate during the eight months ending
February Of this year amount to 3d.
100000 pounds. and at this rate promise
to equal, by the end Of the current fiscal
| year, the expectations in 1916
| The imports Of tin in bars. pigs, etc.
for the eight months of the current fis-
I cal year amounted to $4,000, 900 pounds,
and apparently for the full fiscal year
will show decrease as compared with
| 1916
1t is readily to be seen that the in
crease in export Of tin plate and the de-
crease In import of pig tin causes a
scarcity Of tin containers which 10 of
great seriousness at this time; and 1t is
of vital Importance that some relief be
given Immediately.
Tin plate has advanced from $3.50 to
more than $500 per box within a few
months. (but you could not buy pound
of plate today at this price, and cans
| of all sizes in the same proportion.
know Of no can manufacturer who
dared to contract for any considera BILE
number Of cans at any price this sea
son.
| The necessity for containers for food
products is of as much Importance as
the product itself
The Shortage Foressen.
The annual convention Of canned
food packers Of the United States was
| held at Cleveland. Ohio early in Febru-
airy. Representative packers from ev-
cry. or nearly every state in the Union
were present, and although the gravity
Of the situation had not become so
| acute as at present there was a pessi-
mistic feeling that shortage might oc-
cur. and packers were reluctant about
accepting orders for future delivery,
even at advanced prices.
After the Cleveland convention the
attention Of the secretary Of the Asso-
citation was called to the embargo
which had been laid by the railroads on
Gamers supplies. This included seeds,
tin plate. Gamers empty cans and
shipping boxes Several times the Of
! fee of the National Gamers was in
formed that can factories were mot
running full capacity because Of the in
ability to get tin plate. The trouble
was first thought to be caused by the
railroad embargo. and personal repre-
sensations were made by the Associa-
ton to the American Railway Associ-
alton It was also taken up in a per-
sonal way with a number Of the traffic
managers of individual roads.
BY the direction Of the financial
committee Of the association the atten-
ton of DR.. Alsherg, chief Of the bureau
of chemistry Of the Department of
Agriculture, was called to this matter
and it was shown him that while the
embargoes were serious the lifting Of
these would but temporarily relieve the
situation, for ir the meantime II devel-
oped that there was an actual shortage
| Of tin plate. DR.. Alsberg brought this
to the attention Of Secretary Houston
and he IN turn to Secretary Redfeld
The matter was taken up vigorously by
| q special committee consisting Of DR.
A1sberg. representing the Department
| Of Agriculture. and DIR. Pratt. repre-
senting the Department Of Commerce
A letter was addressed to the American
Railway Association. signed by the two
secretaries, asking that the embargoes
be lifted. At their request, Chairman
| willard, Of the National Defense Com
mittee. sent personal wires to the traf-
| fic managers Of all the principal rail-