The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-24

IRE the tendency OF which "LAUS " incur
public ill-will or governments nostllty.
IF we stand firmly by our present prinoi-
sbrough Conoresa at the coming session,
and those principles which bear US on to
victory, will be the safest and best guide
for our future conduct
The minutes of the third quarterly meet
ing, held in Chicago o n the 24th OF Nay
last, were then read by the Secretary and
approved. The Articles Of Agreement and
Constitution we're afterwards read and an
opportunity being given for joining the
Association, it was embraced by twelve
gentlemen present.
The Secretary of the AsSoclasion' Mr..
LsmbOrn, submitted q quarterly report,
from which we make some extracts, the re-
port as a whole being too elaborate Tor pub
location:
OF the twenty-nine Anthracite blast fur
naces in the Lshigh Valley Whlcn pro-
duced in 1865, ga, 600 nettuns Of pig mets':
or an average of 900 tons per year Ior NOSE
in blast, eighteen were blown OUT, "nen Isss
reported, or the product OF the region was
at the rate of 1870, 900 tons per snnum less
than it made last year. The present cspec-
ity of this region is 267, 900 tons.
TWeuty-ope Anti raciJe blast ~turnsuces IN
the SchuylkilI Valley made in 1864 about
q5. OO9 tons of pig iron. Eight OF these only
were in blast when last reported, or the pro
duct was at the rate ofsbout 30 per cent. oil
the amount turned cut last year.
OF the twenty-one Anthracite blast fur
naces in the Valley Of the Upper Susque-
hanna, but four were in blast on the OH of
august, or the product of the region was less
than rs Der cent. of its CAPACITY.
of the seventeen Anthracite blast fur
nsces in the Lower Susquehsuns, five were
in blast on the 10Th of August, or less than
80 per cent.
These, with partial returns from other
districts, show that the Anthracite furnaces
of the United States are now not producing
| over one-third Of their capacity. Thus the
government is losing in this single branch
| Of manufacture at the rate of not less thsn
81, O0O, 900 per year in direct tax, and far
| moro than that sum in indirect taxes.
The large rail mill at Danville has been
stopped since July let, on account of the
low price Of iron making it impossible to
work at the rate of wages required by the
operatives. The annual capacity of this mill
is 80. 900 tons Unfinished rails. The managers
of other large rail mills are debating the
expediency of stopping their works until
the cost of production and the market
price become 30 proportional that they can
run at a living rate.
Philadelphia, with eleven rolling mills,
at a capacity Of 26 900 tons, are now pro-
ducing but about forty per cent; of that
amount. The steel business of That city is
ftful and generally dull.
Pittsburgh, with t~hirty-two iron and 6 steel
establishments, is now producing less than
ona-third their capacity. Twelve iron snd
two steel works are idlo. But one OF i've
blast furnaces in the city is in operation.
In Cincinnati, up to within the last
two weeks, every branch of the trade was
very much depressed, and pig iron makers
generally complained OF an actual loss in
their manufacbure. The mills generally
were running on half time, and some only
continued in operation TO supply certain
s~pecialties. Tn making of merchant iron
would hardly return cost.
The contributing members of the associa.
ton are lain number, and Honorary MEM
bers twenty. OF the contributing mem
berG twenty-seven are in New England and
New York, one hundred and twenty. one in
Pennsylvanis, New Jersey and Maryland,
aud twenty-six in the Western States, rep
resenting every branch of the businest.
The work of publishing and distributing
information has been pushed vigorously,
and a continued correspondents with lead
ing public men and the editors of newspa-
pers kept up in furthersnce of the objects
espOussd by the association,
Upon a motion to approve the report an
animated discussion ensued between Mr..
Kennedy, of Philsdelphis, and John Will
liams, Esq, of New York, editor of h Iron
Age. Some interesting statements were
made relative to the credit system in the
European iron trade.
A letter from Daniel ]. Morrell, Esq on
taxes and taxation, attached to the report
was received with much applause. It is an
elaborate and learned essay showing what
proportion of its value every ton of hmeri'
can manufactured iron pays into the public
treasury, and how much of this is a taxupor
on imported iron, and thus exhibiting in itl
true light the comparative regard of the
government for its W citizens, laboring
for its support, and foreigners who have
aided the rebellion, laboring for its over
throw. It's publication with the report, and
also in pamphlet form, was unanimously
ordered. We shall be happy to insert il
hereafter, or at least make copious extracts
from it.
The report regarding the adoption of an
uniform ton of 1000 pounds, was then pre-
sontod by the Secretary. At the meeting in
Chicago, the Association expressed its be-
lief that in all transactions an uniform ton
of 1000 pounds should be employed, aud
the Secretary was directed to obtain the
sense of the members on the subject, and
report at this meeting. Accordingly it has
been sscertained that eighty-6ve are in ia
Vor of the uniform ton of 1000 pounds, aud
eighteen opposed to it. The former reside
as follows: 0ne in Massachusetts, one in
Vermont, thirteen in New York, five in New
jersey, forty-seven in Peunsylvania, two in
Maryland, niaei in Ohio, three in Missouri,
tWoin Wisconsin, one in Michigan, one in
Illinois. OF the latter, two reside in Mass
achusetts, eight in Pennsylvania, and eight
in Ohio. In addition six are doubtful. TAX
ing the members alone, ffty-nine are in ia
vor, fourteen opposed, and four doubtful.
The report states that,
"The tendency of the replies shows that
the majority of the Iron and Steel Msuufac-
turers are in favor of the proposed uniform
ton of 2,00G lbs., for the following reasons:
"l. The specification of calculations and
accounts, and the economy of time, and de-
crease in liability to error, which will flow
| therefrom.
az. That a ton, ofdetermined and recog-
nized value, may be universally employed,
in order TO obviste the mistakes ind misap-
p~rehensions that now oacur from q failure TO
express the particular kind of ton TO be used
in a business transaction.
"There lie, however, a strenuous opposi-
ton to change in some localities for the fol-
lowing reasons:
al. The labor and confusion incident
upon the change from accustomed methods
of calculation and the established sched-
ules of prices to different methods and
schedules.
az. The difficulty of reconciltDg those
basis of 224O pounds per ton TO receive the
proportionato reduction in price of 4 ton of
1000 pounds"
Able remarks on the report, were made
by Msssrs. Kennedy, Bennett, and others.
after which it was referred to a special COM
mitteeOn Weights and Measures, composed
Of JamesI. Bennett, Pittsburgh, Chairman,
A. B. Stone, Cleveland, J.. Kinsey, Cincn-
natl, E. Y. Townsend, Philadelphis, and
Jas. Rogers, Essex Co, N. Y.
The following gentlemen were appointed
& Committee on Resolutions: John NJ. Ken
nedy, Philadelphia, Chairman, T. 8. Blair.
Pittsburgh, Isaac Jones, Pittsburgh, Geo.
Worthin 0ton. Cleveland CbapIoz T Wada