Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-22
Consumption of Coal by Various Indus
Especially that of Iron.

trieS-Especiaily that OF Iron.
The Importance of the iron industry
Is often moderated in purely CONNER
cial quarters We can, however, show
that in one point Of view, namely, as
regards consumption of coal, it is fully
as important here as in England, that
is in comparison with other industries,
We find that the United States pro-
duced in 1878
2,290,G5S tons pig iron exclusive of char
coal pig.
I2l 40 tons ron ais.
9So0O0 tons rolled iron of other kinds.
12S,296 70 Is Bessemcr steel rails.
10000, tons cast steel.
We find also that the total produc-
ton Of Anthracite aud Bituminous
coal amounted i'll 1873 to 50,S62, $40
tons. For cast steel we estimate only
the coal required to convert from bar
iron.
The tons used are all those of 1000
pounds.
Now, having these figures we are
enabled to work backward, by know
ing the ratio of coal used to the ton of
iron of different kinds, and to the ton
ofsteel. We make the following es-
Inmates, based on experience and caro-
full calculation to cover waste, loss on
coal in coking, &c, &C.:
One ton pig iron requires 2.25 tons coal
One ton rolled iron, other
than rails, 240 "
One ton iron rails, inclu-
ding stcelheaded rails, ..
One ton Bcsscmer rails, $50 "
One ton cast steel, s.
These figures are considered slightly
low, certainly fairly representing the
average work of the whole country.
They refer, Of course, to the finished
mercantile product in each case.
Multiplying one set Of figures by the
other, we have:
Tons PIC iron 2,2o0, 685x2 30, l53,9s0
Tons iron rails, 121, 115X2. Il 1880
Tons rolled iron, S0,O0Ox2 40-2, 352 ,0C0
Tons of Bcsscmcr
rails, 12S, 266xlSO- 230,S1S
Tons of cast steel, 40,OO0x5. -200O,O0O
Total tons coal 9,3S0, 40S
Taking these totals we find that the
manufacture of iron in the United
States required no less than Isl per
cent. Of the coal mined in the country.
This is merely for the production Of
the metal, not including the transport
tation Of the IS! per cent. Of the en-
tire coal nor the power used in mining
it.
Our estimate includes iron, except
ing rails, only az a raw material for a
second series of industrial. The pig
iron goes into castings say to one third
the amount produced, and the plate
and bar non goes into a vast variety
of products. The foundries, forgcs,
mills, and mechanical and locomotive
shops form a most extensive series of
industries, perhaps rivalinS the orig
inal in Importance. But they all de-
pend on the original production of
iron, as given above, and this industry
alone used nearly one-lifth of the en-
tire coal mined in the country.
We cannot compare our estimate
with The English figures as they include
all other industries mentioned, while
we are unable to make an estimate of
them. If, however, England mined
last year l3O,OOO,0O0 tons of coal and
used $4,000, 900 for all her iron and
steel works, We make good showing
with over 81 million tons used
solely to produce the iron itself.
When we consider the fact involved
here, we see how vast an industry
this represents. Coal forms but a
small part of its needs its demand for
iron ore peoples portions Of our coun-
try and its need of limestone, FIRE
brick, manufactured products of all
kinds, gives rise to an enormous inter
change Of products. Very few have
any idea of the transportation requir-
ed to effect this exchange. 1t is easy
to see why such an industry should
be protected. We can judge of its
value to England by the sacrifices she
makes and the efforts she puts forth to
break up our trade and retain
the markets of the world. 1t
is worth as much to us as it is to her,
and it is incumbent on us to use every
means in our power to supply our own
wants and transfer hither as much of
her trade as we can.-Raihoad and
Mining Register.
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