The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-06
Tariff on Iron.

Tariff on Iron.
Hotchkiss' Vngiaias for February calls
attention to statement Of the English
correspondent of the Pittsburg American
Manufacturer, of the cost Of Scotch pig
iron. 1t gives it at $10.77 to $1O.79 per
ton, and the rate of freight from Scotch
ports to New York at 81 cents per ton
or $11.74 to $11.76 per ton delivered in
New York. The comparison is then
made with the cost of ton of pig metal at
Mines Gem Furnace in Page county, as
furnished by the proprietor, Sl29S. at the
furnace. The freight rate from the Gem
Furnace to New York, to be placed side
by side with the Scotch pig, would be
$3.50-making the cost per ton in New
York $16.4S, or $4.48 more than ton of
Scotch pig, with the duty off. The duty
on foreign pig iron, under the existing tar
iff, or that of 1888, is $6.72 per ton-leay
ing a margin in favor of the Gem Furnace.
of $1.S6. But the Morrison bill, now be-.
fore. Congress, with it's horizontal reduc-
ton of copper cent. would bring the duty
on ton of foreign pig down to $538-
diminishing the advantage to 81 cents per
ton in favor of the Virginia iron. 1t must
be understood that the Vargiaios takes
the cost of a ton of pig metal at the low
est possible figures it can be made in Vir-
ginia, where probably the cost is less than
in any other portion Of the Union, and in
that case the manufacturer has 81 cents
per ton to pay him for his risk, interest on
Investment and wear and tear of machine
cry, estimating the freight charge at the
lowest cent it would cost.
But we cannot take the cost Of manu-
featuring iron in Virginia as the criterion
by which to determine the effects of the
policy of the tariff reformers, or horri-
zontal reduction advocates. A very small
proportion of the pig metal in this coun-
try is manufactured in this State, and
even here the cost Of the output Of a ton
of iron is more frequently SIS than $12.9S.
We FAUST look at the industries elsewhere,
and see how they will be effected in other
localities. On the 14th of February, MI.
j. B. Morehead, of Philadelphia, who has
been manufacturer of pig metal since
1857, addressed communication to Mr..
Morrison's Committee Of Ways and Means
in which he gave in detail the cost OF MAX
| ing a ton of pig at his furnaces, aggre-
eating $3.50, without including interest
on investment, or estimating for wear and
tear Of machinery, or the expense Of re-
newing blasts. From this showing it will
be seen that the Scotch pig, at $11.56 per
ton, delivered in New York, would cost
1854 less than ton of the same quality OF
metal would cost at the furnace in Phila-
delphia, and with the duty, as fixed by the
Morrison bill. added to the cost of foreign
manufacture, it would still be less by 81. is
than it could be made at Philadelphia, not
counting interest on investment, or wear
and tear of material.
| It will be thus seen that the Democratic
policy Of tariff reform would absolutely
destroy the iron industries of this country.
render valueless our iron properties, throw
out Of employment the thousands of arti-
zans and laborers engaged in iron manu-
facture, destroy the market for farm pro-
auctions created by this labor, and paralyze
the ramifed business of the country de-
pendent on the exchange of diversified
industries, and all to crafty the notions of
a few impracticable theorists, who either
care nothing for, OF are incapable of APP
preciating the needs of this country. Mr..
| Morehead clearly shows thatif the inter
est of the iron manufacturers is at all to
be considered, instead of reduction,
there should be an increase of the duty on
foreign iron of at leasts$2 per ton to give
| margin for interest on cost of plant,
wear and tear of machinery and expenses
of blowing out and renewing blasts. He
contends thatsit is only a question of finan-
cial ability and time, at present prices,
when many of the furnaces now in opera
ton will be closed.
These are matters for the people every
where to consider and to determine for
themselves whether they are willing to
accept Democracy and paralysis to Amer
| lean Industries, or Republicanism and an
American policy that will give encourage
ment to American labor and develop and
utilize. American resources.