Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-26
shefien and the United States.

The largest years business done BY
Sheffield with the United States was
that of 1873, amounting to %, 669, 976. 80.
The great bulk of this trade is in the
three great industries, Bessemer rails,
steel, cutlery. The aggregate amount
of the three for the present year 1882
is $5, 1868, 1914. SO, against 994S, 154. So for
all other exports. The greatest amount
in value of Bessemer rails sent to the
United States in any one year was in
1874, being 81, LAG, 555. sc. The amount
for the present is s2,011, 100 80. During
the years 1876 to 1873, inclusive, this
trade was entirely suspended, and it
then seemed probable that our country
would from that time be able to supply
her w demands. But it will be seen
that the present year nearly equals 1874,
the year of largest export of this mate
rial. Now, considering the fact that
the price of Bessemer rails is at the
present time less by more than one-half
than in the year 1874, it will appear that
the quantity taken by the United States
in 1882 must be at least double that of
1874, the year of greatest export of rails.
When we turn to steel we shall find q
different aspect of the trade of the last
ten years. In 1873 the value of steel
exported to u country was SO, 267,-
879.6 6, against 81, 959, 1872 in the present
year-a large decrease. In judging of
the quality, there is not the element of
difference in price to be considered as in
the case of Besse9ler rails, since the price
of best steel is nearly the same now as in
1873. Taking into consideration the
remarkable progress of our country in
the last ten years in all branches of in
dustry that must have developed q
greatly increased demand for a superior
quality OF steel that has heretofore been
supposed to be made only in Sheffield,
there seems to be clearly indicated an
increasing ability to compete in quality
with the best makers in the world. This
implies q rapidly growing independence
of a foreign market. This is the more
significant as the demand for steel does
not partake of that spasmodic character
that belongs to Bessemer rails. Again,
the same indication of growing indie
pendence may be seen when we con-
slider the third great branch of Sheffield
industry, cutlery. The amount in value of
cutlery of all kinds exported to the United
States in 1873, the year of greatest
trade, was 1892, oS5. "a, against ST.
297, 091.6 81 in the present year, showing
q difference in our favor of 1894, 992. As
there has been no increase in our de-
mand for Sheffield cutlery during the
last ten years, Notwithstanding our
great growth in population and wealth,
and consequent ability to purchase the
best of the worlds products, it seems
certain that our cutlery manufacture
must have greatly extended and i'm
proved in quality. 1t is evident that
home makers are more largely supply
ing the home market. Still the fact re-
mains that our country calls for Shelf
field cutlery to the amount of more than
$1,000 900 annually. Now, unless the
demands of the American people upon
our own manufacturers are so great that
they cannot be supplied, as is the case
with Bessemer rails, then the indication
is that there is a quality and finish in
Sheffield cutlery that a large portion Of
American buyers prefer and will have.
u. S. Consul Webster.