The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-31
Iron In the Future,,
UtOn Inc PAIla. Norlh ARierlraa.)

Il VIom inc Phlla. Norm Amerieau.)
It may be useful now for Americans tc
look back over the history Of the past forty
years, and see what struggle the friends
OF our iron Industry have been obliged Ia
go through to perserVe It's existance ut oil
During all that time British monopolists
were seeking by every means 10 their
power TO crush II out, ID the olonial days
u was q penal offence to manufacture
iron hero al all, and that policy has been
systematically adhered to by the English
Notwithstanding Il first lost her the vas
regions that we inhabit; and next ruined
Ireland. But with desperate tenaclty the
friends 0l home industry chung 10 the
teachings oil the fathers OF the Republic,
and have not only preserved, iostered and
sustained their Industries, but have rem
dered them great and powerful. And
now England, In full view of theprobable
exhaustion oil her own resources, 10 begin.
ming to talk OF relying upon America for
supplies. This great British iron interest
that was 80 recently aggressive every
where, Is now not even able to command
q supply OF orc for It's works. And the
nation that was told not to misapply It's
capital by Investing in manufactures to
complete with Europe, Is asked to come
forward now and take tho lead In the
iron trade,
1t Is fortunate that we attended to our
own interests In our own way, and that we
are now In position to 60 ahead to any
required extent In the iron trade. As VIC
export. locomotives TO Russia and Germany
so we expect in due time TO export iron
to all Europe, just as we do cotton and
provisions. We shall not rest satisfied I'm.
I'll we do this; for when that point Is
reached the great contest will DO tri-
umphantly ended, and American iron
will DO master Of the field rs clearly as
American cotton now Ia, It Is mot the
increase Of the breadstufFs exports that
we should now turn our attention to, for
10 that line Russia, Germany and the
Mediterrean countries are our formidable
rivals. But we should build iron works
all over the northwest; turn wheat into
iron, and instead Of shipping pigs Of pork
ship pigs Of iron. See what this industry
has already done for the West The
census OF 1870 shows the product of manu.
features IN these States thus. Ohio,
$209, 1880; Indiana, $l0s,Gl797S; lii
nols, $205, 820,672; Missouri, $2OG 2l3-
429; Michigan, $llS894, $40; Wisconsin,
$77,241 1928. And all this rests upon the
remarkable growth and prosperity Of the
western iron manufacture, as is seen in
the fact that the largest increase Is In the
iron districts.
There are many products OF industry
and agriculture In which, for a long time,
we cannot hope to make much heGdway.
But iron and steel have now become firm.
ly established as American products, aud
II we adhere 10 the policy Of the last
eleven years wo can take complete pos.
session OF the home market, raise the do.
nestle product to enormous proportions,
and make our country tho great leading
iron producer and exporter oil the world.
This Is an ambition worth more 10 the
nation than the ownership Of the carry
Ing trade, or eminence in mere buYing
and selling, For the experience Of Eng
land has proven that the command Ofthe
iron trade carries with it the command of
almost everything else. Iron Is the prime,
agent Of civilization. No sacrifice We
can make to secure prominence in it can
be too great, for the revenues it will pour
into our treasury, from the increasing
volumes Of internal and external trade
and commerce, will wipe out our nation
al debt and extinguiSh the long acCumula.
ted debt against Us in Europe, piled up by
the adverse balances Of trade in COM
merce that has been permanently against
US. This is no dream. tits thing that
can be demonstrated by mathematical
calculation. All that is needed is to
stick to our own interests firmly and
stand by our own iron manufacture.