The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-18
From the Baltimore american
THE IRON MANUFACTURE.

Appended to the Report of the Committee on Man
ufactures some interesting statements relative to
various important domestic interests communica-
ton from Mr.. W. Young, Superintendent of the
Mount Savage Iron works. near Cumberland in this
State, gives valuable information concerning
the manufacture Of Amer can iron.
MIR. Young states, In answer to an lnterrogatory
from the committee, that duty of 20 per cent. ad
paiorem would be altogether inadequate to sustain the
iron masters of the country. With reasonable be-
lief tn i our legis ators would modify the Compro-
mise act and give suitable protection those en-
gagged in the iron manufacture, whose means enable
them to do So have prepared to continue their works
in operation this year and work up their stock OF ma
terals But, it is added if the Compromise act goes
into effect, there will not be blast furnace, using
charcoal in operation in the year lo43 IN Vermont,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia, east
of the mountains,
The reasons for this belief are given 1t is shown
by reference to the prices of English ron quoted
from the circulars of Jevous, Sons K Co. OF Liver
pool from 1906 to 1885, that variations took place so
exactly adapted to the state of the American market
at different periods as to show that the control OF
prices was in the hands of the British manufacturers,
and that the same used to prostrate if possible,
the iron establishments of the United States. In
1882 the minimum price in England was fixed TO meet
our tariff; and the minimum of lS4l to operate on
our manufactures like wasting disease
One fourth of all the iron works in England, Wales
last, by agreement among the masters. The guam
tity produced having brought prices to their lowest
stage this resorted to for the purpose OF
elevatng them again--and probably Tor aaother pur-
pose also viz set all their works into operation
at the fall of our Tariff in june and by putting prices
down to embarrass the American establishments
Mr. Young says "lf the Compromise act goes into
effect in June our markets will be glutted IN July
with the present surplus stocks in England. Their
works now living idle Zone fourth of the whole) will
he ,ufp ntiona
till our works are abandoned, after which they Will
be advanced al ibit,m. When arrived at point at
which we could make iron with moderate proht,
should any be foolish enough to invest capital again
in the manufacture, kind friends IN England VIII
send sufficiently cheap to ruin them and thus con
troll whole supplies at their sovereign VIII and
pleasure.
The low wages of laborers in England, and the i'm
mense capital invested in large iron establishments,
enable the manufacturers in that country to produce
iron at lower rates than is practicable III the United
States at present while the manufacture is yet IN Its
infancy. But there is doubt OF the final and speedy
of the business here, II sufclent protecuoh Is
extended to warrant investments In IT, MT Young
declares that if reasonable protection IS gwen oy
the Government we shall wihin ten years send bar
iron to England For many purposes American iron
is of superior excellence and the country possesses
ores of fine quality in the most profuse abundance,
with resources of coal, both anthracite and D!tuml-
nous, which are ineXhaustible.
1t Is essential 10 the security and defence OF inc
country as well to It's independence, that the IRON
manu- facture should be encouraged and sustained at
home In the event of the Ilg ut arm OF our
strength would pc paalysed If we were dependent on
foreign nations iI ouI supplies OF this indispensable
mascria This consideration is 50 pressing mat II
there were no other to be urged to the same
point it would alone be sufficient to justly the Gov
eminent in afor ling any amount OF protection that
might he necessary for establishing our domestic iron
interest upon permanent basis.
NJ. ,ba rinIa
the subject of Mr. Young's communication by quot
ing the following account OF an Important establish
ment now growing up In our own Stale-7nerely add
ing that this gentleman, whose statements we nave
referred to with confidence TO their accuracy, has
been an iron manufacturer, since lSl7-that he was
| + fourteen yeas superintendent of the West Point
foundry and afterwards President of the Ulster Iron
Company of New York-situations in which he has
acquired all that practical knowledge OF his business
which personal experience for 50 long time must
give to an intelligent mind:
This communication is already too long; but beg
| leave to introduce to your notice establishment
lust springing into existence, with which am con-
nected VIZ the works Of the Maryland and New
York Iron and Coal Company, situated at the foot OF
Savage mountain, miles from Cumberland, on the
route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad On The
proI of this company there is every material 10
the best quality OF bar iron, and IN quantity sui
| ficent to supp such an establishment as St John
Guests for one hundred and fifty years. There is
sanGstone peculiarly adapted for the hearths of blast
furnaces and building purposes. Fire clay ofthe best
and refractory character for bricks bitumnous
coal in veins from 10 inches, to 2 3 A. 5, s. and ~
feet thick, all good, and one specimen OF which was
pronounced by David Mushett (lhc most eminent
practical chemist in England0 the best lie ever ana
Used There iron ores, calcareous, aiglaceous
and hematle, yielding from % To IS per OF iron.
The company have butt two blast furnaces one of
which was put in blast in November last, and is
producing the rate Of So tons Of pig iron per week,
OF excellent quality. They are now erecting rolling
mil of sufficient extent TO manufacture weekly $50
tons of bar lron including boiler plate, sheet, hoop
band and railroad ron The Baltimore and OHIO
railroad viii be- finished to Cumberland and probably
to the companys works, in SEPTEMBER or October
next by which time, should circumstances permit,
the company will put their second blast furnace in
operation, and 60 on u build two more.
tha