The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-19

least q dangerous rival, and that,
In fact, our iron industries have
been, in part, o cause "of
her financial TROUBLES during the
past year. Concerning this La Prensa,
of Madrid, publishes two most impor-
tant articles on the iron trade OF En-
gland and the United States of America,
one of which says: "fhe grave ques-
tion now discussed in England is the
progress made by America in making
large iron, which 1t can do as well, il
not cheaper than England; and even in
cutlery, America is now trying to COM
pete in the markets of the world with
Sheffield and Birmingham; 1t is of no
| use, therefore, for the English press to
try and cover over those. facts with a
vail, thereby deceiving it's readers. The
travellers of English firms are returning
without orders; or, If any, only sufficient
to occupy one-half of the workmen."
This tact seems TO be realized by the
London Times, which says, regarding
the English iron trade: "The falling of
is evident; North America is supplying
itself and other countries with big iron
productions, and in cutlery is now the
rival of England, Belgium, France and
Prussia. - The English press,
which has done its utmost to hide from
the English manufacturers their real
danger, is not blameless. 1t had been
represented that America had not the
means and power to compete with Eng
land, which, before we end, we. shall
prove to be false" The iron trade has,
| it is true, been somewhat depressed in
this country during the past two years,
but the depression Is likely to be only
temporary. From 1885 to 1870 the most
of The railroads were built, and the de-
mand for iron was very great. In the
benefits of this our iron interests we're
but just beginning to share, when the
financial crash came. The building Of
railroads in the great West by means of
credits of all kinds had created an un-
due imitation of the iron trade, and when
the railroad collapse came the iron trade
necessarily suffered with it, and the de-
preston from which it is just recovering
was the result. That this depression is
only temporary is evidenced by the in
terest manifested In the industry and
the gradual renewal Of activity in
all its branches. Railroad building
is gradually beginning to resume with
the excellent crop and business pros
poets, and other branches of industry, in
which the aid of the iron manufacturer
is needed are again beginning to call for
supplies. The railroads are many of
them preparing for change from iron to
steel rails, and the manufacture Of Bes-
semer steel rails is likely to receive an
impulse which will benefit the manuiac-
turers largely. Our Southern States, as
yet only partially developed, give evil
dence of boundless stores of mineral
wealth, which may be had at small ex-
pense, and the fact should be thoroughly
made known to the manufacturing world.
The manufacturers and capitalists OF
Europe are, as shown. above, gradually
coming to realization of our resources
and abilities in this line, and it should
be the work of our own Exposition and
that of 1875 to demonstrate the quality
of our products and the advantages we
possess as the future leaders of the.world
in this branch of industry.