Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-29
TRADE AND LABOR.
Falling OF of Sales Of Foreign Iron
! in American Markets,
Large Production-The Opinions Of Iron
Kings AboutAmerican Tariff legis-
Iation and Its Effect on fu-
ture Trade.
ABlL TOSEcURs LABOR ARBITRATION

New York, January 2S.-A correspond
ent of the Times at London, under date OF
the sth inst, says: The general production
of iron and steel in Great Britain has been
larger during the past year OF 1882 than in
any previous twelve months, and the total
increase in exports has amounted to some
thing like half a million tons. The De-
cember returns OF the Board OF Trade are
net yet complete, but comparison OF eleven
months ending November 1882, gives the
following results: $780, 1855, ,32i tons; 1851,
~S,5rs,ol1 tons; 1882, 1852, 2l5 tons. Had it
not been for the collapse of the American
demand during October, November, and
December the figures for 1882 would
have been very much more sur
prising than they are, seeing that
America has been England's largest Gus
toner. The falling off in the American
demand was chiefly felt IN steel rails and
pig IRON. The expectation of crude steel
(Crucible and Bessemer) actually went up,
showing an increase Of 10000 over 1851.
Cutlery suffered decrease 70 the extent OF
Gl7 ,334 The years trading may be re-
garded as satisfactory, except in respect to
prices, which have been too uniformly
poor to show a profit at all commensurate
with the increase volume OF business.
The Year Opened Well
in regard to prices, but there was relapse
in the spring, followed by a slight recovery
in the summer and since which time the
markets may be said TO have ruled
steady" The export trade to the United
States has been mostly in raw and semi
raw material, whereas most OF the other
countries have taken and continue to buy
from England manufactured iron and steel.
Imports of ore from Spain, Eiba
and other Continental centres have in.
creased, owing to the limited amount OF
hematite ore Obtainable in England. Bes-
semer steel is chiefly made from this class
of ore, which here is chiefly got in the
Furness district and Cumberland. Bilbao
ore mines we're opened by the Bilbao Com
pany founded by Sir John Brown es.
pecially to make up for the deficiency OF
English ore of the hematite class.
The British Trddc JOTRd! boasts that I'm
spite OF heavy import duties and aug
men,ed native capacity, in the first two
months of the past year alone we sent to
America 10000 tons Of rails, l22, 900 tons
of steel bloomT, billets and bars, and i22,-
O0O tons of p;g.iron."
"And what is your opinion Of
The Tariff Question:
Iasked Sheffield gentleman who ought
| to know the subject thoroughly from an
| international stand point. We'll, at pres
| ent we can form no opinion" he said, las
| to what abatements are to be made | do
not expect our friend Jonathan is going to
open the door to us very wide" "Suppos-
| ing he does, however. particularly in re-
gard to iron and steel. do you agree with
| those who think England can still success
| fully compete with America in her own
| markets? Or are you OF the same opinion
| as Mr. Richards, that whatever happens
| England has lost her hold on the steel and
| iron trade Of the United States" II think
| America can hold her own in the manu-
| facture OK steel and iron, the capacity OF
| her Bessemer steel mills is quite enough
| for her requirements; but there are some
articles of Sheffield manufacture that would
| be benefited by
Relaxation OF Duties,
| such for instance as common cutlery, files,
| and possibly screws; but speaking gener.
| ally, Sheffield has given up America as a
| market for her light finished goods, except
| in the item of superior cutlery, which
| tariff of 30 per cent. fails TO keep out.
! What, then, do you think is the general
| policy of the Sheiiie'd d manufacturer as re-
!
neutral markets and meet America on that
ground.
Thus far have endeavored to suggest
the leading points of the international as
peCt OF affairs from the point of views Of the
| Sheftielder. One day this week | had q
conversation with an iron master from
| South Wales, who in the course Of our
talk, developed quite picturesque bit OF
| Welsh superstition corrected with the
great irony works of Merthyr. When they
| are in full operation they light up the
Merthyr Valley with half a hundred fur
| naces. leach OF which IS capable OF yielding
eighty tons of iron per week. and the
wages average S, 900, 900 year. Inquired
as TO the condition and prospects OF these
| works. "Latterly they have shown
Some Signs of Life"
| was answered; but few months ago Cy-
| farihfa was so still and quiet that gossips
! and newspapers had TO record something
very mysterious in connection with the
| place. And do you believe in a great re-
| duction OF American tariff | asked. Ger
tainly do, and in the adoption of free
trade BY the United States" And how
will that be brought about?' Partly by
the intelligence OF American statesmen
and partly by a change in our own fiscal
| laws" Then you are what they call
| fair trader" am, and rely upon it we are
nearer TO retaliatory change OF policy than
Is generally thought. One day before long
il is on the cards that the farmer Of the
Western States of America will suddenly
say:
| Hello. whats Cpi
| John Bull is not buying our wheat. He
will find out that it is because Jonathan
has shut out John Bulls iron and other
staple products. Then there is going 70 be
a genuine free trade movement in America,
and once the United States opens her ports
to US we shall take Off the duty on corn,
and both sides OF the Atlantic will pros.