The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-25

very we'll understand the objection that
the iron and steel monopolies have
against any change OF duties. For in.
stance, the present rate Of duty on steel
rails, which is ! 4 cents per pound, or VIZ
per ton, entirely prohibits the importa'
ton of rails, which can be bought in
England at $35 per ton. If we calculate
a duty of 1928 per ton on them, the cost OF
foreign rails laid down in New York
would be $63 gold per ton, while the
price of American rails now is from $46
to $4S or even less. ~
A reduction as proposed in the bill TO
4 of | cent per pound, would still be SlO,
80 a ton duty on steel rails, and the cost
of rails in Europe being $95, they could
not be laid down in New York for less
than $3.50, which is far above the price
prevailing in the market for American
rails. Yet / anticipate great objections
to this change, for the simple reason that
the policy of protection is to prevent any
possibility of foreign competition of steel
rails with the homemade article, But |
submit that such policy is neither fair
nor beneficial, as in the first place 1t de-
prives our citizens Of having a competi-
tive market for foreign commodities at
home, and it certainly shuts out all the
probability of revenue to the country. l
am perfectly willing that the issues of
the steel rail industries, or in fact of the
iron and steel industries of this country,
should be made upon the ground, and l
do not fear for the result.
Let me call your attention 10 the re-
duCtion in this schedule on copper. 1t
is deplorable fact, that the pure and
best copper in the world, placed on Lake
Superior by Providence, is now more for
the benefit of foreign manufacturers of
copper than to our own copper industry.
In 1876 we exported 14304l6O pounds
of ingot copper, and in 1877 we exported
l3 46l .553 pounds of ingot copper. This
copper was sent chiefly to three count
ries, France, Germany and Great Brit.
ain, where ii was sold invariably from 2
to 8 cents, and sometimes cents pound
below the market price in New York.
Now, as it happens, our own superior
copper is chiefly used for the manufac'
ture Of cartridges, an industry in which
our manufacturers in Connecticut and
elsewhere excel. Yet by dint of our
own tariff laws we have furnished for
eign manufacturers with the cheaper
raw material, in order not only to COM
pete with us successfully, but to under
sell us in foreign markets.
1t is we'll known fact that if our mer.
chants were allowed to buy American
copper in London, and bring it over to
the United States free Of duty, that they
would have it from two to three cents
cheaper than it can be bought in the
United States. But as the law forbids
any American product to be reimported,
where packages have been destroyed, it
is a stipulation by the exporters of Amer
lean copper, invariably made, that the
packages and casks in which American
copper is made should be at once de-
stroyed.
l think we have evidences nearer home
of the healthy condition of our metal in
dustries than would appear by the for
eign estimate of our success, or by the
amount of exports of their products
The American Iron and Steel AssoCia-
ton, in its last report, states that there
was produced in the United States 2 9l4-
5S5 tons of pig iron in 1877, as against 2.
093 296 in 1875.
In Michigan and other Western States
large manufactures of hoes, rakes and
other agricultural implements are being
made for export to England and other
parts of Europe.
An enterprise has been commenced in
Philadelphia, looking to the export of
anthracite coal to Europe, and one cargo
has actually sailed, with model steam
engine locomotives constructed for the
use of this coal. The future consump.
ton ofour coal in Europe is by no means
an improbable event, the result of which
to our large surplus coal producing re-
gions is beyond estimate.
THE PRESENT TARIFF AND THE WOOD TARIFF
COMPARED.
We are at some pains to furnish our
readers with the present rate of duties
on iron and steel, and the rates proposed
in the new tariff bill now under discus
sion in Congress. For convenience the
schedule ofthe new tariff bill is publish.
ed, with the rates of the present tariff in
serted in parenthesis:
Iron, in pigs, $5 per ton (present rate,
81 per ton).
Iron ore SOC per ton go per cent? ;scrap
iron, cast, $4 a ton ($6); wrought $6
a ton ($8); scrap steel $6 per ton go per
cent.
Bar iron, rolled or hammered, compri.
sing flats not less than one inch or more
than six inches wide, nor less than three
eighths of an inch or more than two in
ches thick; rounds not less than three
fourths of an inch nor more than two in
ches in diameter; and squares not less
than three -fourths of an inch nor more
than two inches square, BC per pound, (lc
a pound).
Bar iron, rolled or hammered, compri-
sing flats less than three eighths of an
inch or more than two inches thick, or
less than one inch or more than six in-
ches wide; rounds, less than three'fourths
of an inch or more than two inches in
diameter, and squares less than three
fourths of an inch or more than two in
Ches square, and slit rods lie a pound,
Q4C per pound).
But ali iron in slabs, blooms, loops or
other forms, less finished than iron in
bars, and more advanced than pig iron,
except castings, shall be rated as iron
bars, and pay a duty accordingly; and
none of the above iron shall pay less
rate of duty than 95 per cent.
All other descriptions of hammered or
rolled iron, not otherwise provided for,
1c per pound. (Manufacturers of iron,
not otherwise provided for, present tar
if 35 per cent
Mill irons, shafting and mill cranks or
wrought iron, and wrought iron for ships
steam engines and locomotives, or parts
thereof, weighing each % pounds or
more, 1ac per pound &c per pound.)
Anvils and iron cables, or chain cables
or parts thereof, 24c pound (23 apound)
Y,rOx,;JnH That M nboino Yoo6n Of wirn Or