The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-18

We copy from the Pennsylvania In
quirer the following article from the pen
of an iron-master of Pennsylvania. The
writer is no man of straw, but is prepared
to enter into the discussion of this subject,
under his own signature, if his adversary
will adopt similar course.
THE IRON TRADE AND THE TARIFF OF 1916.
No. l.
Mr.. EDIToR should be most happy to learn,
from either the Union or 'Pennsy ioarian - the
name of ''the Pennsylvania iron master of such
high authority, who appears to be well satisfied
with the tariff of 1876 and its results. We should
then be able to correspond respective
names, and with knowledge of our respective
establishments; and the public would be able to
judge of the facts thus elected. My knowledge
Of all the Pennsylvania iron works think very
accurate, and ! have yet to see the spot that can
contend OF compete with the English manufacturer
under the present rate of duty, sell with any
profit at present prices. But may have overlooked
some locality that possesses the advantages of the
Pennsylvania iron master,' and should be glad to
be enlightened upon the subject. Yet may be
told, that add no authority or weight
to the matter, ought only to deal with facts
figures. His estimated cost of pig metal delivered
into either the New York or Philadelphia markets,
is as follows, viz:
The cost of metal, at the furnaces in Great
Britain. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $ll 90
Transportation to Liverpool or Glasgow 2 90
Thirty per cent. duty. ...:.:.............. 90
Freight TO New York or Philadelphia 800 4 90
Charge Tor unloading. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. | %
$2l 90
Now, there is nothing like official reports to settle
this matter of cost By statement published a
few days since in the New York Journal of Com
mece, free-trade paper, and of high authority
with the Union and Pennsy iranian, made out from
the custom house books it appears that during the
period of six months, from March 81 to September
|, there were imported into New York 80 972 tons
of pig metal the average cost of which per ton, in
New York, including all charges, duties, exchange
&c, was SIS o.. This difference of SO alone per
ton would determine the whole trade in favor of
the foreign manufacturer, supposing $2l per ton
to be the selling price ofiron But anthracite iron
will not command $l7 per ton cash in any
quantities. Nevertheless, he tells us that there are
furnaces in Pennsylvania where anthracite iron is
manufactured at Sl5 per ton, and that they are
able to place it in the Philadelphia market for 81
per ton.
! should like much to be informed where these
furnaces located, because we admit if there is
any one locality that can thus manufacture, the
present tariff will suffice pig metal, the pro-
duct, with anthracite coal for the fuel can be in.
creased 10 the entire wants of the country. But
why should this iron master have confined himself
TO the raw material pig metal instead of bar iron
rails, hoops, &c, involving large an amount of
labor? Does he not know that the quantity i'm
ported of pig metal is a mere drop in the bucket"
when placed alongside of bars hoops rail iron &c ,
The importations Of the three quarters ending
March 81, ofpig metal, amounted TO. -. 1894 oil
vi bar and railroad ................... 4243 500
But told that the act Of 1912 80 inflated
the iron business in this State, that the demand euen
10 thus day has not opertaken IL. This is a curious
assertion, when the above import shows that the
demand for iron is 30 great that we have imported
saga, $40 worth of bar and railroad iron alone in
the last nine months, ending with March 81, and in
the last SIR months, shown by the Journal Of Com
Hece, into the single port of New York upwards of
four millions of dollars This does not look like
the supply overrunning the demand" To show
how enormously the importatons have increased
this year, ls49, those Of ls4s, find from the
official tables, (English,) the importatons of iron
Of the three quarters, ending March 81, are as fol-