122 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [254 



men was not heartily in favor of their enforcement. Finally, 

 in 1905, in conference with the American Sheet and Tin 

 Plate Company, the limit of output was abolished." 



The tin industry did not begin to flourish in this country 

 uhtil early in the nineties. The Cleveland convention of 

 1894, following the precedent established by the puddlers 

 and sheet-mill hands, placed a limit on a turn's output in 

 tin-plate mills. -'^ The limit was 5000 pounds of Standard 

 tin plates — that is, no. 30 gauge plates, 20 by 56 inches.-" 

 The alleged reason for the restriction was the fear of ex- 

 cessive output by the more able-bodied workmen and a con- 

 sequent reduction of wages by manufacturers. The work- 

 men also thought that by limiting the output the number of 

 men who would be able to obtain employment would be 

 increased. 



The workmen soon proved that they were capable of a 

 greater output. Accordingly, the limit was gradually in- 

 creased until in 1903 it was 6250 pounds on no. 30 gauge.^° 

 In addition, there was a provision in the scales that the limit 

 of output might be increased on the wider sizes of sheets." 



-' Proceedings, 1906, p. 7562. 



28 Proceedings, 1894, pp. 4508, 4671. All turns are eight hours- 

 three turns a day. 



-" In making tin plates, bars of steel are heated in pair furnaces 

 and then passed through chilled rolls until the plates are of the re- 

 quired gauges. The steel plates are immersed in sulphuric acid, 

 which removes all foreign substances, and are then placed in an- 

 nealing furnaces. This process toughens the plates and makes them 

 pliable. They are then passed through chilled rolls which give a 

 smooth surface to the plates, are annealed once more, and after a 

 final bath in sulphuric acid they are stored in water boshes to pre- 

 vent rusting until they are required in the finishing department. In 

 the finishing department the plates are passed through a flux which 

 floats on top of the molten tin, tlien through the tin, then through 

 palm oil, then through rolls which remove all surplus metal from 

 the sheets, then through a branner which removes all oil and grease, 

 then through what are known as " skin rolls," which remove all dust 

 and polish the sheets, after which they are assorted. Most tin plates 

 manufactured are nos. 30 and 31 gauges. 



•""'Proceedings, 1895, p. 4777; 1904, p. 6902; Western Scales of 

 Prices, 1902-1903. pp. 33-34; 1903-1904. PP. 34-35- 



31 An excess of ten per cent above the limit on sizes soj.'i by 56, 

 and fifteen per cent above the limit on 26 inches wide and over 

 (Western Scales of Prices, 1904-1905, pp. 34-35)- 



