Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-03-19
For the Marshall County Republican.
Iron--Iron Ore--Ste sc.
BY our Special Correspondent, assisted by
Ii. v. Poor. ESQ.,, and Hon. George
Mcpherson, of Philadclphia.


tember last, no industry in the country
was so injuriously y affected as the manu-
facture of "iron and steel" Nor has
there been any very favorable change in
these indispensable articles up to the
present writing. Later in the year other
industries partly revived, however, thus
branding the iron and steel manufactur-
ing business as the worst business in
which one can engage.
Anticipation were all along entertained
that in early March, '74-or at least in
May, TIA favorable change would be
made; but at present the changes seem
unfavorable, as what follows will show.
The panic almost stopped the construc-
ton of new railroads, as well as repairs
to existing roads, and it compelled rail
road companies to be so economical of
their resources that few orders for loco
motives, cars or bridges have since been
given out. How soon they may do
this does not now appear. Secondly
when the panic spread over the land from
east to west, and from north to south, all
trade subsidized in a greater or less degree,
and hence the iron trade, which is only
second to the gold trade, subsidized there
with. Thirdly-of 81 rail-mills in this
country, which are prepared to make rails
of heavy sections, returns have been re-
ceived during January from so. No. of
mills running Dec. 31st, 17-running full
time. 10-half time, z; number of mills
standing, SO; number preparing to re-
sumo in June, 10; uncertain about re-
suming, 90. Number of hands wholly
unemployed, II 400; hands employed
one-half time, 10,150; number of mills
selling rails, 13; not selling, 81; net tons
of rails on hand not sold Dec. 31st, &c.
744.
On January 1st, 1874, over 10000
hands were wholly unemployed, and
over 10000 weie on half timo. There
were also on that day over 10000 tons ol
foreign rails on hand in New York un.
sold! Offers are now quickly accepted
at % per cent. below the prices which
had prevailed before the panic, and wa
ges were at once reduced-nor have they
teen adjusted as yet.
IRON ORE.
Lake Superior orc shipped during tht
year 1873. was 1,163,057 gross tons
against 952, ,055 gross tons in 1Sg2,-in
! crease 211 ,002 TONS Also 62, 1876 gross
tons of pig iron were made in ~, ant
II, ,507 in '73. Four mines unitedly ship
+ ped over 100000 gross tons of ore il
, 1S73,-Lake Superior, 166,666 tons
: Cleveland, 132,0S2 tons; jackson, 113,
S9a tons; and Republic, l05,452 tons
SS,14l GOO worth of ore was shipped
from the different MINIS in this countr,
for the year 1913. TIE price at Cleve
land, Ohio, of first-class Lake Superio
r specular ore, at the beginning of 1878
; was $12 per ton. After the panic tn,
price fell to $40; and the probabilitie
are that the price will be about 50 TO
: 1874. Upon these prices, three, four
five, six aid eight months credit is usu
{. {. ally asked, and granted.
The price, four and eight months" o
4 Iron Mountain ore, delivered in ST
{ Louis, was $40 in 1873, prior to the pan
ic. 1t is announced that the price of tn
D same ore for 1874, has been fixed at $s
delivered in St. Louis.
On January 1st, 1874, Maine had 81
miles of railroad; New Hampshire, S77
Vermont, 721; Massachusetts, 1.773
n Rhode Island, 1856; Connecticut, S97
e New York, 5.165; New Jersey, 1,41S
: Pennsylvania, $3.50; Delaware, 264
q Maryland and the District of Columbis
o 1,946; West Virginia, SIC; Ohio, a ,25s
Michigan, $3.50; Indiana, 3,714; Illinois
e $3.50; Wisconsin, 2,2O3; Minnesota, l.
$50; Iowa, 1886; Kansas, 2,377; Ne
IL braska, 1,051; Missouri, 1910; Wyomin
a Territory, 459; Utah, 372; Dakota, 23z
y Colorado, 6O3; Indian Country, 279
l. Virginia, 1873; North Carolina. 1865
o South Carolina, 1878; Georgia, 2,26(
O Florida, 466; Alabama. 1,722; MississiI
e pi, $50; Louisiana, $50; Texas, Isis
l. Oregon, 251; Kentucky. 1920; Tennei
re see, 1920; Arkansas, 700, California, /
"a 900; Nevada, 629; Washington Terr
u tory, 105; making a total of II ,1O9 mile
Total miles railroad completed Jan. is
., 1878, was 67,104; increase for the yes
:, 1873, 4,OO5 miles In 1872, 6,427-ba
- ance in favor of 1872, 2,422. Gan errt
= in your paper in this regard three weel
:. since.) There will be fewer railroad
A. built tl,is year than in 1878. Work upo
. railroad construction has been almo
q, suspended since Sept. 1873.
w The whole number of tons (of 2,24
W ibs) of pig iron. bar, angle, bolt, rod, raj
It road, wire, steel, hoops. sheets, boile
rv cast, wrought, scrap, steel-unwrough
j. machinery, &C.. comprising the Britis
Iron Trade, during the years 1923, WI
as follows :-1872, 6,647, AL tons, value
y, at e75, $50, ,4s3 ;-1S73, 5,79s, 100 tons, va