The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-10

brought into life and existence some splendid rail
way establishments, that will compare favorably
with the best OF the English concerns These es
Establishments were, the Montour iron works, at
| Danville; the Wilkesbarre irun works at Wilkes
| barre; the PhGnix iron works. at PbenixyilL the
Great Western iron works, on the A lleghany river;
| the Scranton iron works, in Luzerne county; the
Safe Harbor iron works, in Lancaster county ALI
| in Pennsylvania. The New Jersey iron works ut
BoOnton; the Tredegar iron works, at Richmond, in
| Virginia; and the Mount Savage iron works at
Cumberland, Md These work were built for the
manufacture Of railway iron, and il most for
tunate that the long sought discovery Of using the
anthracite and bituminous Goals Of country as
the fuel should have render those fuels
available at this time. Every preparation was
therefore made for an extensive aud rapid produc-
ton OF this iron. To form idea Of the vigorous
| impulse thus impaired, there was invested, in
| pennsylvania alone, the enormous sum Of six mil
hons and upwards in this trade, from l843 TO De-
| cember, 1876.
These works, I say, with the exception of two,)
were erected exclusively for the purpose of manu-
ftcturiDg railway iron. under the pledged faith Of
the Governments; for the mineral coal could only
then be used prottaby for iron Of that description
II was the wide field which this branch Of business
opened that attracted the enterprise and capital of
the country. For every man became satisfied that
the only way to secure to the country extensive
construction of solid, permanent, and safe rail
roads, was to manufacture the iron at home We
that we had neither the skill, capital, enterprise
to manufacture this iron. and that must con-
t1nue, Tor years to come, our deplorable depcn-
dency upon England. But what has been the re-
suit! In the fall OF 1916 two extensive railway mills
were comprehensive Montour iron works at Dan
vile, Pennsylvania, and the Mount Savage iron
works, near Cumberland, Mary land; both OF
them manufacturing from the ore, into the fin-
ishcd bar, and each capable of supplying 1000
tons per annum. The first bar was made the
fall OF that year, and SO rapid was the nd
vance Of iron in England, from the prices Of
1874, Of 60 per ton, that the Mount Savage iron
works were furnishing it 10 the Fall River compa-
ny, in Massachusetts,, for $50 per ton, when the
price was more than that in England. The rail
iron at Ell. and on April lst following was flO.
II averaged during that year ES los.
during 1 lsa7 1870. t 10 10,
The prices of 1876 and l847 gave a rapid and Wig
orous impulse to the business here. and by lS47 we
We're manufacturing equal to the entire wants of
the country. about 10 900 tons per annum, and all
this accomplished in about three years. We cha-
lenge the world for like resut in any other
branch of business This iron manufactured
almost entirely from mineral coal-a fuel that, up to
that time, was unavailable for manufactures. The
pioneers of this business had not only 10 tight this
Stubborn fuel and master it, particularly anthra-
clte,) but to acquire all the skill and build all the
machinery necessary for such vast works.
But they fought industriously, succeeded, and
were rewarded in 1916 for their capital, thought,
science, and labor, in maturing and perfecting
this business, by reduction of the duiss 10
me standard. In lS47 the railway mania in Eng
land ceased, the bubble burst; and hence the
over production of that country stimulated by the
high prices OF two years, threw upon us their sur
plus stocks at most ruinous prices. Against these
surplus stocks and ruinous prices we have been
contending; and ii is proposed, after all that
has been accomplished by those engaged in this
business, to nnnhate it by special Isgislotion.
Hspecial legislation was jus ifable for any pur
pose trade, ought 10 be invoked for this business.
s,xhf and otn
and hoU arc they to compare in national benefit
with the manufacture OF railway iron? II is
manufacture to which limit be fixed in a
country like ours-and that country surprising
any other country upon the face OF the globe in the
quality and abundance and variety Of iron
ores and fuels. These materials, too, existing in
ecry sfction Of the Union, and admirably located,
as we'll In respect to the combination of the crude
materials to be wrought, as to the distribution of
the iron manufactured in every direction through
our internal improvements. Does not good policy,
therefore, dictate, and every intelligent citizen de-
sire, that our entire consumption OF iron should be
henceforth from our own production No one
doubt that ii the trade 10 encouraged that iron will
he produced for most OF the roads as cheopy at
home az abroad, on average Of years, and the
debt thus created be debt due to own citizens,
and not to foreigners. WEat must, sooner later,
be the result of the runous dram upon
cos, by importing this iron from foreign country?
Inevitable bankruptcy!
But we assert that we now manufacturing
and furnishing the iron cheaper than the English,
if the quality of iron has any value. There
day when that was highly estimated in this coun-
try. England now pays Russia and Sweden three
times as much for their iron her sells for to
be used In the finer abrcatIons Of this metal and
the day is fact approaching when railway com
psnies will find the Engitsh iron worthless
most Of the securities which they Offer in payment
for 1t. Experience has shown that the difference
in value between English and American iron,
cording TO the experience of the Reading Railroad
Company, which road lie doing a lar ger business
than any road in the country Is thirteen dollars and
Ufy CENTS per ton in favor OF the latter. A letter
from the engineer OF that road TO Mr.. Tacker, the
president, will be found in the late January
number OF Hunfs Magazine. This experienced
engineer remarks "that the iron used in English
rails has, Tor the iasf foe SIR years materially
d6ietoraed-ny very inferior quality OF the Ia hav
ing been substituted for that formerly employed;
20 that though the fret cost (bcng about four dol
lsrs per toni Of American rails 10 greater than that
of imported English rails, yet n the long run, the
use OF American rails proves 10 be cheaper and more
economical, 10y thirteen dollars and half per
ton;) and any process OF legislation chat would
favor the employment OF American rails instead OF
the Engiish, though IL might add TO the first cost
OF the road, would not increase, but diminish, its
permanent expenditure" The American iron
within these six year,, on the contrary, has i'm
proved greatly in quality. Ia the infancy Of the
trade, come inferior iron was made by our best es
tsblishments.
Under the hspc that this move has originated in
a misconc option OF the magnitude and importance
OF this tr dc 20 the labor and wealth of the country,
and Of the capacity aud ability Of our works, at
far prices, Go meet the entire wants Of the country,
lrcmain, with respect, &c,
THO. CHAMBERS