Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-27
A FORECAST FOR THE IRON INDUSTRY.

A pamphlet by Edward Atkinson on
1.-THE Future Situs of the Principal Iron
Production of the World" has just been
published by the Manufacturers Record. Ii
advances some ideas that are sufficiently
novel and important to attract the attention
is established.
Mr.. Atkinson's first point is that the pro-
duction and consumption of iron has main
tanned a steady ratio of growth since its
earlier development. His estimates for the
future are based upon this ratio, backed by
the fact that three great continents-Asia,
Africa and South America-are just being
opened up to development, and will create
an increased demand for iron products
equal in proportion to that which Europe
and North America have furnished for the
past quarter of century. On this founda-
worlds consumption and production of iron
will rise from 25OOO,O0O tons in 1880 to
$4,000, 900 or 6O,0OO,O 900 tons in 1900. Side
by side with this production Mr.. Atkinson
argues from the partial exhaustion and in
creasing cost of the materials for iron.
making in England, that that country
which has heretofore enjoyed the greater
portion of the increase in iron production
outside this country will not be able to
meet the increased demand OF from %, ,000,-
900 to 49, 900, 900 tons which his argument
foreshadows for 1900. This increase, which
he puts in round numbers at %, ,000, 900 tons,
he points out, must be furnished in great
share by the country which can assemble at
the least cost the materials for iron manu-
facture at the point for its production, and
can provide there the labor which, by earn
Ing the highest wages, can really do the
cheapest work.
This country Mr.. Atkinson believes to be
the United States, and he gives cogent
reasons for his belief. From that point he
develops another important and startling
one that within the coming decade,
by rising to the position of fur
nishing some 100000 or $4,000, 900
tons of iron to the rest of the world,
the United States will come to the point
where it will not care whether there is a
tariff on iron any more than it does whether
there is tariff on wheat. Mr.. Atkinson's s
views on the tariff are such that he regards
the present tariff on iron as an obstacle
rather than an aid to the development of the
iron and steel industry; but if he can make
good his prediction that we shall in the next
ten years solve the problem by exporting
more iron than We consume we need not
quarrel with him for that unique opinion.
Finally Mr.. Atkinson locates the great
iron center of the world at the beginning of
the next century IN the Southern region, be-
ginning in West Virginia and extending to
Alabama, with the Piedmont district as the
special locality which seems to Mr.. Atkin-
son to contain the greatest promise for the
future, His argument on that point is a
summary of the enthusiastic reports concern
ing the mineral resources of the South that
have heretofore been published. Pittsburg
can take this prediction without jealousy,
of an unprecedented growth of the iron
trade of the whole country, even with toler-
alton. There is no doubt that the
Souther iron industry is capable of
magnificent developments. But Pittsburg,
lying as it does at the northern end OF the
mineral region extolled by Mr.. Atkinson,
and commanding the additional resonrces of
the Lake Superior ores and Connellsville
coke, will not yield the supremacy in iron
production without struggle. If there is
to be such development of the iron trade
of this country as that gentleman predicts,
Pittsburg will rely upon getting her fair
share of it.
But in view OF the magnitude of the prize
and tie wonderful opportunities of growth
held up to us. our city should be keen to i'm
prove every chance for strengthening its
position as an iron and steel center. If we
can no longer rely on natural gas fuel to
fortify our supremacy, the use of petroleum
or any other process to utilize our fuel sup
plies to the utmost should be urgently
pushed. If we can increase our present
fifth of the iron production of the country to
1000, 900 or 5000. 900 tons of actual product,
the canal projects which will bring the ore
for that production to our doors, at an
economy of 80 cents a ton, will pay for itself
in six years. By developing every method
to increase and cheaper its manufacture of
iron and steel, Pittsburg can, if Mr.. Atkin-
sons calculations have any foundation, hope
to make the coming decade period of
growth and prosperity far in excess of the
gratifying record of the past decade.
CONTRASTS IN CRIMINAL JITsTIcr