New-York tribune., 1879-04-12
THOSE ENGLISH STEEL RAILS.

ARE THEY BETTER THAN OUR OWN PRODUCT !
WHAT OUR MANUFACTURERS BELIEVE. AND
WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO.
William II. Vanderbilt's large importation Of 12,-
600 tons of English steel rails has been the subject
of much discussion and conjecture during the past
week among heavy dealers in iron and coal.
The amount of money directly taken from our own
industries by the transaction IS not spoken OF
as its most serious phase. But the encourage
ment given to foreign competition, and the
fact that English steel, after having been Tor
years practically driven from our market, Is now
seen to start up suddenly as formidable rival OF
our own products, although 1t IS weighted with
much heavier prices, are items OF sulllclent
moment to compel reflection. It has been
claimed by some authorities that the rails
in question were for use in Canada, where
they could be laid without paying duties to our
Government and that Mr.. Vanderbilt brought them
to this city for re-Shpment, because they could be
landed here from his own steamers. Other persons
have held that Mr. Vanderbilt antciDa'ed a fall in
prices here and delayed his purchase until our mills
were so filed with orders that they were
unable to furnish the stock early i'll the
season as it was needed The quality of the rails
was not considered it was urged for if Mr.. Wander
bilt considered the foreign article superior, price
considered he would have imported his entire
stock instead OF giving, As he mas uOnc equally idTgc
orders to our own manufacturers; lhestateuent OF
the prominent official OF the NcW-lork central
Railroad IN The TRIBUNE yesterday, puts TO rest
some current rumOrs and cOnjectures. The rails
are not for the Canada road, II seems, nor is there
any complaint that the American works could not
furnish the stock in the quantities and at the times
re0uired, Mr.. Nanderbllts reasons are purely eco
uomlcal. English rails are cheaper even at their
high price than American rails. -
The representatives. of the leading BesSemer mills,
in reply na to t5SY had e'sc seen the safT
reported in THE TRIBUNE, and had no
reason to withhold their views on the
them thought that the prominent olhciaI mlght
possibly be error as to his figures, and that the
freig ght and insurance added to me duty ana price
in England of f5 a ton would bring the rails up TO
something like S55, originally stated IN hE
TRIBUNE. They also think that he has been mlsln-
formed as to the guarantee; lhey would nave nave
given one identical with that given IN Eng
land If they had been asked 10 do so. Ihey
have no controversy with Mr.. Vanderbilt. lie has
the unquestiOned privilege to purchase Wherc he
can secure the best bargain. They hOld, however
that If his experience Is correctly stated 1t differs
from that of other men who have charge OF roads
doing as much business as the Central But there
are steel rails and steel rails. English rails are
not all of the quality, and OF course American
rails are not all of the same grade. Is question
of good material, care In the process OF manufacture
and thOroughness of inspection. 1t may be that MI
VanderbilGs unfortunate experience, IL such mas
been his experience, has been gained by using an
article which was not of the standard quality. II
So il is a matter of regret TO steel manufacturers
who exercise the utmost to maintain their re-
pute and who are positive that they can furnish q
rail as GOOD as any in the world, that they and tho
industry of the country should suffer loss on account
of the lack of care or skill exercised In any one or
two mills.
As TO the general question of the comparative ex-
cellenCe of English and American rails, our makers
have abundant testimony III their favor, and they
court the most eXactug tests. They are willing to
stand by the record made by their work IN actual
service and To subject their rails TO any compet-
tive test with foreign rails They are ready, too to
guarantee TO furnish Nh Vanderbilt, or any other
purchaser, rails as good III every particular as any
English rail which may be selected a standard.