The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-23
IRON AND COPPER INTERESTING OFFICIAL STA.
TIsTIcs- THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTS.


The total quantity of pig iron produced it appears
is 100000 TONS viz Great Britain, 1900, 900 tons
France, 100000 tons United States, 100000 tons !;
Prussia 100000 tons Austria, 25O, 900 tons Bel
GUM, 200, 600 tons Russia, 100000 tons Sweden
100000 tons various States Of Germany 100000
tons; other countries 100000 tons. A comparison
of the countries which chiefly produce iron for the
last 20 years shows that Great Britain increased in
1850, 244 per cent the United States, in 1850, III
per cent. France, in 1876, l4l per cent Russia in
l949-'5l, 20 per cent; German customs union, (Zoll
verein) in 1850, 60 per cent; Austria, in 1885, 100
per cent? Norway, in l84l745, 81 per cent. Much
valuable information is spread before the British
Parliament in reference to the causes which have re-
tarded the development of this branch of industry
throughout the world. The protective duties on
iron III France ably discussed and the causes Of
the absence of progress in the iron production Of that
country thus classified l, the revolution of l84S
2 want of railroads; 3, apathy among manufactur-
ers; A. unfavorabe sites formerly chosen for works.
s. the tenure of property and the system of carrying
on works by paid managers; 6, the interference of
government with the affairs of the miner; Z, the
cient custom of using charcoal and wood; and g. the
absence OF banking accommodation.
In respect to Prussia it appears, from critical
view of the metal-producing interests of that
try, that the restraining influence of the government
is iniuriously felt Little or no competition exists
either for labor for orders, for close combina
ton of the whole trade both in Rhenish Prussia and
in Silesia has been established
The Swedish government has always manifested
great interest in the development of this important
branch of its metal industry It has lately abolished
the feudal rights and privileges of the nobility, who
had enjoyed previously certain preferences as iron
masters, and the iron trade opened to free
market. Until very lately the expectation of pig
iron prohibited in order to encourage the manu-
facture of bar iron; in Sweden this law is now re-
pealed, and pig iron can be either exported or i'm
ported by payment Of duty of 30 per ton. In
Russia the manufacture of iron has made the greatest
progress. Notwithstanding extensive protection as
iron can be imported by sea, and the duty by
land pig iron is 600 per cent, the production Of
iron in Russia is only 81 pounds and the consump-
ton 81 pounds Russ per inhabtant whereas, in
England the production is 23l, and the consumption
1884 pounds Russ per inhabitant In Belgium
the production of iron has increased considerably.
In the United States it is also on the increase but
with us the consumption of iron per capita of our pop
ulation is greater even than in England In 1854
the consumption was estimated at 1874 773 TONS of
which 805 900 tons of domestic production, and
100000 tons imported from Great Britain. With re-
gard to STEEL the manufacture Of cast and shear steel
in Great Britain in 1856 estimated at $4,000 tons
In France the consumption, during eighteen years,
has been four-fifths of that consumed in Great Brit
ain. The iron used in France in 1876 was little
third of that used in England in 1s years it
increased to nearly half the quantity worked up in
Great Britain.
The total value of copper raised in 1854 was 81 :
659, O20. The production, consumption, and reduc-
ton of copper from the in different countries for
1916 are given follows In Great Britain copper
annually raised amounts to l5, 800 tons consump-
ton, 10000 tons; copper annually smolted, 28, 900
tons. France raised lin 1846) 80 tons, consumed
200 tons, smeltod 700 TONS Russia raised 8 900
tons, consumed 1000 tons, smetcd 1900 tons. Aus
tria raised $500 TONS consumed 1900 tons, smelted
1880 tons Sweden and Norway raised 2, 200 tons
consumed 400 tons, smelted 2 100 TONS Zoll-verein
raised 800 tons, consumed 5,40O tons smeltcd 500
tons. Turkey in Europe and Mediterranean States
raised 3l00 tons, consumed 5000 tons and smeIted
$500 TONS America including Cuba and Chill raised
1900 TONS consumed 100 TOMS smelted 5000 tons
Oceana, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia raised
2400 TONS consumed 8 300 tons. japan raised 400
tons, consumed 200 tons, smeted 240O tons. Total
raised 52,430 TOMS consumed So 400 TONS and smelt
ed annually 52,4OO tons.
Under the operation of the French navigation laws
the French smelter is most disadvantagoousIv situ,
ted, as he only receive his ore at the low duty
when carried in the ships belonging to his own coun
try the probability being that only one out of twelve
vessels sailing from any particular port is French
vessel, while the total tonnage of French vessels il
only one-eighteenth of the whole mercantile navy
afoat.
We have carefully retained and laborously con-
densed the leading facts in this very able and inter
csting report knowing that there is no subject In
which our citizens in every section of the country
feel deeper interest Such reports are the very life
and spirit of British commercial enterprise; they sup
ply its daily aliment and furnish it with snowy wings
to penetrate even the most remote and obscure re-
of the globe. We trust that when the law of
last Congress authorizing the appointment of two
additional clerks to be devoted exclusively TO the
preparation of the requisite material to enable the