Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-17

| In its annual summary of the iron ore in
dustry of the country, last Saturday, the
Cleveland (O.) Iron Trade Reuieao said that
more Lake Superior ore was sold the past
year than ever before in the history of that
industry, the sales aggregating 2,9SS, 4s6 tons.
| There remained at the close of navigation
ON dock at Lake Erie ports 1,04S,940 tons, of
which all but 10000 tons were sold. In
consequence of this exceedingly small sur
plus and the increased demand for ore, es-
pecially for Bessemer steel making, an iron
ore famine is threatened. The only district
| accessible by rail during the winter months
| for supplying the large steel works of the
country is the Pilot Knob region in Missou-
ri. 1t is understood that 100000 tons of the
latter ores have been stacked up at Iron
Mountain and held for still higher prices.
The past two weeks have witnessed mark
ed advance in the prices of Lake Superior
ores and corresponding rush on the part of
consumers to obtain stocks before the sup
ply is entirely exhausted. The direct result
OF this condition of affairs, it is predicted,
will be to actively stimulate imports OF for
eign ores, sales of which are being already
pressed in the Pittsburgh market.
The ST. Louis iron mines and properties
have, during the last few months, taken
new lease of life, and have added so much to
the general prosperity that every evidence
of their good fortune has been received with
great satisfaction. Particularly has this been
the case with the St. Louis Ore & Steel Com
pany, almost every branch of which has |
felt the effect of prosperity, and short time |
ago, when Mr. f. A. Hitchcock applied in |
court for permission to mine more extern |
sively at the Pilot Knob mines, the petition |
was taken as an evidence that the season |
would be very profitable one. In the petit
ton the demand, due to the closing Of lake |
navigation. was anticipated just as it had |
been stated by the Iron Trade Reuie,o. Dur |
ing the last week, however, it was learned |
that several large contracts had been made
to furnish ore from the Pilot Knob, one of
which contracts was for 100000 tons.
The demand for ore is due to several
causes. The displacement of iron by steel is
a great factor. The business has been so
very dull that mines have been unable to
furnish ore at the market price, and many
of them have been shut down,while the pro-
duction of others has been curtailed. One
great cause for the demand for steel ore is
the manufacture of steel nails, an enterprise
now only about two years old. Previous to
that time steel nails were not even dreamed
of, and iron was the only material. Then
did not enter into the subject
in any way. When the manufacture of steel
was first begun phosphorus did not enter IL
to the subject to any great extent, but with
the progress of the industry, from making a
mild steel,or high grade iron, the amount OF
phosphorus was gradually decreased, until
now low grade phosphorus ore is required.
Then, this country had been importing high
grade and Norway iron very heavily, but with
the manufacture of steel the importation of
foreign material began to decrease, until
now it amounts to very little. 4
The mills of the East consume such large
quantities of ore that it would be simply an
for the railroad iron districts
to supply their wants. Some of the large
mills of the Pittsburgh district consume 500
ions daily. AS the output of this district,
Under a sharp demand and paying prices,
would be only about 1000 tons a day, it can
De seen how near they come to supplying the
demand. What accumulation there is here
low is Of some standing, consisting lof eue
hat could not be marketed at profit under
existing competition, the output during the
asst year having been only for existing wants. {
Holiday Goods! The place to get them is ,