The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
AMERICAN IRON TRADE.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN
IRON AND STEEL AssocIATIoN-A PROSPEROUS
YEAR PASSED AND A DETER ONE ASTIcI-
PATED.
PHILADELPHIA, JAN II, 1879.
report of the condition of the American iron
trade for the past year has just been completed by
James NJ Swank. secretary of the American Iron and
Steel Association. 1t states that the production of
pig iron in the United States in 1877 2.3l45s5
tons, and in 1878 2.3s2.O 900 tons Pennsylvania
shows an increase of 100000 tons. while Ohio
shows decrease of over 10000 TONS In 1878 Penn
sylvania made than fifty per cent of the total
production of pig iron in the United States At the
close 1877 there in the United 716 blast
furnaces. of which go were in blast and 446
out of blast. At the close of 1873
there 200 furnaces of which were in blast and
440 out of blast. These figures, taken in connection
with those of the production above given indicate
increased average production of the active furnaces in
1873 1877. During 1873 there eighteen fur
out of the active list and there two new fur
erected, one in Ohio and one in Tennessee,
showing net decrease in the year of sixteen fur
naces. The stock of pig iron hand unsold ut the
close of 1877 amounted to 642.351 net tons. At the
close of 1878 they m ch less. being about
SIG tons At the close of 1876 the stocks aggre
gated s6.79S tons. III the whole of Pennsylvania
there WAS decrease in 1873 of about 80. 900 tons,
although in the Lehigh Valley there
an increase of about $1,000 tons. There
was a decrease in New York of about
$4,000 tons; in Ohio of about 1900 tons,
and marked decrease in Michigan, Missouri and
other States. The shrinkage in stocks was remarka
bly, uniform in all producing States. and it is very
branch of the iron trade throughout the year. No
consumption and production of pig IRON, we'll
the reduction of stocks, greater in 1878 than
during the previous year.
INCREASED ACTIVITY.
careful estimate shows the production was in
creased about 10000 tons Stocks decreased
about 126,000 and consumption increased about
1875 900 tons. This indicates that the rolling mills
were more steadily employed during the past year
than in the year preceding. Some Of the reasons
for this increased activity the improve
inents in iron ship and bridge building. the
requirements of the New York elevated railroads and
the large manufacture of locomotives and railroad
cars Ten out Of eleven steel works were busiiy en-
gagged III the production of steel rails during the
tire year. and other steel works were also active;
consecutive crops having been procured-and the
general revival Of business throughout the latter
half of the past year. were influences which favor
ably affected the iron trade of the country The ex-
hibit in connection with the production of Bessemer
is particularly gratifying equalng, perhaps, that
Of Great Britain during the year.
PRODUCTION OF IRON RAILS.
In 1877 the production Of iron rails amounted to
1872. $40 net tons, which great reduction from
the production OF 1876, which 467, 16S tons. In
1878 this decline wholly arrested, the produc-
ton during the year being fully great in
1877, and probably few thousand tons greater.
In 1877 the production of Bessemer steel ngots was
56O5S7 net tons. and the production Of Bessemer rails
432, 169 tons In 1878 the production Of ingots
about 80 900 net tons, and the weight of Besse
rails produced about coo 900 net tons. Put
ting the iron and steel rail products Of the year
together have in round numbers total of $4,000
tons the rail product of the year. This product
has only been exceeded in history lin 1872,
when the product reached 900 900 In 1879
We will probably equal even that immense product.
The decline in price OF pig iron during the year
81 81 ton, and on bar iron it was one-tenth of
cent per pound, or So "a ton. Iron and steel rails
sold during the year at average prices which
discouragng feature of the iron trade Of that
which relates to prices. In both iron and steel rails
there improvement. but in pig and bar iron
there decline from the exceptionally low prices
OF 1877.
SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR.
The report concludes as follows:-
The old year. take It all in all, u active and
either isT6 IsT7 There In the demand
salae,ory were we'll %ssn.d IN te snse sSt
pig IRON This branch Of the trade has had hard struggle
and many furnaces have been run without profit The
more active and more prosperous business for
iron and steel manufactures than the old year
competition cannot be desperate has been Foreign
competition for the present IL not DO dreaded Prices
hoped are at At the lowest point to which they
possibly fall while the unmistakabe and undeniable
vval of general prosperity throughout the
every Of tho continus Of the
mand for iron and steel which the old