The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-01-14
Iron in Pennsylvania.


The Pennsylvania ironmakers as
sert that it costs them over $29 a ton
to make pig iron. There is something
shameless disregard Of facts by greedy
moRopolists. They know these same
ironmakers, that according to their
own testimony in 1866 it cost them
less than $40 a ton to make iron in
lS60-h0w much less they did not
state. Works published in the inter
ests Of the Iron Association have ad-
mitted, however, that iron was then,
aud since 1898, made for SIS a ton in
that State. Coal and ore are far more
abundant now than they were then,
and can be mined at as little cost.
With gold at 120, pig iron cannot
actually cost more than $1S a ton in
that State, and every cent above that
goes to some monopoly. either of coal
or iron.
But We are willing, for the sake Of
argument, to accept the statement of
the iron masters, that it costs $29 a
ton to make pig iron in Pennsylvania.
Now, pig iron Of as good or better
quality is produced to-day in Ala
bama for SIG, In Tennessee for SO. in
Brazil, Indiana, for about $22, in
Chicago and Milwaukee for $23, and
in st. Louis, in spite Of statements
calculated TO drive people to make
iron elsewhere instead of here, it can
be. and is, made for a great 68al less
than the Pennsylvania men pretend it
costs them. Therefore we ask, why
shall the United States protect men
IN making iron that costs (they saw
$29 a tor, when, if they were not sus-
tanned In control Of the market. men
would be attracted to make iron else
where at a cost of not more than $50?
What IS the sense of protecting Penn
sylvania in supplying the country with
costly iron, when Alabama, Tonnes
see, Indiana, Wisconsin or Missouri
can supply the country with cheap
iron? What is the justice of retard-
ing an industry elsewhere in order to
keep up a wasteful employment of
labor and capital in Pennsylvania?
Does Congress propose to legislate for
Pennsylvania alone, or for the United
States?
The duly makes all iron cost to the
manufacturer $37 to $40 a ton, when
If that duty were removed the Penn
sylyania people themselves confess
that they could sell for $50. and it is
known that other States could supply
iron fer $25 or even $50. One hun
dTed aud ninety thousand persons Gu
gagged In the manufacture of iron in
1860 must be b~urdcned, in order that
nineteen thousand men, engaged in
making pig iron in 1869, may realize
profits Of s. to $50 per ton. Is that
protecting American industry? Is It
we'll for the country 10 pay seven
millions a year TO Europe for iron
rails, in order to pay a bounty of from
sixteen to forty millions of dollars to
4 few iron makers? These same rails
go into railroads, Of which we built
5000 miles last year, and they cost
eighty dollars a ton, whereas rails
could be made in this country for less
than fifty dollars, If iron could be had
at Alabama or Tennessee, instead of
Pennsylvania prices. At ono hun
dred tons to the mile, u railroads
last year cost US S19,800, 600 more
than they ought for rails alone, aud
the profit on that sum the people will
have to pay for all time to some In the
cost Of transportation. Is it we'll for
the country TO make the wheat worth