The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-09-25
BLAINE on STEEL.
How Tariff Developed a Great Industry in
This Country.
Total Output, $I,2 100000, OOO.-A Duty of
$2S That was the Cause of Great Re-


suits.
From the Boston DdiLy Gt0Ge.
FARMINGToN, Me-, Sept. S.-Several
thousand people gathered at the grove
in this place to-day to hear Mr.. Blaine
and Gen. Gibson speak on the issue of
the canvass. II. II. Richards introduced
MIR. Blaine, who, after speaking upon
some local matters, SAID !: There are
few things less interesting than to go
thIorgh an entire tariff discussion, item
by item, therefore | shall ask your at
tention to single article.
In 1863 there were about 81, 600 to
$4,000 miles of railroad in the whole of
the United States Not long before that
time there had come across the waters
the intelligence that England was be-
| ginning to use steel rails, and that they
were very much more durable and better
in every way than iron rails. Some of
our people, anxious to get Them paid at
| the factory IN England t22 per ton in
| gold coin, sllO per ton when they added
>
backs. The first steel rails were laid in
this country at an average cost of about
| $50 to $170 per ton. This went on until
1870. The manufacturers of the country
controlling the iron interests-there
| were practically no steel interests-said
IF you will give us protective duty, we
can make steel rails in this country.
| Against the united protest of the free
trade element, and with the apprehen-
sion and timidity of mary of the protec-
tive element of the country Congress inn
posed duty of S2S in gold per ton on
steel rails.
"The free traders complained bitterly
that this would make the price SO enor-
nous that steel rails could not be used
in this country. Nevertheless we i'm
posed the duty. | had the honor of
sharing in the legislation Up to that
| time-July, 1S7O-there never had been
made $4,000 tons of steel rails in this
country. There never had been made
OF lngot or other forms of steel over
10000 tons. For the Bessemer steel
we depended entirely upon Europe.
That was only 1879. What was the re-
suit ? In fifteen years from that date
the manufacturers of the United States
had turned out 100000 tons OF steel
rails, enough for $1,000 miles of rail-
| way. That so rapidly reduced the price
that in this very last year steel rails sold
down to within fifty cents of the duty
alone of 1870, so that rails were furnished
at the shop at $2S, so ton, where they
had originally cost $160 to sl10 ton
and while we were doing this we in
creased the steel product of other kinds
every form of steel that was needed
until within the same period we produce
ed in this country Il, 600, 900 tons of in
got and other steel, as shown by the Off
cial statistics. Ten million tons of steel
rails, u, 900, 900 tons of ingot and other
steel. Ii the cost of that ever be aver
aged, it will be found to be about $50 a
ton. We started at very high price
and kept decreasing, so that the average
was about $50. Therefore that product
sold in this country for $500, GOO, 600, and
the $1,000, 600 tols of ingot and other
steel at the same price sold for 500, co.,.
900. SO that the steel product from July,
1870, to July, 1880, amounted at the sci.
ler's price in this country 81, $50, 100000.
81 want to say word to the laborlng
men as to the cost of that steel. When
labor put his hands to it, it was nothing
except iron ore in the mine. Labor met
it there, where it was worth just 10 cents
ton ROYALTY. With the exception of
that 10 cents a ton every dollar of that
81, 80, 900 600 was the product of labor
What did labor get out of thate They
say these steel manufacturers made
great sum no doubt they did. They
went into an experiment which took
enormous capital, and they had to make
great plant. Put it at the very outside
and they made for themselves $3.50 900
600. Putting it at its extreme, | don't
think that they actually made anything
like that amount. But, for argument
sake, it is admitted. They left, there
fore, 81, 900, 000, 600, to be distributed to
the strong arms and the brawny hands of
the skilled labor which made that steel.
Tremendous applause Was it lot
better to have that steel made here and
keep that $1,000, 100000 at home?
Voices Yes, yes, and applause Ard
the other 100000 too? We never
would have brought that So, 900, 900 tons
of steel at $50 if England had been left
with the monopoly of this market, as she
had when that high duty was put on. So
that not only was 81, DOC, 600, 600 paid out
to the labor of the country, but the rail-
roads of the country got their steels
vastly cheaper than they ever could have
got them if they had been left dependent
on England. If that policy does not VIM
dictate itself then it is impossible that
any industrial policy can vindicate itself.
Not only would We have failed to get
that steel at that price, but | can say
with absolute confidence, as every bust
ness man will join in saying, except for
the protective policy which kept that ST.
-Ju, uOo,UVu DIT uolut We SuOuiu not nave
had the vast extent of railroad"
1t was not within the financial ability
of this country to stand the drafts which
| the war made on us, an outgo to foreign
lands of 81, $50, 600 600 in coin. 1t could
not have been done. 1t would have
stood in the way Of the development I, f
the country. Now, that is the worst
case they bring against us. Laughter
and applause. 1t has enabled the United
States to have a larger mileage of rail.
way to-day than all the rest of the world
put together. 1t has bound the extreme
! nol theast to the extreme southwest, so
| that you can take car here from under
the shadow of Mount Blue, and 90 to
the utmost bounds of the republic. 1t
| could not have been done except for
protective tariff. The ultimate cause Law
i'll that S2S of duty. That brought the
money from the pockets of capitalists;
| that started the energy and enterprise of
the inventor, quickened the arm of labor,
and led to results that have been the
| surprise and admiration of the world
| [Cheers.