Tin Plate Truths

in order to determine the much mooted question whether tin plates are yet made in this country, except in an exrimental way, the secretary of the Pin Plate Consumers' association sends ont,to the members of the association ,he following circnlar: In f ortherance of tho objects of he Tin Plato onsainers' aftsociation tho directora respectully request tho members of the association 0 furnish inontbly returns of all American nade tin plates inirehased by them, beginnini; vith tho inouth of January, 18K; also stating whether auy American made tin plates have 'een boujrht by them previous to tho lst of same month, and, if so, what quantity, sizes and kinds. Tho namcs of thosO forwarding the informaion will bo regarded as confldential by tha directora, and wiU not be published. Respectf ully yours, Robert Ganz, Secretary. In response to this circular 115 replies have been received, of which exactly 100 declare that the writers have not bought imy American made tin plate. Here are a few samples of the replies received: California- San Francisco: We have not been able to obtain any American made tin or terne plates so f ar. Connecticut - New Haven: We use only tiighest grade tin plate, and we have not heard of any of these being'manufactured. Illinois- Chicago: Havcn't been able to flnd any. Dundee: The tin plate which wo use is not yet made in the United States. Uighland: Obtained none up to date. Chicago: None of any kind except a sample box of 20 by 28 terne. Indiana- Vincennes: We have not had any American made tin plate yet. Indianapolis: We have obtained no American tin plates whatever. Kentucky - Louisville: I cannot buy any that 1 know of. Louisiana- N#w Orleans: As yet have not been offered auy. .uaryianu- isauimore: üave not Deen aDle to obtain any. Have neither bought nor been oflered any American tin plate. Ridgely: We hare never seen a sheet of American made tin plates, and uever bad any offers or riuotations. Massacbusetts - Boston: Have not seen or heard of any American tin plates in this market. Boston: We have tiot boui;ht nor have we been oflered a single sheet of Anierican tin plate. Michigan - Adrián: We have not been able to flnd any tin plates suitable for our use, except imported article. If you know of any manufacturers of the articlo we would like to have their address. Missouri- Kansas City: On Dec. 3 last we ordered a carload lot of tin plates for January delivery from American mannfacturer. There is no immediatejrofipect of getting same, and we will cancel oriier. Nebraska- Omaha: None offered, and we do not believe there is any in the market. Iowa- Sioux City: B'ive boxes. New York- Brooklyn: Have neither bought nor had any offered to me. Have not been able to flnd any suitable for my purposes on inaking inquiry. Buffalo: Have not bought any tin plate manufactured in this country; none offered at any price. New York city: Have not seen any eicept in Tribune newspaper. Wavwly: None offered. Woodstown: Have not bought any A merican tin plate. Do not know where it is made. Uliio- Cincinnati: We have not bought or Been any Anierican tin or terne plates for commercial use; only political. Pennsylvania- Phüadelphia: We have not been ablo. to buy a single sheet of American tin plate. Pittsburg: Cannot get any, but would like to. Wisconsin- Milwaukee: We have not had any American tin plate offered to us, consequently have not made any purchases. Of the fifteen replies stating that the writers have purchased American made plates, the following are examples: Ohio-Cleveland: One box: but price too high for us. Pennsylvania- Phüadelphia: Five boxes. We have had no plates offered to us by any manufactura'. The above were bought to try the quality. The entire purehases tip to the present, since the dutv went into effect here, arnounted to only 065 boxes, or an average of less than six boxes to each of the fijrns which have sent in reports. And yet the high tariff jom-nals are making the claim that we already produce several thousand boxes per day. But what becomes of this tin plate?