Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-09
IRON AND WOOD.

An interesting economic change now
going on is the use Of iron for many pur-
poses in which lumber has been heretofore
employed. The Timberman,, a western
journal devoted to the interest of the lumber
trade, quotes a Cincinnati lumber mer-
chant who says that the trade in white pine
has fallen off one-third in six years. OF
course great share of this is attributed to
the decrease in the lumber supply; but it is
accompanied by the introduction of iron in
many capacities. This merchant cites the
use of iron window frames, wire netting in
place of laths. and tiles instead of wood for
flooring. The illustration could be indefi-
nitely enlarged. The experiment of steel
ties to be used in the place of wood, is un-
derwav. The use of iron girders, in place
of wooden joists, has become universal in
the higher-priced buildings, aud the employ
ment of frames made entirely in that way in
place of the old frame buildings has resolved
itself merely into question of cost Me-
chanical Hall, at the Pittsburg Exposition
is a favorable example of building con-
structed with a complete substitution of
iron for wood as building material.
This use of iron in the place of wood for
many of the most important purposes in in
dustry is, OF course, especially important to
Pittsburg as the iron and steel center of the
country. Its progress and the expectation
of its further development is Illustrated by
the possibility that iron or steel ties can be
substituted for wood. If in that use, where
what was originally the cheapest timber was
employed, iron or steel can be economically
substituted, it certainly seems as if the same
change can be more successfully made in the
departments of industry where more costly
timber is used. The vital factor is,. of
course, the respective cost of the two classes
of material in proportion to their durability,
and one of the most efficient causes in max
ing the change possible, is the cheapness of
iron that has prevailed for the past ten
years, and the steadily enhancing cost of
lumber.
The results of these factors furnish valu-
able illustration of the economic principle
that the reduction of the cost Of any staple
furnishes its own recompense not only by
extending Its markets, but by developing
new uses which were impossible at the
higher range of cost Only the other day
THE DISPATCH called attention to the effect
of the low prices that have prevailed for
iron since 1880, in more than doubling the
consumption of iron while the population
has increased but little over quarter. The
displacement of wood by iron is not only an
illustration of the new uses that are devel-
oped by low prices, but furnishes an evil
dence that if iron can be kept relatively as
cheap as lumber, the use of it in that way
will open up a vast field for the expansion of
the iron trade which is, so far. almost un-
explored.
The diminution in the use of lumber is
the converse of the same proposition. The
advancing cost of that material has steadily
limited its use until in some of the old forms
that were the most common it has become
absolutely luxury. Iron is taking its
place for some purposes, tiles for others and
brick for others. 1t is clear that If the sup
ply of lumber continues to diminish. other
materials must displace it until finally the
change will be so great as to restore the
balance and the demand will be as limited
as the supply 1t is not likely that the dis
placement of lumber will be so complete
that the man who now plants waste ground
with forest Will not leave fortune to his
descendants; but if the present tendency
continues the relief from the timber famine
Id st come into the substitution of other
materials.
1t is to be hoped that the enlarged use of
iron in this way may be utilized for an In
definite expansion of Pittsburg's industry;
and that the evidence of the benefit of low
cost for any great staple, will convince our
manufacturers of the falsity of all theories
that look toward an artificial enhancement
of prices.