Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-16
Saturday Morning, April 16, 1881.
THE IRON AND STEEL CENSUS.


 The bulletins from the Census Office in- crease in interest. The latest relates to the iron and steel interests of the United States. The whole number of establishments devoted to these industries in 1880 was 1,OO5; in 1870 it was sos. The percent age of increase in the ten years was 24.3S. The size and capacity of the estab- ishments were, however, much greater in 1880 than in 1870. The whole amount of capi- steel in 1880 was $23O, ,971, 8s4; in 1870 it was $121, 722, O74 increase, $109 ,199, 71O, or S9.6S per cent.
 In 1870 twenty-five States were more or less engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel Of these South Carolina does not ap- pear in the statistics of 1880. Its total pro- duction in 1870 did not aggregate 500 tons. The iron industry in this State has been practically abandoned. Since 1870 three States have for the first time engaged in the manufacture of iron, namely, Cobra do, Kansas and Nebraska; also the Territo- tories of Utah and Wyoming. Utah, how ever, did not make any iron in 1880. It made small quantity in each of the years 1874, 1875 and 1876, and it will make larger quantity in the near future. California and Washington Territory have made arrange ments since the close of the census year to manufacture iron New Hampshire made iron many years ago, but it does not appear in the statistics for 1870 it reappears in the ta- bles for 1880. Oregon and Texas each built ablast furnacein the decade preceding the cen sus year 1870, but they did not make any iron in that year; they appear, however, in the statistics of production for 1880. The Dis trict of Columbia once had blast furnace in operation, but in 1870 it had no iron indus try whatever in 1880 the United States gov ernment owned and operated 8 small rolling mill at the Washington navy yard. Mime sota appears in 1880 for the first time among the iron manufacturing States, but its statis- tics only relate to the preparations that have been made to embark in the business. Thir ty States, the District of Columbia and Wy oming Territory made iron in 1880. Twelve States made over 100, ,O0O tons each in 1880.
 Pennsylvania, which for more than one hundred years has. been the leading iron pro- ducing State of the Union, made in 1870 fraction over 50 per cent. of the total prod uct, and in 1880 it made fraction over 49 per cent. At both periods it's prominence in the production of iron and steel was virtual ly the same. From 1870 to 1880 it increased it's production 97 per cent. ,or from l, 1886, sos tons to 3,616, ,668 tons, while the whole coun- try increased it's production go per cent, or from 3, ,655, ,215 tons to 2, ,265, 40 tons. Ohio was the next State in prominence in 1870, and it held the same rank in 1880. In the former year it produced 449, 769 tons, and in 1880 it produced 93O, Al tons, an increase of 1O7 per cent. The third State in inprominence rank in 1880, but it's growth fell far below that of it's two sister States above mentioned. In 1870 it produced AS, 257 tons, and in 1880 it produced 59s, 300 tons, an increase of B per cent. New Jersey was fourth in rank in 1870, producing Is, 262 tons, but it was fifth in 1880, although in that year it produced 243 ,S6O tons, increase of 112 per cent. The fourth place in 1880 WAS taken by Hi nois, which produced in 1870 only 25,761 tons, while in 1880 it produced All, ,967 tons, an increase of 1,522 per cent Maryland ranked fifth in 1870, producing 95, 424 tons in that year, while in 1880 it produced only 11O,9 tons, an increase of 16 per cent, causing it to drop to the twelfth place. The sixth State in rank in 1870 was Missouri, with a production of 94, S9O tons, which was increased to 125, ,75S tons in 1880, or 33 per cent, giving it the tenth place in that year. Michigan increased it's production in the ten on Is- q nr per cent, taking the eighth place in rank in 1880. Wisconsin increased its production from 42, 234 tons to 17s,935 tons, or 324 per cent, giving it the sixth place in 1880. In- diana produced GA, 14S tons in 1870 and &C., 117 tons in 1880, an increase of 50 per cent. Of the New England States, Massachusetts shows the greatest growth in the ten years, increasing from SC, 146 tons in 1870 to 141,- 321 tons in 1880, or GA per cent, placing it ninth in rank.
 Astonishing and gratifying progress was made in the ten years in several southern States. West Virginia increased it's produc- tion from 72, 337 tons to 147, 4S7 tons, or 104 per cent, giving it the seventh place in 1880. Alabama increased from 7,O60 tons to 62,- 9ss tons; or 792 per cent. Georgia increased from 9,634 tons to 35, 152 tons, or 265 per cent Tennessee increased from 34, 305 tons" to r, 100 tons, or 125 per cent. Kentucky increased from SC, 732 tons to 123, ,751 tons, or 43 per cent, placing it eleventh in rank in 1ssO Delaware increased from s,307 tons to 33,91s tons, or 3oa per cent. Virginia in- creased from 37, ,836 tons to 55, 722 tons, or 47 per cent. All the States which made iron or steel in 1870 increased their production in 1880 except Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.