The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-21

Mr.. William d. Kelley, the "father OF
the House" and the great champion of
the principles OF the protective tariff,
has received letter from Secretary
Swank, Of the Iron and Steel Associa-
ton, in which that gentleman gives an
interesting history OF the development
OF the Bessemer steel industry. In the
course Of his letter he says: Repeated
failures occurred, until Congress levied
n duty OF SOS per ton in 1871. In 1850
there were but eleven establishments,
located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois
and Missouri. In 1883 this number had
increased to thirty-fve, some OF which
were built in Massachusetts, New York,
Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, In
diana and Colorado, BY protection this
country has become the largest steel pro-
Queer in the world, immensely benefit
ting labor and transportation. OF the
Sl2O,OOO,OOO OF steel produced here in
1887, much the larger part was paid, not
to capital but to labor. 1t is estimated
that contemplated hostile legislation
would so cripple the industry as to
throw out of employment 100000 per-
sons, thus seriously affecting the pros
perity of the country"
"NIr. Swank demonstrates by conclusive
and unimpcachabIe statistics that the
development Of this industry was due
alone to the protective duty. He then
circumstantially relates how this duty
was first obtained. Many OF the most
prominent railway Presidents urged pro-
tectivc duty, their chief arguments being
that the competition thus established
with foreign manufacturers would not
only cheaper the product, but make this
country Independent in its supply.
These men had their own interests at
heart, but they did not overlook the in
terests Of their own country and coun-
trymen. But for the protective duty,
our steel industry would not have sur
vived the panic OF 1878. There was,
however, no "boom" in the business
until 1880. Since that time many mil
lions OF dollars that would have gone
abroad for steel rails remained at home,
and of these millions American labor re-
ceivc much more than American capt.
tai. The benefit OF so much money re-
tanned at home for general circulation
cannot be estimated fully. OF the 49,
GO0,G90 gross tons OF steel rails required
here from 1872 to 1887, inclusive, !, l49.-
357 tons were imported, and l2,550,842
were made in our own works. In 1870
steel rails sold here torSll0aton. Amer
lean competition, through the tariff, has
reduced the average to $40. Occasion
ally, the price has been much lower.
The cheapening of steel rails enormously
increased the mileage Of railway build
lug and lowered the rates OF transporta-
ton, to say nothing Of the increase of
facilities, The proof OF this is to be
found in ''Poor's Manual" and the re-
port OF Edward Atkinson. These figures
are not challenged, so far rs we know.
The benefit to the farmer in moving his
crops may be imagined. But for Amer
lean steel rail competition and conse-
quent development of lines Of traffic,
crops could not have been so immensely
or proltably grown"
In 1888 the duty was lowered from
sos to SI7 per ton. To reduce that rate
ut this time, Mr.. swank contends, will
DO u serious Gripping of one OF the
greatest and most bencfCent of Ameri-
can industries for the sole benefit Of
Europeans. obstruction of our iron
rail industry in 1850 is historically and
automatically described rs pertinent
and timely admonition. Mr.. swank de-
clares that, in case of further reduction
OF duty on steel rails, without n like re-