Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-17
FREE IRON ORE.
THAT'S WHAT MAJ. BENT DESIRES
TO HAVE.

Steeiton, Pa. He has had the control
and actual management of this company
for many years. He understands thor
oughly the practical details of iron and
steel founding.
The Pennsylvania Steel company has
been so successful in its present location
that 1t has had 10 choose between enlarg-
ing its present plant ut Steelton or build
ing new works. 1t has chosen the latter
course, and new works are in course Of
building at Sparrow Point, Nd, which
will be capable of using over 100000
tons Of Bessemer steel ore every year.
Maj. Bent is outspoken in his demand
for free ore. In an interview with a
Philadelphia Record reporter, which is
given below, the major explains the BEN
efits of free raw materials:
Eyes, SIR" continued Maj. Bent, 81
mean exactly what say. In our bust
ness, for which 1t is supposed protective
tariff is most especially devised, the de-
mand for free raw material must be met,
and we are quite prepared for all the re-
duction in tariff duties on manufactured
products that an accession to this de-
mand logically carries with it. For the
first time within the experience of those
now engaged in the iron and steel bust
sess this country is thrown entirely upon
rs own resources of production TO supply
the demand for these articles. This new
and entirely unexpected condition of af-
fairs has been suddenly thrust upon the
country after a long depression ofsthese
industries. One of the principal causes
which have brought about this condition
of affairs is the state of the business in
Europe; not only have prices of iron and
steel there advanced TO point where ex-
portation TO this country is prohibited,
but they have come up abreast of, and in
some specialties have advanced beyond,
those ruling on this side Of the water.
To show that these prices are not specu-
lative, here is late market report from
London: Steel rails-No further change
In prices, but demand active and market
strong; heavy sections quoted at &c los,
equal to S35, free on board, shipping
points. Bessemer pig-Large business
done; prices still further advanced and
strong at us, equal to S19.25, free on
board. These are American prices
This is an anomalous condition of affairs,
and though it presumably cannot long
continue, that it has actually occurred is
one of the striking events of the time.
The causes which have contributed to
these rapid advances-.if we may except
limited factor of speculation-in my
opinion are there to stay. They are,
first, the scarcity of material, such as
fuel and ore; these are approaching ex-
haustion in England. and there is n con-
tinued increase in the cost of mining.
Secondly, manufacturers abroad have to
meet the labor problem; wages there at
no distant day are destined to equal
wages here"
"What would be the result of equaliz-
ing the wages
~ believe that we would have an ad-
vantage, because of the greater product
i've power of American labor. There can
be no doubt that this exists. There is a
radical difference between the character
of the American and of the foreign work
ingman. A 10 per cent. advance in
wages in our industrial establishments
means, as a rule, 10 per cent of saving,
which is made in itself productive by the
employe, and an increased effort on his
part TO get in more hours and produce
more tons, thereby increasing the net
saving 10 himself, as well rs to his EN-
ployer."
why do you think the present high
prices are likely 10 continued"
''If you ask a manufacturer for his
product for future delivery, while he
will name price quite within the limit,
he will likely add that he has none to
sell. The person who is now in most de-
mand Is the one who has something to
sell, and this is at the very beginning of
the upward movement. The surplus re-
sources which were hanging heavily on
our hands three months ago are already
nearly consumed. The unlimited sup
ply Of raw materials, Of which we never
tire boasting. is in the hills and mount
aims. The furnaces that are to put it
into merchantable shape are unbuilt.
The transportation lines of the country
are completely overwhelmed with bust
ness. There are scarcely sufficient mo-
tive power and transportation facilities
TO take care of the present business
There are thousands of tons Of fuel for
manufacturers lying ut the mines and
ovens for the want of cars to take them
TO idle furnaces. True it IL that some
small and badly located establishments
have gone out; but they have gone out
forever because Of changed conditions,
and because of the irreversible tendency
towards the consolidation of manufac-
turing industries In large establishments
The advance of today has not been 30
marked or rapid, and the prices have
not gone 30 high, as in 1879; but in that
year the rise of prices began in the Uni
ted States and was followed somewhat
later by an advance abroad, based en-
tirely on the American markets. Our
market held prices up, and when it broke
the whole came down with a crash; but
now the conditions are reversed. This
country cannot be flooded with foreign
manufactures. With this prospect for a
large business opening to our furnaces
aud mines, with advancing prices reach
ing far into the future, it is the manifest
duty Of congress to really protect Amer
lean industries by relieving their raw
material of the burdens now laid upon
it."
SLOW would you apply this to your
own businessl"
81 do not want to be understood as
speaking from purely selfish stand
point. Whether or not protective
tariff has built up such industries rs ours
ia not so much of a practical question as
what Is the proper policy to be pursued
in the present and for the future. 1t is
literally "a condition, not theory, which
confronts US When the great works at
Sparrow Point shall be in full operation,
the Pennsylvania Steel company must
import 1000, 900 tons of Bessemer ore