Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-05-18
REPORT ON IRON AND STEEL.

The United States revenue commission
have laid before the Secretary of the Treas
! ury report in regard to iron and steel,
comparing the resources of this country
with that of Europe, Asia and Africa, from
which it is inferred that in 1880 the United
States became the largest consumer, and so
continues to this time.
/ The commission is of the opinion that the
| production of iron in the United States dur
ing the last twenty-five years, the develop
ment of vast deposits of iron minerals and Of
| fuel, demonstrate the capacity of the coun-
try to manufacture the whole quantity re-
quired for its progress in other manufac-
lures, for the production of machinery and
all other instruments of industry, and the
continuous enlargement Of ifa productive
/ powers.
Our natural advantages for the produc-
tlon OF iron and steel, and other great instru-
ments of production, are not surpassed in
the world. Our progress shows that we
have learned to avail ourselves of these ad-
vantages. Ultimately, under wise domes-
| tic policy, we shall become the largest pro-
| ducers Of iron, and perhaps the largest ex-
| porters, as many of our mines are near the
seaboard, and can furnish large quantities
more promptly than any country except
NlCdb OIlbdlu3 duu DCbtCE UlOIG NdIlGu
qualities than any country
1t must be long, however, before it can
be our interest to send iron from our shores.
The race for national power and wealth
will be indicated not SO much by our ad-
consumption. Our industry can never
grow to its full height but by that profasion
of machines and implements of production
and facilities for transportation which iron
alone can furnish.
England now employs iron to the extent
of 100 pounds per head of population and
exports considerably more than she con-
sumes. We manufacture 100000 and i'm
port about 300, 600 tons. Our consumption
does not yet exceed 100 pounds per head
But considering the intelligence of our pop
ulation, its activity, its ingenuity, It's pro-
| cliyities to the employment Of iron, and the
very superior quality of our iron, we may
| reasonably expect to reach consumption
OF 100 pounds per head by the time our pop
ulatIon numbers forty millions, making the
whole product then equal to 3, 200, 600 TONS
1t is very vel known that the State of
Pennsylvania could by no means of her own
import yearly 50, 900 tons Of iron; but her
mines, labor, food and capital can now fur
nlsh nearly 800, 900 tons, worth over thirty
millions of dollars, and can now, by the fur
ther aid of machinery, carry the value of
this iron to sixty or eighty millions. Thus
the people of Pennsylvania can b. this me-
dium exchange her minerals, labor and food
for the labor and food and other raw mate
rials Of other parts of the country.
In regard to the manufacture of steel, the
commission represents that no one who is
well informed has doubt that our country
has nearly emancipated itself from such de-
pendence, and is secure of full supply OF
the best qualities of steel IN peace and war,
and for all the demands and exigencies OF
industry. 1t is fully demonstrated that the
requisite qualities of iron are found within
our boundaries, that the requisite skill and
knowledge is now attained, and that the re-
quisite confidence in American cast-steel
and common steel is now established.
1t has been tried throughout all the man
ufacturing States by the most skilful man
ipulators of steel in fine cutlery edge tools,
in both heavy and delicate machinery, and
the evidence of its success is complete and
irrefutable Testimony on that subject has
been submitted with this report, which can
not fail to carry conviction to all friends of
domestic labor, and to satisfy them that
American perseverance and ingenuity has
triumphed in the production of the highest
quality of cast-steel-an object vitally I'M
portant to the progress Of national industry