The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-30
The Consumption of Iron Per Capita.

There is no doubt that the most civil
lied nations use the highest quantity
per capita of any product. They are
able to supply themselves freely with
the necessaries of life, to furnish them
selves deliberately with the convenient
ces, and to lavish upon themselves
abundantly the luxuries of existence.
Civilized nations not only surround
themselves with plenty of food and pro-
cure 1t in greatvariety, but they clothe
themselves well, they furnish their
houses with completeness, they use ma
chinery in their varied occupations, they
bridge streams, they provide for them
selves the most comfortable and speedy
means OF transportation, and in every
way they add ease, comfort, conven-
fence, and even pleasure to the perform
ance OF the ordinary duties in life. 1t
is therefore, quite common among po-
litical economists to measure the add
vancement of a Nation toward the plane
of high civilization by its consumption
of such products as indicate the devel-
opment of mechanical skill or the wide
spread existence of diversified industry.
Wood, sulphur, iron and other useful
products are each referred to as fur
nishing tests for comparing the relative
advancement in the arts and sciences
of different peoples.
To those who are interested in such
Investigations and comparisons table
of some value will be found in Mr. J S.
Jeans recent report to the British Iron
Trade Association, of which he is Sec
rotary. Mr.. Jeans has made a careful
calculation of the annual consumption
of iron per capita of almost every coun-
try in the world according to the latest
advices. We presume, however, that
in this case the rule laid down by polit-
ical economists will have to be varied
from little, if it can be made
sufficiently flexible, for surely the
Falkland Islands cannot be the
center of the civilization of the globe
yet their per capita consumption
surpassed all competitors, being 367
pounds. New South Wales, too, can
hardly be regarded as in the foremost
rank of enlightenment, but it comes
next, with 362 pounds. These antipodal
regions seem to be immense consumers
of iron according to their population,
for South Australia comes next, with
81 pounds. Great Britain is relegated
to the fourth place in this list of iron
absorbers, consuming but 2S73 pounds.
Nevertheless, she triumphs over her
lusty child, the United States, which
appears as using only 271 pounds. But
along come two more of Great Britain's
children-Queensland, with 269 pounds,
and West Australia, with 262 pounds.
1t is, indeed, remarkable that all the
countries so far named are English, or
of English origin. Belgium now APP
pears upon the scene, with 238 pounds.
But back the banner goes to two more
English colonies-Victoria, with 2024
pounds, and New Zealand, with 1877
pounds. And now comes France,
though so wonderfully clever far down
in the list with 149 pounds. Thrifty
Holland ranks next, with 139 pounds.
Then follows the Anglo-Chinese settle
ment of Hong Kong, with 1873 pounds,
and Uruguay, with 100 pounds, pre-
ceding (can it be possible?) Germany,
with only 1233 pounds. Surely this
cannot be good test of civilization, or
else there is something wrong with the
fiollres. But what comes next after
Germany? The FIJI Islands, with 1913
pounds. Then our neighbor, Canada,
follows these islands of the South Sea,
with 1909 pounds. No other country
reaches consumption of 100 pounds.
Sweden comes not far from it; then
comes Tasmania. Newfoundland, the
Cape of Good Hope, the East Indian
Straits settlements, Natal, the Argen-
tine Republic, Malta, Denmark, Aus
tria, and Norway. No other country,
not even Spain, Portugal, Russia, or
Italy, reaches a consumption of thirty
five pounds. Age.