The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-17
AGAINST SOUTHERN lROH.
Northern Railroads "re Trying 10
shut out Cur Products.

No more conclusive proof OF the in
dustrial growth of the south could be
afforded than is furnished in the ac-
ton of the Pennsylvania Railroad in
increasing rates OH the transportation
of Southern iron. This increase, it is
frankly admitted by the freight agent
of the railroad company, as reported
in the Philadelphia Press, has been
made at the instance and for the pro-
lection of Pennsylvania manufactur-
ers. lit was DONE said the agent
in response to inquiries, at the re-
quest of the Pennsylvania iron
men. The iron business was dull,
and in their letter they mentioned
that the rate charged to the
Southern manufactures was lower
than that charged to the Penn
svlyania furnaces. Tile matter was
looked into, and we found that the
freight rates for Southern iron were
lower. for the rate charged to the
Pennsylvania furnaces YVES based on
a local rate, and the Southern charges
were based on O through rate. 1t is
only right that we should look after
the interests of our home business
In other words, the competition OF
Southern iron has become so great in
Pennsylvania that it has made the
iron tide dull for the home furnaces,
and forced them to cali upon the rail
roads for aid in shutting out their
Southern rivals. The only way APP
parently that they can hope to retain
their supremacy is by excluding the
Southern product from the State.
1t is absurd to speak of the com
paratively small amount OF South,
ern iron that is carried" and
vet in the same breath to advance
rates to keep this small amount
from competing with the native artl-
Gle. 1t is clear that the iron indus
tries in Virginia and other Southern
States are beginning to make the
shoe of the protected Pennsylvania
manufacturer pinch very badly. A
few years ago he wanted protection
from the pauper labor of Europe, and
now he wants protection from other
States OF the Union. In the latter
case he cannot get Congress to inter
vene as he did in the former, but he
has sufficient influence with thePenn-
svlyania Railroad to lay an embargo
IN Southern iron. OF course so mar
row and short sighted a policy VIII
only defeat its own object. Ii the
iron mountains of the South cannot
he carried to the business Mahomets
of Pennsylvania who have the good
sense TO buy where they can buy
cheapest, the Mahomets will 60 to the
mountains. In the words ofaPennsyl-
vania iron man." The wholeupshot will
he that the furnaces and iron manu-
facturers in thisState,who usedSouth-
ern iron will try to get the Pennsyl-
yania Road to give another ana q
lower rate, and if they don't there is
q probability that number of the
| furnaces will be moved TO Virginia,
where they will have everything at
their disposal, and instead OF paying
tolls on the raw material Will only
have to pay freight on the manufact,
ured article. Much of the capital In
vested in Virginia is by Pennsylyan-
ians. They did not go into this thing
! for fun; they mean business" Protec'
ton may be q good thing for the pro
tected as long as it protects, but when
it fails to do so what are they going tc
do about it? Evidently such an ex
pedient as calling to their aid a rail
road corporation can be but "a temper
arv make-shift in country where
new and competing railroad lines arr
springing into existence every year
! But even If such a device were etfec
/ tive in excluding Southern iron from
Pennsylvania, it could not save tn
4 iron interests of that State from thu
| inevitable operations of the laws Q
7 trade and business. If iron can D
made more cheaplyin the South thai
)tin Pennsylvania manufacturers wi
either have to recognize that fac
and act accordingly or shut up sho
and go ont of business. -Baltimor