The Indianapolis journal., 1890-10-01
AMERICAN STEEL FOR EUROPE.
Pittsburg Men Think They Can Sell the Finer
Grades I'm Europe at a Profit.
Pittsburg Dispatch.

Pittsburg Dispatch. :.
Alexander Thomas, T, esenting Park
Brothers & Co., of this city, started yester-
day for Europe, TO perfect arrangements by
which the firms finer grades of steel for the
manufacture of edge tools will be placed on
the continental market. The German and
English are to be bearded in their own dens
and fought on their own stamping grounds.
The company established a branch house in
London two years ago, when they sent
man across the sea to make the necessary
arrangements. which he failed to accom-
plish. They have been selling more or less
steel in Europe ever since, but they now
realize that America leads the world in the
finer grades. and the passage of the Mckin-
ley tariff bill, by assuring them q home
market. gives them faith to branch out on
moro extensive scale.
Mr.. Thomas intends to locate agents In
the leading trade towns in the British isles
and on the continent. One will be placed
at Paris, and rather than go to Berlin q
manufacturing center like Hamburg, in
Germany, will be selected. No attempt will
be made to sell the steel outside of the reg
ular channels of trade already established.
The English ports of entry will Oe used,
and the freight question IS trif1ing when
quality is considered. The firm figures
to London. but its quality will be such as
to command its sale over the home product.
The American and English exporters will
be utilized whenever 1T can be done.
The German, English and French have
good reason to feel sore over the passage of
the tariff bill, but they may be sorer when
they find that the same tariff has SO
strengthened the American manufacturers
that they are able to compete with them in
their home markets, with some articles.
The list of these articles is becoming larger
each year, and Park Bros. 81 Co. think that
fine steel has been added this season. With
the home market assured they are willing
to try the experiment of selling steel in
profits are small or the attempt should re-
suit in failure that they have lost but lit
tie, if nothing. in the end. The Americans,
by the great volume of steel they are now
producing and the improved methods
adopted, have reached q point where they
can sell the finer grades as cheaply, if not
cheaper, than the foreigners. More steel
has been made In this country within the
past twenty years than was produced in
England In 100 years. 1t is the volume that
makes it possible to sell at small profit and
still make money. This is a new and strong
argument In favor of the tariff.
On account of the fine steel used in the
American edge tools they have always COM
the German or English In the markets of
Australia. New Zealand, South America.
and even in Europe. This is essentially a
wood country. and the demand for good
edge tools has been 80 great that much at
tenti0n has been paid to their Improvement.
This is the reason why the American reaper
beats all Others. The Europeans can make
| them, but unless the machine is supplied
| with good knife it is useless. The steel
! in the average reaper weighs about five and
| one-half pounds, and no man of any judg.
| ment would hesitate on small difference
| in price when quality is his salvation
| This is why Park Brothers d Co., depend
| ing on the superiority of American steel
over the English and German, realize that
| they can still pay freight rates and find 8
| ready sale for their products in Europe.
| With the cheaper grades of steel this il
| not true, and the Americans are still in
| need of a stiff tariff to help them. The chis
| els. axes. knives, planes and other edge
| tools made of American steel are away
ahead of similar articles manufactured il
| the old world