The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-06
Are We to have q Business Boo m

Are We to have Business Boo m
A correspondent Of the New York 81 d
discussing the prospects for Increased &C
tivity in business says
lThe general fall in prices is the first sigr
OF return Of prosperity. Let us take fol
illustration, the iron and steel industries
They are depressed below all modern pre-
cedent, and it is frequently asserted that a
return of general prosperity cannot be ex-
pected till the price OF iron and steel ad.
vances. Taking this for granted. our in
quiry will turn, then, upon the probability
of an increased demand for iron and steel
in their various forms. Up to the present
time the greatest demand for IRON and
steel has been for rails, fastenings, engines,
cars, and building materials. Iron is grad
ually being replaced by steel. Railroad
building has come to a standstill, and steel
rails have been sold free on board cars at
the works for $3.50 per ton in this coun-
Try within the last fortnight. and yet
confidently expect to see an early revival
of this interest, for the following reasons
According to PoOr's Railroad Manual,
there were lo0.500 miles of completed rail
road in the country ut the beginning Of
1854. of which only 10000 were laid with
steel rails. leaving 80 800 miles of main
track and 20 900 miles of side tracks to be
relaid with steel During the next five
years it is safe to calculate bat the railroad
mileage will he increased at the lnwrlte of
1000 miles per year. This calculation is
kelly TO fall within the actual figures, AS
here las not been bllilt so few miles. of
railroad in any year since lSi..' The aver
age for the thirteen years between IS.
and 1852, both inclusive. is ;'.36o miles t,'
year 1t is the opinion OF railroad experts
that all of the iron rails now i'll the main
tracks will require to I've replaced within
five years. Every railroad manager will
strive to make his requirements While steel
is cheap and although it is probable that
some Of the iron rails may not be worn out
within the period, enough steel already
li.l on main tracks and iron in sidings will
he worn out within the same period to
more than cotnterhalance the iron rails
still fit for service. Besides, with old rails
at $40 per ton. no railroad can afford to
keep them in use while steel is less than
$50 per ton. Tie saving III the cost of
maintenance amid operation will pay the
difference of The cost between iron and
steel rails every six months. 1t. is there.
fore as sure as anything in the future c;ui
lie that at least 20. 900 miles OF steel rails
will be required in this eouir,ry within the
next five years. and AS these rails Will
probably average 90 tons per mile. .5.4Uu.
600 Tons will liz required. Th ~ 1T, mo r
likely IL II, er;igt over halt nd, + So toi =.
for the old, r and more pro .r rous III JroaI>
are htyii,g intlcl heavier RATS than 80
pounds pei Yard. and Tie tendency III, III
is la III, heavier ones for their u+avi ,r
traffic and transfer their lighter or. Dart "
wurtI rails In their branch lines.
There ART ten Hessener rail mils ready
fnf stryir+ il This ronltty. willl;l n.ssible
C opacity of ! 800. 900 tons PER he;ir ut so
far IL is believed that they have. iievti put
out over Il million tons In any one " ar. II
these figures are correct here is fun work
for all the steel rail mills for the next five
wears. The importation IF ANY part IT tile
rails required is entirely nnt OF The aues-
tion. True. hi increased demand will put
up the price. but reciprncally tn" low price
stimulates the deuiand as above shown
" ages may have To come down t. .u;lble
the mills To lnake the rails III II profit. blit
with The Increased demand and output.
wages must again advance. Meanwhile
I he ct,st of food and clothing is lower than
ever before. and every body can afford To
work for lower wages and salaries Gold
and silver alone are not decreasing in pur-
chasing power. Constant wolk for the
-: s., - ,,,;: 60,
, w. a,",s "o' , tn, ,es Sieei e,.,
NV. no ~, LA ", pig i'"" anu
p'f no' .". ..n ~ i'an "a.'t"ue oie;
..se t Ga , ~, nv. oie u',s ,,"l
i'.. ,,,a no.. ansu ~ u.e
~; i; nj, 'i l' ..o fo, th't !; ~ ve.oals
,;u W. ;,,'ss;, la1. VIC; - ',o" se
Ing 1 - ; IA 10 ha,lo .,, w. o.a'ai
s for, ~ !, ru u .ha G'1 h a., mno Ga,
IRON H"t With ir;da ~ xorr lug" asl misd
"a .rontad NJ ai,h, ILL.,. "n no,"p'e'va
rna, :. a.. u",s"i pei .on; ~ ~
900 n ss oct ~ ;rn ,T h une pes.
Iom, i ;,,J,os, 49,, -, ,S rna "
,im,.t.i TIT 90, ,ho " 100 20 son ';,a III ~
rn,d IS t i ITn;tad Statas tbn .e 90, W , "
BOZ 600 , my 10 rr III s,I f h eI.
ot ~ xas, sn nHo i Inv, o'n Iaa VI mmlo,,
,.it,, ~ 80, TN 800 no.. nFem .ememe9
miS ,a,,,r,rn ,n,"ia,, =, -, p'"t.i
iifn If ,.,,inh da.s " "ot s ssi"o.",es. ,ne
81 .,;,,.,t i'. a.u' M 81 .aei"se
them vii u. ranawad viii pj ;ron '' j., 10 ua
axt s;v. r.rs = IL ;,n,s; iIl ~ a. Int
- IL sase - ass, 40 tI.a* y ,;u ~ 90. ou.
=, , 80 Iar,,e, ,'',''iar 10 has m
80 49, - - e''''i i'''o 49, oeo' ~