The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-21
fRE sPANssH rnsArH.
ne Alarm u Creates Am~as sAs New Jerssy
nrsa Ore HrSAvcers.


DOVER. ~. Dec. O.-The possibility OF
tho ratification Of tho now treaty between
Spain and tho United States causes a feeling OF
CONSERVATION among the producers Of iron ore
In the State Of Now jersey. This State ranks
fourth In tho production OF iron ore and tho
county OF Morris, whore most Of the New Jer-
soy output IL mined, II the third In tho Union
IN tho production OF iron ore, being exceeded
only by the counties Of Essex in New York
and Marquette In Michigan. Until recently
Now Jersey mined about ton per cent.
OF the iron orc product OF the Union. This was
beiore there was competition with the cheaper
oros OF Spain and Cuba. Prior to 1879 there
was no foreign orc imported into this country.
and In 1878 the amount imported was but 2s.2l2
TONS From that time the importations in
creased rapidly, until they reached 1872 ss7 tons
In 1881. As much the greater part of this i'm
York; Amboy. and Philadelphia it came
ersss sSth In Y ss time SrSfp ss
W. oo2 tons; The al valorem duty on foreign
orc up to ms time amounted TO only about 30
cnhtT, winch was far from euualiZinE tho diff
ierrnc3 between the wages paid in this coun-
try and the cost for tho same, labor In spain
effort TO increase tho duty to at least .i.5O per
ION but ~. best that Congress would do VAS
as 1t fol- far short Of tho limit of protection,
wis OF but litls account.
,Slhgo lnal tlue Tie ifOn- mnin. DuSinosS in
New Jersey has grown worsn steadily and 1t il
doubtful II tho output thi,s, ycar viii amount to
moro Than 31o,ooO tons. Miners in great num-
brrS nave lett this section To find omuoymunt
elsewhere. many Of them leaving untOnants sd
tue houses tloy had earned by yunrs II labor
ana saving while train loads of foreign iron
orc arc frequently soen passing by tho idle
mines OF VI lriis county to supply the furnaces
IN PENNSYLVANIA which these mines supplied a
isw years ago. Although the wages of injners
nave been reduced to 81 per day. tho strongest
compunins-thoso with the best facilities for
mining-ilnd themselves unable to compete
siccessilly with tho imported article. The
Glendon Iron Company, which had over 500
men employed at Hiberna - few years ago,
now has less than leo. Tho Bethlehem Iron
Company shut down one OF the best and most
productive IN mes in Morris county aud il now
Obtaining its orc from Cuba. Numbors of towns
ana villages in this vicinity. which wore made
prosperous by tho trnio Of tho miners hayo
been Greatly depressed and embarrassed by the
logs OF thOir custom, and some com muuitie
have become almost deserted because of the
suspension OF the mines about them.
ono OF the provisions Of the new treaty will
remove the now Insufficient duty on iron ore
aud permit the ores of Spain ana Cuba TO enter
this country free. Ii il believed that this would
result In the total extinction OF tho iron ming
business In New Jersey. IA it would bs impos-
sloc to com pete with the unrestr ictpd products
OF countries where labor is obtained at a cost
OF only about 80 cOnts per day. Hence the gen
oral alarm that has been created among pro-
uucers VINO vii! make nu earnest effort with
tho Senators or this and other States to pra-
Won't tho ratification OF the treaty. Tho bust
ness men OF this part VI tho State are also
greatly concerned. Nearly tho cntiro cost OF
the production Of iron orc is for labor and a
general suspension of the business would also
Involve serious losses to those engaged in bust
ness III tho mining districts.