Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-11-20
comparative Pig.Iron PrOduetion

OF plg-lron IN the United Kinodnnl
during the first six months Of ieoI H
compiled by Mr.. J. S. Jeans for +be
British Iron Trade Association ana
recently published, render # nasn i
bic to make a comparison between
the iron industries of the Tnited
Kingdom and those Of the ITnited
States, which is Of especial intnrost
IN view of the fact that in 1890 The
production of pig-iron in the Latte
for the first time exceeded that ~
the former country.
In the first part of 1890 the nro
duct of pig-iron in the United King-
dom amounted to 1865 go short
tons, but in the recent half it felI
OFT, owing to the depressed condition
OF the trade, to 4,151,475 short ton,
making the total for thevear 3 800
l4o short tons, the figures in all
cases being those of the British Iron
Trade Association. In the United
States, on the other hand, the wear
was one of unparalleled activity in
the IRON industry, and the product
OF plg-lron, according to the Stats
ties OF the American Iron and Steel
ASSOCIATION, increased from 51O7 :
~ short tons in the first half TO
5,l99, 253 in the second, MAKING the
total for the year 10,307.O28 short
tons. The product Of pig-iron in
this country was thus greater in
each half of 1890 than that of Eng
land.
In the first half Of 1891 the stu
alton was reversed The unfayor-
able circumstances and depressed
condition of the British iron trade
continued, but not to such extent
as in the preceding half year, and
the production Of pig-iron showed.
consequently, a small increase.
amounting to 4 ,27O,321 short tons.
or about 3 per cent. more than in
the last six months of 1890. In
the United States the first half of
the current year was a period of ex-
traordinary depression in the iron
trade and the make of pig-iron fell
off to 3,776,556 short tons, de-
crease Of l 1881, 219 short tons, or
about 26 per cent. from the last six
months of 1890. The output of pig
iron in the United States during the
first half of 1891 has been. therefore
1853, 765 short tons less than that of
the United Kingdom.
Whether the total in this country
for the year will again be in excess
of that Of the other is still an open
question The iron marketin Eng
land seems to be getting gradually
into a more healthy condition. and
the outlook in the trade is now
considered quite hopeful.
Avery encouraging feature, shown
by the recent statistics, is the i'm
portant decrease in stocks Of pig
iron during the first half year. On
December 81, 1890, these amounted
to 1881, 31S short tons, and on June
Both to ,451 ,O40 short tons, de-
crease Of over 5 per cent In the
United States stocks also decreased
during the first six months of the
year, and in a more marked degree
than in England, falling off from
741,2S1 short tons on December 81,
1890, TO $40, 295 short tons on June
80, 1891. Since the latter date the
iron market Of this country has I'M
dergone a marvellous improvement,
and the production of the second
half of 1891 viii certainly be much
greater than that of the first. 1t is
said that the demand for iron on
the part of the railways is still dis
appointing, yet on October list, ac-
cording to published statistics, fur
naces with gross capacity of about
$4,000 short tons per month were
in blast while the maximum of
1890, reached on December list, was
only about $50, 800 short tons.
This enormous product, however,
has been readily absorbed. Indeed
consumption has clearly outstripped
production, as the stocks Of pig-iron
at furnaces were several thousand
tons smaller on October 1st than on
September 1st. Without regard to
the railway demand, the American
pig-iron market must be considered
to be already in very healthy con
dition.