The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-01-18
CORRESPONDENCE.
BEssRNER STEEL RAIL BARS.

/ D6SsEAEh BABS.
KANSAS CAIEF In December 1880, / addressed
the Chief this industry, ard at that time there
were thirty-two converters in operation, with a ca
pacity of 800 tons per day. The production in 1870
was 5000 tons in 1850, the product was s5O.OOO
tons and in 1881, 800 900 tons The first produe.
ton Of steel rails by the Bessemer process began in
England, in 1863. Its manufacture began in this
country in 1867, at Wyandotte, near Detroit, and
the output that year ~ tons; and the works
have increased from one. in 1867 to fifteen in 1881
and works now completed and in progress will in
crease the capacity to 600 900 tons annually
There Is no industry that has made greater strides
in the last fifteen years Now. this great industry
has grown under high protective tariff, the duty
being on Bessemer steel imported rails SIS per ton
Please follow these facts, and see how the prices
have ranged during the building up of this great in
dustry. The first importations in this country cost
laid down here, about $50 per ton. When the
manufacture began here, imported rails were SELL
ing at tl66 per ton, paying an adj valorem duty Of
% per cent on invoice cost at place of production
In 1866, manufacture began here, and the product
was s,2s1 tons in 1868, 6,i5l tons; in 1869, solo
tons; in 1850, 5000 tons Prices ranged as fol-
lows. In 1866, si66 per ton; in 1865 sI5s per ton
in 1862 sl32 per ton; in 1870 slO6 per ton At this
date, the duty was changed from IS per cent ad
vaiorein to sss per ton, specific duty. From this
date, the industry increased very rapidly and the
output reached 5000 600 tons in 1852 and the reue
ton in price has been from si66 per ton, in 1866,
when the manufacture began in this country to
sio6 in 1870, when the duty changed and large
sales were made in December las: at $50 to 80 per
ton, and the price is fixed here by home competitive
forces. Here is one instance where high protect
nj keen nm laa
complaint about the investments not paying fair
dividends. We must conclude that the plant is
profitable, as many Of the old works are charging
their capacity, and several new works are nearly
ready to into blast, and the output this year will
far exceed that of any former year, aud an over
production 10 not possible under the present animu
Of railroad progress and construction. The reduc.
ton in price is largely due to the improvement and
application of mechanical appliances, which have
mostly been wrought out by our own mechanical
experience. The large reduction in prices occur
ring when the American works were in their infan-
cy, was caused by combination of an enormous
English capital, with the intention of controlling
the market Of the United States and the effect was
to ruin our works. At this time, the tariff was adj
justed TO meet the e1isency and by the aid of the
geologist mining engineer and improvement of the
process Of production, the Bessemer rail works were
enabled to compete with the foreign combination |
and obtain a solid footing.
The great principle involved in the high protective
tariff seems, by the deductve method of reasoning |
to effect reversal of the generally acknowledged
protective principe-that the higher the duty on |
any home manufacturing industry the higher the |
price is maintained but the competitive forces. in
connection with the underlying priRciple of supply |
and demand, arc the governing powers. If a re- |
ia made in the tariff /.
be possible for steel rail bar works to remain in
blastf The home production of steel rails IN 1880
was $50, 900 tons while imported 50 500 tons val
ned ut 81 ,6i3 200, paying duty Of 81 i7S62. Not
our immense output, not able |
to supply the demand; hence, should a reduction in
the tariff be madel Science, mechanical skill and /
practical experience, combined with cheap and dur
able steel rails has enabled the construction of rail
roads at much less cost than it was twenty years
past, which has enabled the roads to make a large
reduction in tonnage rates. and still make fair and
dividends on investments
The competition in the trunk lines, before the
pooling system was adopted, compelled economy
in actual cost Of transportation. which has proved
Of great advantage to the producer. Competition
not act, unless lines parallel and pooled
Then legislation must step in, and provide by stat
ate law for all acts of discrimination and arbitrary
-ates The railroads have made the great Mssis-
ppi what it is and the construction of these graat
lines.
This great primary cause has been the means Of
developing the steel rail industry, and the proec
ion it has received, together with the improved
processes for production, has made it possible for
the competition it has engendered to force prices
Town to about the actual cost of production II this
the actual fact, the tariff be reduced, and
works be kept in blast In the manufacture of
teel rails, together with many other kinds of manu-
acturing industries, 90 per cent. of the production
s actual labor. Can this labor be reduced 50 per
ent., or even p per cent, and keep the works
n blast Can the price Of the product be reduced
10 per ton, and keep the capital invested and make
fair returni think it would not be advisable to
10 any act that would be the means Of sending our
ron and steel works out of blast.
am advocate of low tariff but at the same
lime, would give proper protection to home in
lustry. have taken the article of Bessemer steel
ails sample of tariff protection, for the reason
hat railroads being attacked and misrepresent-
ID by the great mass of the people. But we have
many other industries that have been protected by
he tariff. The manufacture of woollens is highly
Protected, but at the same time the American wool
PRODUCER is protected by tariff of IL cents per
ound on wool valued at u cents and an al yalor-
m of 10 per cent, which makes in all about Is cents
er pound; yet the importations amounted, in 1881.
o g, ,s66 pounds, which paid duties into the
treasury AS6O,sl5 But the home production has
'rougbt competition that has reduced the cost
o the consumer very materially.
But the cry is Free Trade. National interests
hould be thoroughly examined in all their bearings,
nd the question of great reduction in the tariff at
ne time must be avoided. The people Of the Ma
ion one, and what affects individual industries
indicted into the National. The producer. trans
orter and consumer have an individual interest.
Yours
A. W WAIEE=. |