The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-23
Trade Depression In Grent Britnin-Points
fn- In,nacsnIi, Snnnisrs ~

for Democratic Speakers.
Democratic speakers in this State, de-
string to turn public attention from the
record OF their party on the tariff question,
are dwelling with savage relish on the
trade depression in this country. Mr.. Z,
Willis Wilson, Judge Brannon, Mr.. W. L,
Wilson in the Second district, and the
lesser lights following after them, arc
pointing particularly 10 the comparative
dullncss in the iron and steel industry.
They are not frank enough to say that
there is depression the world over, greater
in free trade Great britain than anywhere
else. They attribute to protection the con.
dition Of affairs in this country. Dodgine
the general question they do not say
whether the depression in England, Scot.
land and Wales is caused by free trade. w
call the attention OF these gentlemen tc
advices from abroad, and beg them to in
corporate these things in their speeches
Out OF the abundant material OF thi.
character we take the following extracts
from the letter Of the Wolyerhampton
England, correspondent OF the american
Manufacturer.
The price OF hcma.itc iron is still droop
ing, and is lower even than during the All
tumn OF 1879, which is always pointed L
rs the lowest quotation ever reached
This sentence pretty much indicates the
condition OF the iron and steel trades here
this week.
AT West Coast ports the price OF hcma.
tite pig iron may be stated TO be Ills per
ton I. 0. b. for Nos. !, and 5, and there
is but little expectation that things will
look much better until the rail trade i'm.
proves, or the demand for steel otherwise
rolled is so augmented rs 10 largely make
up for deficiency OF work in the rail mills.
United States prices for steel rails are
announced on this side to have touched
SOS, and, in some sales, even S27 %. The
price is not arousing much expectation
That things will vastly improve at an early
day. ,7
Among efforts to revive the steel trade
there are all sorts Of suggestions and re-
concentrations touching the employment
Of steel for uses for which aioretime it has
played but comparatively insignificant.
part
The serious reduction in the make OF
steel for rails is brought prominently out
in the returns Of the British Iron Trade
Association for the first six months OF this
year. These show.a total output OF 637, $40
tons, which is n considerable drop upon
the returns for the year preceding, as to
which, however, only tho twelve months
figures are available. These last indicated
the total make OF the United Kingdom in
1883 rs ], 553, $50. a=Ti
The production OF Bessemer steel rails
in the United Kingdom during the six
months is even less assuring, since the six
months figures are 426, Ais tons, against
] ,091, ia for the twelve months Of 1855.
Meanwhile, the prices Of iron are so in
capable OF being strcnsthcned-as to the
descriptions most largely rollcd-tlat
Northern ironmasters have given notice
to the operative section of the Wages
Board OF their intention to seek reduc-
ton OF Cd. per ton on pudding and 5 per-
cent on other forge and mill wages, to take
effect from the 9th OF September, when
the present wages agreement terminates.
Some two months ago the men accented
voluntarily reduction Of g percent, and
it was arranged that il possible sliding
scale should be agreed upon. The stand.
ing committee to the Board have so far
failed TO complete n scale satisfactory to
both sides; hence the present notice by
the employers. asa
The ironworkcrs will strongly contest
this claim; especially rs 1t will put them
below any rate OF wages known in the
trade, the is. Cd. per ton now given being
the lowest rate paid in1S19 during the dc.
preston then prevailing, or Mt any time
preceding. fa u
3 Thus it seems probable that although
there have this year been two arbitrations
MS to tho rate OF wages in tho manufacture
ed iron trade in the North of England,
there is already 10 be u third. In antici.
patton OF that third, it is not without in
tcrest that the siron is selling for a little
more money than in the extremity OF the
dullness OF 1870. Under these circum-
stances the contention OF the men is not
without force, that il the iron trade is un-
other items Of the cost than
wages ought to be reduced. Al
ut is argued, but not with complete ac-
curacy, that whilst wages have benin
few years reduced from lbs. ID. to Gs. Cd.
per ton on pudding, nothing has been
heard OF any movement 10 reduce tho cost
ofSroyalty& rents. Meanwhile the men
nave met tho notice Of the masters for a
lrop BY serving upon the employers Sec.
'otary OF the Wages Boanl 4 counter dc.
nand for 4 rise Of Cd. per ton on pudding
lnd5 percent OH mill and forge work.
itA5 great reduction in the out.turn OF
zig iron is only what will have been
ooked for in the face,oi tho returns OF
teel which 9wo hive just cited. The
British Iron Trade Association have learnt
lnder that head that Notwithstanding the
considerable decrease in production which
~ been going onNall tho year there j.