Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-09-23


STATES. There are few minerals more
widely ditfused, and none OF greater
value than Iron. The ore Of this metal
is found in amos, every State, through
Pennsylvania is emphatlcatly the great
est iron producing State in the Unlon.-
Other States, however, contain the ore
in no less abundance. Ii has been est-
mated that IN OHIO, 1900 square miles
are underlaid with iron, which 'ract Is
calculated to contain 1000, 100000 tons.
In Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri,
Kentucky, Virginia, and other States,
the ore ~ found in abundance. And
vet with all the lavish bounty of nature
in this respect We annually import not
tar from $4,000 worth OF iron in The
pig or manufactured by rolling
Great Britain is the create; iron pro-
duc,ng country in the world, her annual
production being estimated NJ eto,ouo
IONS. Five years ago the United Siatcs
produced the same amount-In 1900,
according 70 the census returns, only
56I,755 tons were made This d cline
in production IS in Il great u easurc
attributable TO the reduction Of the duty
nndcr tho Tree trade tariff OF 1916. The
cheapness Of foreign iron IN our market
sets at defiance the competition OF our
own miners and manufacturers. Some
idea may be formed OF the great loss
which has resulted from the abandon.
ment OF the policy Of protecting our own
products, by an examination OF the
statistics oi the iron manufacture oil
Pennsylvania. There are BOA blast
furnaces and blucmerics in the Stale,
with capacity for making 500, ,959 tons
Der annum In lS47, these, furnaces
made 3S9, $50 tons. In 1850, they made
but about 10000 tons. The number
Of iorges and rolling mills in the State
Is 200, with capacity Tor making 22l
$50 tons per Gnnum. Their actual pro-
duct for iS47, was 202,727 tons. In
lS49, the production had fallen off to
1858 tons. The capital invested in
the above mills amounts TO not lar from
$4,000, 600, and tGe deterioration must
he at lenst so per cent. Probably not
half 90 many laborers are now employed
in ,he manufacture as were employed IN
lS47. These facts show the extent OF
the existing depression in the iron busi'
ness of the country.
II is doubtless q matter oil surprise
with many how It is that SO heavy, and
yet comparatively cheap an article as
iron can be produced in Great Britain
and sold in this country, after paying
duty, freight and commissions, at less
price than il can be afforded from cur
own mills. The answer is obvious. We
have the skill, the fuel, the facilities for
reaching market and every other re-
ouisite for the production OF iron which
is to be found abroad-exccpt chcap
labor. Labor enters largely into the
process Of iron making, and laborcrs
can be obtained by the ironmasters Of
Scotland at from "a to 36 cents day.
In England from 80 to AZ cents per day
is paid. In this country the ways OF
common laborers is from rs cents to
81 per day, the average being abou,
so cents day. Here is difference of
about 100 per cent in favor OF the
British Manufacturer, enabling him 10
produce iron at cost Of only about $40
Der ton. which cannot be manufactured
here Tor perhaps twice that sum.
II follows that without ludlcious pro-
lection, or n great reduction in the
wages OI tic lhuo'Ci, VIC Ho' h's'Se',
like many other branches Of manulac-
ture, must continue depressed. The
desired protection was accorded TO the
iron business by tho tarif Of lS42-a
tariff which was emphalicalIy a Wing
measure, and which was repealed by
the Democracy. The latter party il
cmpha,lcaIly responsible Tor the exist
ing depression IN the manufactures.
Here then we have broad line scparat-
ing the two parties, and a distinct and
important Issue in the present canvass
The Wings aim to encourage the iron
interest and every other branch OF
domestic indusiry-the Democrats seek
by free trade 10 throw our markets open
10 the competition Of the world, thus
breaking down cur manufacturing i'll
dustry, or reducing the wages ol the
iaborer to par with the starvation
prices in Europe. Those who contend
tina, there is no important issue between
the two great parties W do well TO pom.
der upon these facts.