Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-24
Aailp &ennebef Jonrnal.
Augusta, Friday Morning, Mar. "a.


Iuc IIOH-llS LLuCCls
The New Age copies an item from the
Kennebec Journal. which spoke of the
purchase recently by the Maine Central of
1900 tons of steel rails in Russia, and
in the same connection copies the following
question which the Lewiston Gazette asks
q contemporary
Why does it not tell its readers some hard
facts about the outrageous steel monopoly
supported by duty Of s28 per ton. produc-
ing bounty to the steel monopoli-ts Of over
s3l. O00,O 900, which ia refunded by the
people, with interest doubly compounded an
nually to the railroad companies in increas-
ed charges for freight and passengers! And
by comparing American and English steel
rail quotations it will be found that every
dollar of the duty was added 10 the domestic
product and went to make this enOr-
nous bounty for the steel monopolists.
Why did not the Gazette go deeper into
the matter. and give its readers the full
facts in regard to steel rails which have
followed the laying on Of the protective
duty of S2s per ton by the United States
government? When the first Bessemer
WOIkS were III llIiS IDbtll
lish Bessemer rails were worth here $50
in gold per ton. As soon as the Philadel-
phia company started their works English
rails went down to Sl20 per ton, and
soon were offered at even lower figures.
The Infant industry" in this country
struggled in vain to stand against the
competition it met. and finally its pro-
jectors went before Congress a. a last
resort, asking protection. Congress
in 1870 granted their petition, and laid
duty OF s2S per ton upon foreign rails.
The following prices Of rails for several
years will show whether the duty imposed
was added to the cost or not that railroad
companies have paid for rails. In 1868
American made rails sold at the average of
$l58.50; in 1869, at Sl32.2j; in 1870, at
Sl0G,75; in 1871. Sl02,50; in 1872. SIP:
in 1873, $120.j0; in 1874, S9i; in 1879,
$G8; in 1876. $50 in 1877, so in 1873.
$42; in 1879, Si8. In 1880 there was a
great boom in iron in America and Eng
land, and the price then for the same kind
of rails which sold in 1868 for Sl5S.50 per
ton was only S67 30, although the demand
for iron was unprecedented. Not only
did this remarkable fall in prices, shown
in the foregoing follow the duty of S2s per
ton laid on iron by our government. but
the increase Of the manufacture of Besse-
ner rails in the United States went from
$4,000 tons in 1872 to $4,000 tons in
1880.
In the face of these facts. the assertion
Of free trade papers like the New Age and
the Lewiston Gazette. that the tariff in
creased the price of rails, is seen to be ex-
tremely erroneous. Instead of the rails OF
the Maine Central costing more on account
OF the tariff, they cost the company less
than one-half what the same rails would
have cost in 1868. Ii the Maine Central
had paid the price for its 100 tons of
rails that they cost in 1868, before the
duty was placed on rails. the total cost
would have been S7l3.2 $50; but at the
price which ruled in 1880. ten years after
the imposition of the duty. they cost but
$303. 750.-a gain to the railroad and
those who pay for travel and freight over
it of S409. 800