Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-04
From ths NeD Eork TtiSrn..
THE IRON BUSINESS.

"The Union" gives semi-offcial notice Ihs, no
increase Of the duties on Iron will be allowed
to pass the present Congress. We presume this
may be taken as decisive Of the fact but the rea-
sons given for il seem not al all conclusive. The
Union calculates as follows:
"The annual product Of pig iron in England
is one million five hundred thousand tons. The
railroads now in contemplation, and TO be CON-
pleted in England alone, will comprise seven
thousand four hundred and ninety-four miles;
required for railroad purposes in France, six
hundred and twenty miles; in Prussia, two thou
sand and two miles; in India two thousand miles;
amounting, in the whole, to II, ,3l4 miles Of rail-
rood which must be supplied mainly from Eng
land. Il is estimated that it requires five hun
dred tons Of iron for every mile Of railroad: so
that 10 supply the demand TO complete the roads
mentioned, there will be wanting six millions
one hundred and fifty seven thousand tons Of
iron. Can England meet this demandl To
meet the demand of England alone, she must
supply without affording pound to the cont.
nenI or India, three millions seven hundred and
forty-seven thousand tonsl Recollect that her
annual product is only one million five hundred
thousand tons; and she must produce four mil.
lions six hundred and ffty-seven thousand tons
more than the usual annual production to NEE
the demand"
These strike US as the most loose and unreia
bic statistics we have met since the days Of Cam
breling. The Herald's money articles have
sometimes approached but never quite equaleC
them. "Iwelve thousand miles Of railroad
| in contemplation" but how soon to be 6uihi-
Will half Of them ever be constructed! AnC
will the other half be completed this centuryl-
| Who knowsl Who estimates 500 tons Of lror
TO the mile Of railroadl Who certihes tha
France and Prussia, and India, do and always
must procure their railroad iron from England
Surely Of all tools that poor workman cal
handle statistics are the most uncertain and pc
rilous.
But suppose all The Unions calculations wer
sound, how fatal the mistake made in cuunj
down the iron duties to the Reuenue standard
england can spare us no lron," says the Organ
then how are we TO get revenue or iron eithe
!, from our low dutiesi The Tariff Of '42 ha
operated vastly to extend, and was still ropdl
extending. our Home Product Of Iron. Ever
week saw a new furnace blown or an old one en-
larged Here was certain reliance for cheap
ture could overtake the increasing demand, as
was morally certain soon to do. But now thi
is broken up by the New Tariff; new Iron Work
are established very rarely, and the old ones ar
more rarely extended. The iron workers say
ave can live at present prices, but what secur
~ have we that any thing like these will be mair
tanned! Thirty per cent. duty will do with Pi
Iron at $50 in Europe, but when Pig falls to l
or Sl2 there, it will be no duty at all, and W
cannot Withstand the foreign competition
: Wisely or unwlsely, this apprehension is crlE
pling and contracting the Home Product Of Iror
Capitalists will not advance the heavy sums neec
ed to put new rolling mills in operation with sue
; a prospect of losing every cent of it by chang
S in the market. Thus We have let 60 the ce
D tainty we had of cheaper Iron through the in
$ provement and increase Of the business her
and the Union says we are to get little or nor
from abroad. Where, then, is The wisdom, an
: wherein the advantage, of our reduction of du
I ties! Can the Organ tell!