The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-09-19
THE IRON TRADs.

The Shoals Iron Company are now
quarrymg ore near tie Shoals, and find ii
excellent.
The Anchor Iron and Steel works, Of
Cincinnati, havecontracted for 200 horse
power engine to add to the motive power
Of their rolling mill in Newport.
At last accounts Of the loo furnaces
erected in Scotland the number in blast
had increased 10 20, while Of the lob built
in south Staffordshire only A. were blow
ing.
The trade in New York city is in a very
low state At Cornelis Works only 500
men were employed at present this time
last year 700 men were at work, and in a
busy season often 900. J. l.. Mott has
600 men at work and will soon make a
wholesale discharge. Architectural Iron
Works has $50 men, will not employ 50
many this tall Excelsior Iron Works has
only one-fourth Of their usual force of 800
and cannot long retain them
The rolling mill at Paterson Is employ,
ing three hundred men, night and day,
turning out floor beams, etc, for the Cen
tennial buildings at Philadelphia and the
new State Capitol at Albany.
EXPORTS OF BRITISH IRON.
Although 1873 was a dull and troubled
year for the British iron trade, the aggre
gate exports Of iron and steel effected dur
ing the twelve months exhibited very great
progress, as compared with the correspond
ing exports ten or fifteen years previously.
Thus in 1889 We exported ,526, 445 tons Of
iron aud steel and in 1860 500, 500
l.
,557 ,2S3 tons in 1868, 1 l,702, 513 tons
in 1864 ,55S, $50 tons IN 1860, ], ,6S7 ,07l
tons il 1866, l,762, ,4S5 tons in 1867.
|, ,96S 025 tons in 1868, 2,04l S52 tons
in 1869, 2,675, 331 tons in 1870, 1925,
$40 tons in 1871, 3, 1863, 2l9 tons in
1872, 1882. 762 tons in 1873, 1851 ,ol3
tons I'm 1859 the value of the iron and
steel exported was Gl3, 864 96S in 1864,
f15. .049, POI 1869, f22, 342, 0S0 and in
1873, e37, 73l. 239 Last years total was
quite unprecedented English Paper.
BRITISH COAL, IRON AND WAGES.
The practical struggle fetween employ
ers and employed in England is won by
the former. They had the ability t" en-
dure the longest, and the question was one
of endurance They have forced wages
luAbnCl hbNil III tAC nun uo NClA do III hhC
coal trade, and have coal, iron, and labor
at almost the same mark as three years
ago. 1t was stated at a recent railway
meeting in Manchester, that coal has fall
en- from twenty to twelve shillings per ton,
and steel rails from eighteen pounds to
eight pounds and fifteen shillings per ton,
and spiegeleisen from fourteen pounds ten
shillIngs to FIVE pounds seven. The aver
age net selling price of manufacturing iron,
per ton. for three months preceding Au-
gust, was shown before the Northern Ar
bitration Board, to have been El0 l8s ii I'd,
and eli l8s I'd, including South Stafford
shire, while Welsh rails are quoted at
f7 los
This is consequence Of the victory
gained over the strikers. BY the terms
on which the Yorkshire colliery strike was
terminated, the men accepted IL per cent.
reduction. South Wales has resolved to
reduce wages To the lowest standard in
Northumberland the coal owners have an
nounced another reduction in Fifeshire
fifteen per cent. reduction has been accept
ed And if the investigation reaches the
Continent low prices and inactivity are
again encountered.
These facts show that the difficulties ex-
perienced by the iron interest in this coun
try are general rather than local. Every
where there is sufficient stock on hand
for very moderate demands, and every
where, in consequence, the price of labor
are being pared down where any employ
ment whatever is given 1t is against this
state Of affairs, that admits the importation
of Welsh rails in competition with Ameri-
can as well as against the want Of demand
and continuing paralysis Of business, that
our own iron trade is to contend. The lat
ter may be partially overcome in ensuing
months, or may be protracted. The form
er is an enduring as it is a mighty evil, and
competent to excuse the want of energy
that is seen in the rade.-PhiIadel Mia
+" North 4 America"