Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-16

Pennsylvania wears the palm as an iron
producer. Where the eyes of the Argus
have been that it has not discovered that
fact 1--WE cant imagine" The Governor
had particular reference to the present
time, to facts as they existed on the last
day of December 1872, and by those his
assertion is sustained. The Argus might
as we'll bring forward the statistics OF
what was done in this State in 1871 in
shipbuilding to prove what builders are
doing now, or in the manufacture of shoes
then as an exhibit of what is being done
at this time in that branch Of business, as
to quote the figures of 1871 as proof in re-
gard to the present iron product.
During the last year, nay, within the
last six months, the increase of the pro-
ducton of iron in Pennsylvania has been
enormous. The high price of iron has
stimulated it with wonderful power into
almos magic growth. At the same time
iron-ore is becoming scarce in England,
the supply is difficult to obtain, the cost OF
manufacturing has advanced, and produc-
ton has consequently decreased. Instead
of England shipping iron to Jus at this time,
we are shipping ii to that country. This
is new thing, not TO be found in the sta
tistics of 1871 but may be found in things
as they exist in 1872. These are facts
which Il wide awake Governor discovered
in his reading and travels, but which the
Argus with all its eyes has had no glimpse
Of. To explain and substantiate this mat
ter more fully, we invite the attention of
our readers to the following which we find
in the correspondence Of the New York
Times of November 20th.
If the United States had no other evidence
of its material advancement it might be found
in the demands at present being made upon
the iron furnaces Of Pennsylvania. At the
present time there as leiag made up an Mis
State more iron than as produced by all the
+: combined furnaces Of England and the CONT
j neat of Europe, and every ton OF raw pig metal
that finds its way to the forge is run from the
native ore in the United States. This is a
Il fact. which, above all Americas most note
u worthy strides, is the most unprecedented in
o the annals of its history. The traveller hav-
ing OCCASION to pass through the valleys of
l. Eastern Pennsylvania cannot fail to note the
r wonderful business being done. Through
;. these great belts Of coal, iron-ore and lime
stone country, is where at least three fourths
70 of our own iron is manufactured. Upon the
'e tracts owned by well.to-do people in that
'e section iron ore is found in one field and
m limestone in another. Along the mountain
re sides adjoining the premises where they mine
4 coal and rushing down from the hill tops is a
3 large stream of water. A railroad finds its
way along the borders, and for pastime these
Is Pennsylvarians build furnaces, and along
~ with their crops Of wheat, oats, and corn
IN they turn out pig iron by way of variety al
the rate of one or two hundred tons per day
! Wise farmers, these iron agriculturists.
10 Through the Lehigh Valley the manufacture
e has grown to stupendous proportions. In the
rs Lebanon and Schuykill valleys is made the
"a bulk of all the iron produced in Pennsylva-
mia. Three or four months ago pig-iron was
Is worth all the way from twenty-five to thirty
.e dollars a ton. Now the same iron commands
j. anywhere from fifty-four to sixty four dol
lars. The demand is far greater than the
!. supply, and in consequence Of this the many
FORCES hid away along the streams and rail
ways of these particular sections Of the State
are roaring, and smelling, and moulding bars
of pig iron night and day to their fulles
capacities. When England shipped iron t.
this country our resources were able to sup
ply about seven-tenths Of our natural de-
mand. Now, England ships no iron to THU
country; our natural demand is very nearl,
r doeble that of year ago, so readily can be
: seen the immense trade in prospect, when the
fact is considered that our capacity has not a
all been enlarged prior to few months ago
A common expression now in use through
d out the various sections 1 have travelled is
:. "a furnace for every five miles" In the
: iron ore and limestone country furnaces are
t rapidly going up. Millions of dollars oil
y capital are beingninvested in the extension
> and development of this branch of Pennsyl.
vania's resources. Pig-iron can be produced
at an average first cost of from Sl3 II pei
ton, according to location and conveniences a
hand. A clear profit of from S35 to S45 pei
ton 10 made, and when the produce ranges
from one to two hundred tons per day the ag
IL gregate profits of a days business can bt
e. readily calculated
of This will give an idea of what is doing
y now, not several months ago. What has
y, produced the change is shown by the
same correspondent. He had an inter
view with Mr.. Henry S. Eckert of Read
ing, Penn, in the report of which occurs
the following.
COMPASSIONATE have called, in paricu
for this tremendous commoiion in the iror
world.
This had an effect similar to the explosion
of bomb she'll in camp of raw recruits
s 1t was quite unexpected, and, for time, the
interviewed INDUCED in series ofevasiye an
" swers very difficult of comprehension, ant
te not at all satisfactory to the interviewer. At
b. ter few more indirect interrogatories, Mr.
=, Eckert replied "The most direct cause is
" that this country has been suddenly left to it,
W own resources, England having discontinued
shipping pig metal to this country alto
gether."
lie CoRREsPoNDENr-ilow may this be ac-
counted for?
Mr.. EcKERr-There are great many
y reasons given; but presume the principal
Is one is they cannot afford to consign iron tc
le America as things at present exist The
, iron-ore mines of England are all old and
4, well worn. In the cheap times of the King
al dom, ore was plenty, and labor was to be hal
at very little cost. Now, the opposite is the
case. Native ore is extremely rare, and la.