The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-16
Present Iron Production Of the United
States.

Ono Of the striking phenomena of the
time is that economical revolution which in
fhe course Of few years has raised the ca
pacity OF our iron producers far above the
actual level of consumption, has conclusive
ly established the high quality Of the do
mestic article, and summarily cut short the
demand for foreign iron. Nor IS it less re-
markable that this final and decisive con-
quest Of the home market 10y home COM
modities should have occurred IN the pre-
else period during which iron working, like
other industries. has suffered from n dcprcs-
sion Of trade really anomalous in persistence
and severity. Now that more healthful
quarter OF tho so-called industrial cycle is
apparently at hand, it is worth while to note
the present condition Of our iron and steel
manufactures and to that end we may avail
ourselves Of some statistics lately publish
ed in the report Of the New York Chamber
Of Commerce.
1t appears that although the year 1877
was, owing 10 a concurrence Of untoward
circumstances, more fraught with financial
disaster 10 the iron interest than any since
the panic, yet the demand for our iron and
steel products was scnsihly greater than
during the previous twelvcmonth The
number of tons Of pig iron made was 2.3l4-
0OO-an amount larger than that Of the pre-
ceding year by ten per cent, and consider
ably exceeding the yield u 1875, which was
100000. As regards the local distribution
OF production, we find that in the last year
Tor which complete data are furnished 1s7Gl
Pennsylvania made IS per cent and Ohio
about 10; and both Of these States seem to
be increasing their percentage Of the whole
deliveries. Passing to the agents employed
IN the reduction Of iron ores, we learn that
nearly n million tons were smeltcd with BIZ
luminous coal, about 10000 with anthracite,
while in wel-wooded districts, including.
for instance, the Champlain region, some
600 tons were smelted with charcoal
The actual production Of pig iron is still
far below the figures Of 1873, which is, Of
course tantamount to saying that it but
partially represents the capacity Of Ameri-
can furnaces On oct. !, 1877, the whole
number of completed furnaces in this coun-
try was 70i with a weekly reduction Of
$4,000 tons; but ~ these only 2j2 furnaces
were In blast, turning out some 1900 tons
OF the raw metal per week 1t Is obvious
that ample appliances are at hand to satisfy
the augmented demand which may De cx-
pcctcd with better times, and Of which some
signs are already visible
Turning to the subsequent applications Of
Tho raw staple, we note that the total lalri-
cation Of all kinds Of rolled iron in the
United States is set down for 1876 at ,92l .0oD
net tons, an amount soncHrly corresponding
with the figures Of three previous years A.
70 Indicate that the rolling mills OF TIA,
country have been actively employed. Tho
aggregate just named includes some l67, 0o.
tons Of iron rails and $4,000 tons Of The
Bc scnor steel fabric, against 29lO00 tons
b'fsemer and $4,000 tons Of iron rails in
1910 These statistics attest not only the
rapid extension Of the Bcssemcr process
pnl the fact that the Bcsscmcr rail pro-
u"c'lon had practically 0vcrtaken that d
iron twclvcmonth ago, A sim further
a"N"hc' Is credited TO the new metal by IN,
n"la complied for 1871, when, il seems th,
quantity VI steel rails rolled in this countr,