, 1857-07-31
How we are to Conquer the World.

of encouraging the consumption Of iron, as
the means best adapted to develope the
vast mineral resources Of the [ nited States
and have urged that as far as practicable,
the Government should give the preference
TO American iron for the various objects in
which iron is employed by il. This We
have always regarded as very certain
means of increasing the consumption Of
iron and giving vitality and prosperity to
the trade, without injury to any other
great interest of the country
I But beneficial as We expected this poll,
cy, initiated by the late Democratic admin
istration, would prove to the iron interests
Of the country, we did not anticipate the
stupendous results predicted in the sub
Joined extract from an article recently pub
lished by an influential New York journal
The article referred to is well worth the
serious and attentive perusal of the iron
manufacturers of Pennsylvania at this time.
If this popular Democratic measure was
sufficient last year to induce the iron mas
ters to support Mr.. BUCHANAN, as the
great body of them did, it has lost none Of
its Importance at the present moment.
The wise policy adopted by the late Demo
cratic administration, in reference 10 the
iron trade, we arc assured will be continued
by the present
We publish in another column some
speculaIions as to the probable effect of the
Introduction of the Iron Building upon the
production and consumption Of this great
staple, which we commend TO the careful
attention Of our readers. 1t will be found
replcte, not only with matters Of general
interest, but with suggestions of the gravest
moment to the statesmen at the head Of
affairs in this Republic.
"Quoting from the recent report Of the
Committee on Manufactures of the United
States Senate, in favor of the adoption of
iron buildings for public uses in the United
States, and from other statistical authority,
the writer certainly makes out tolerably
rconcusve argument in support Of the 'hy-
pothesis that the expansion of the iron
market consequent upon this new applica-
ton of iron may at no distant day give to
the American manufacturers the control of
the iron trade Of the whole world, so long
almost wholly monopolized by those Of
Great Britain Assuming what appears
to be so conclusiyely demonstrated by facts
and figures, it may not be uninteTesting to
glance at the great commercial aud politi-
cal revolutions which this invention will
probably bring about. p" '' 'o''- 81
alt appears, by British aud American
statistics, that although the value of all
the exports Of Great Britain is double that
Of the exports of the United States, We
should at once take the precedence Of her
as an exporting nation If we could only
manage to get from her a single branch of
her export trade--that of raw iron and
iron fabrics--we, Of course, retaining what
we now have. 1t should be remembered
that the trade is as yet in its infancy, and
there is growing tendeneyto substitute
that metal for nearly every solid material
hitherto used, not only in connection with
building, but in the arts generally. "A
well Informed writer says:
From l14O to 1855, the production Of
iron increased seventy fold. If the same
rate of increase should prevail for the next
one hundred and 6fisen years, the annual
make would reach $490, 900 tons; and
it is to be observed that the ratio Of in
crease has been an Increasing one for each
period of teu years since l740, and not a
decreasing one. Commencing with 1906,
it required till 1924, a period of eighteen
years, to double the production in Great
Britain, BY 1886 it was again doubled,
requiring only twelve years. III lS47, II
was again doubled, requiring eleven years
In 1855, period of eight years, it had
risen from 1000, 900 tons TO 3,5O0, 900 at
which, h,rate- it would double in ten years.
I" The present annual production Of iron,
| bv all nations, is estimated at 10000 ,000
tons; Of the value, as raw matererial--thut
is, iu pig, bars. and plates--of about $780,
0Q0,000. But we must multiply this sum
by a high figure to represent the value
which is Impaired to large proportion oi
| itowhich is converted into various Kinds ol
iron fabrics.- of this immense product it is
safe to assume that near one-half is con-
sumed by non-prodncing nations, thus form.
ing the basis Of the International iron trade
which has heretofore been almost wholly
monopolized by great Britain. Should the
demand for and production Of iron increase
for tie future as it has in the past the
iron trade proper must attain to maghi-
tude in less than City years which will ex'
ceed the whole present International com
merce of the world, ..... u....-..
"But this estimate Of the probable fu'
ture increase of the demand for iron is
based wholly upon the ordinary sources oi
consumption. When we consider the new
applications of this metal to house and
ship building, and to an increasing variety
OF other purposes undreained of a few years
ago, it must be apparent that this estimate
is quite moderate The results which we
have adjourned for fifty years may very
possibly be realized during the next fifteen
or twenty. At any rate the period can
g. not be very far distant when the monopoly
of the iron trade alone will give CONNER.
cial supremacy to any nation that possesses
it. se.l ,ra- -l--
ain another and more enlarged view Of