The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-24
THE IRON or THE SOUTH.
why 1t IL That Northero Furnaces Are
Closing.

The Pittsburg. Pa, American Msnufac-
turer, in lis issue of saturday, attempted 20
explain the causes which have compelled
the shutting down OF twenty-thrco blast
furnaces i'm the ShcnangO and Mah0ning
valleys of Pennsylvania and Ohio. throw ing
nearly ten thousand men out of work.
The Journal saw The first reason given
by the furnace owners why they cannot
continue operations under present con-
diuons is the large amount Of Southern
iron now being shipped into that district.
They assert that since Nay 20 $500. from
1900 % $4,000 tons of this iron has been re-
ceived in the valley. displacing an equal
amount OF local production. For months
fair quality of Southern iron was delivered
at the loungstOwn mills for Sli. and at mi.
price large sales were made. Last week
the prices quoted were Sl3.2j 10 Sl3oj for
Albania pig.
southern railroads virtually enter into
partnership with the furnace men by haul
ing material and products under the sliding
scale arrangement Iron IS hauled from
Birmingham, Ala. t0 youngstown, Ohio.
about eight hundred miles. f0rS4.lOper tom.
The rate paid on pig from Youngstown tO
Pittsburr, slXty-fOur miles, - SD cents per
ton. In one case this il. "a half cent ton a
mile; ia the other l.23 cents.
"lu moving tine furnace supplies the
Southern roads again favor the furnace
men. P0cahOntas coke is sent into the
Chattanooga district at the cost Ot Con-
uellsyilie coke IN the MahOuiug and ~h--
mango Valleys, though the distance iu tlc
one case - 434 miles and iu the other 1870.
The sliding scale, which fixes freight rates
according tO the selling price 90 iron, Is
another illustration OF the manner iu which
AZ
with furnace owners.
"MahOning and NhcnangO Valley furnace
men hold that they should be- protected from
southern competition by making tDe rate
ON iron from the south commensurate with
that on iron going out of the valleys The
valley furnace men SAY that, being situgted
midway between the ore aud the coke sup
plies, they should be able 90 produce iron
in competition with any part OF the North, /
aud would do sd we're they protected from
southern inroads.n
A better explanation OF the shutting down
)f the Pennsylvania and ohio furnaces is
IN the following extract from The |
last lssue IL The New York Globe. a weekly !
publication:
In production OF piS-irOn the south shows /
a remarkable increase Of $4,000 tons over /
1889 of $4,000 tons over ISIS, and Oi more /
than l,UO,OOO tons over 1887. while she now /
boasts "a cotton crop which averages an an /
nual value OF nearly S4OO,OUU,ONO. Rich in /
all that IS embraced in the term natural /
advantages the south IA add tO these % /
marvellous climate, which enables herpeOple /
% work all the year round in comfort and /
free from the rigOrs vi our Northern win /
ers. W bile the South has been living fall /
Ow, recovering herself from the shock and /
Aftermath OF her trouble, the march u civil /
IatiOn has been forcing her doors and r.
'ealiug her treasures, and she awakes ir0sa /
her long sleep, like Rip Van Wrinkle, 10 /
ind everything changed, but, unlike him. /
she awakes u riches and gold and not 10 I
-ags and rust."- Baltimore sun.