Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-31

The DEVELOPMENT OF Iron MANUFAC-
TUNES was very concisely and well stated by
Abram S. Hewett before the recent first annual
meeting of the American institute of mining
engineers at New York. In 1856, the annual
production of iron had reached about 7OO0,O 900
tons, of which Great Britain produced 100000
tons, and the United States about 10000
The consumption of Great Britain was 144
pounds, of the United States "a pounds, and of
the world only II pounds, per head, of popula.
ton. 1t was shown that the consumption per
head was steadily on the increase, and that con-
Sequently the annual production was charging
so rapidly as TO double once in II years; and it
was predicted after making due allowances for
all drawbacks, such as the wars which
have unhappiy taken place in the inter
val beyond any possible expectation, that
in 1915 the production of iron would
surely reach 100000 tons. The actual
returns show that in 1871 the production
amounted 10 13,500,000 tons, and in 1872, the
limit 100000 will undoubtedly be passed, so
that the estimate made in 1856 is more than
realized, Meanwhile the consumption has risen
in England to 200 pounds, in the United States
to $50 pounds, and in the whole world to thirty
pounds per head. 1t is not possible to convey
a more striking idea of the progress of the
world than this statement affords. The
consumption OF iron measures the prog
resS Of civilization, and it is impossible not
10 believe that the whole world will ultimately
require as much iron per head as we now use in
the United States, when total annual produc-
ton of over 20 900 600 tons will be required But
# these figures seem TO lie at all wild, no one
can Tor moment doubt that the next seventeen
Years viii double the present annual produc-
ton Of iron, bringing It up to 2S,000,000 tons
per annum: and feel quite safe in asserting
that the beginning of the Goth century, which
some among you may hope to see, will witness
an anHusl production OF over 30 900 600 tons.
lou need not be told that iron is produced at
less money cost in Great Britain than in any
other quarter Of the globe This has enabled
her 10 produce about one-half of the total an
nual make Of the 7,OO 900 tons made in 1855,
Great Britain produced 3,5S5,906 TONS and of
the 13,500,0O0 tons produced last year she turned
out nearly 100000 tons. 1t is evident, how
ever, that there are limits in the way of raw
material and labor beyond which Great Britain
cannot 20. While | see no reason to doubt
that there will be a steady increase in produc-
ton, it is evident she will not be able to sup
ply hereafter, as heretofore, so much as
half the annual wants of the world
for iron. But allowing this proportion
to Great Britain, there will still re-
main 900 tons to be made by
the rest of the world. The history of the trade,
as well as the natural resources of the several
natonalticS, proveSthat the bulk of this addi-
tional product can only be made in the United
States. We are in fact the only people who have
kept pace with Great Britain in the ratio of in
crease In 1872, when Great Britain will pro-
duce 100000 of tons, we produce 10000
tons-the quantity produced in Great Britain
in 1S41, showing that we are only twenty-five
years in arrear of ner magnificent production.
AT the same rate, therefore, we could make T.
100000 tons in 1897. But as Great Bratan can.
not possibly maintain her rate of increase, there
docs not seem room for doubt that our annual
production will reach at least 100000, and
will probably amount to 100000 tons before
the close OF the present century. This means
that $4,000 900 to 40 900 900 tons of iron ore shall
be annually extracted from our mines, and that
our coal production will exceed 100,000,000 tons
per annum, required for iron and other branches
of industry. 1t means that an investment of
capital 10 the amount of S5OO,000,0O0 at least,
and probably 81 600 100000 shall be made in
opening mines, erecting works, and supplying
the requisite machinery of production