Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-14
WEDNESDAY, MAY IA, 1890.
THE ExroRTIoNs OF OUR IRON BARoNs.

Under the gag rule applied by Chair
man Mckinley, tariff bill is being
rushed through the house of representa-
tives which not only does not reduce the
high exactions of that framed during
the war, but which increases them. The
war tariff itself is a misnomer, as the
existing tariff was framed in 1865, the
wear the war closed, and it actually in
creased the war tariff. McKinley's bill
is in reality an advance over that Of
1865.
The remorseless exactions of the Penn
sylvania iron barons are almost incred-
ible. While the coal and iron regions of
PENNSYLVANIA are being inundated with
cheap contract labor from Italy and
Hungary, the appetite of the insatiate
iron men seems to be growing steadily.
Yet there are abundant evidences that
even without protection there ought
to be money in making iron in
the United States. We learn from the
Iron Age that contract has been re-
Gently concluded for supplying 800 tons
of Chauteaugay pig iron to English
manufacturers. This is new departure
in the export trade of America, and the
economic causes behind it would seem
to indicate the opening up of an exten-
sive and important business.
The supply of iron in Great Britain is
necessarily limited whilst its numerous
industries dependent on its use for ex-
istence are rapidly exhausting the native
material. Prices have risen to point
where it may be demonstrated that it is
no longer possible for cheap iron to be
produced, though the price of labor is
one-third less and the proximity OF mar
kets reduces the cost of transportation
to cipher. Cumberland ores, which in
1888 were los. and 12s. 3D., are now as
high as 24s. to 26s., and by no means in
abundance at those figures.
Among the causes of these advances in
price we find that the increasing eX-
pense in the mining of coal, and the con-
seuuent rise of coke values, are amongst
the most direct and positive of economic
reasons.
The coal has to be mined in deeper
beds, and the cost of bringing it to the
surface is in proportion to the depth of
the shaft. Coke has run up the scale
as a consequence, and the calcined ma
terial, which two years ago was sold at
lis. Cd. is now worth 29s.
These facts of increasing expenses and
of diminishing supply have made it pos
sible for the iron producers of the
United States to compete with the Brit
ish producer, in spite of the wide differ
enoe in the cost of labor.
Should these conditions remain per-
manent, and the fact become positive
that the American material is a Euro
pean need, there can be but a hopeful
outlook for our iron industries. Our
supply OF coal and ore is practically in
exhaustible, the domestic supply is in
abundance, and there is enough in our
subterranean cellars to meet any de-
mand from abroad. 1t was but score
of years ago, and our iron era was in its
long clothes, but it has grown into
mammoth proportions, and the indica
tions are that in 1890 we shall put more
tons of steel on the market than any ma
tion of Europe.
And yet still the iron barons, like the
horse leech's daughter, cry "Give give"
Like Oliver Twist, the starveling of
Dickens's charming story, their howl is
for "more" And so it would be under
any conceivable circumstances. Their
appetite grows on what ought to pro-
duce safety.