The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-19

VI AL clcIncntS per ton OF 3,?4O pounds
Of furnace pig iron produced in twenty
six establishments in the Northern dis
drict is given as follows:
Items. Northern Southern
Districts Districts.
Cost Of all material usod.... e,ss7,cla 5,45o,45s
Cost!of labor, etc. l,l@9lS l.55.a95
Tons or product. ............ 6AS77 Gi.,,2S
Average cost of all material
per ton OF product ....... ll,.i S4I
Average cost OF labor etc,
per ton OF pr0duct...... 2,30t 2,3iI
Average cost of all elements
per ton of product........ 1855 l0,,D
A comparison of the cost of materials
used in the Northern and Southern dis
tricts of tho United States shows that
the difference in favor of the South in
the cost of ore and of coal is very great,
although the difference, SO far as tho
ore is concerned, is partially offset by
it's comparatively higher per cent of
iron in tho Northern district Tho ore
used in tho Northern district costs per
ton an average of S4,4Ol; the cinder,
scrap, etc, S2,632; the limestone 79.S
| cents; the coke, s3,0l4, and the coal,
S2,695. The cost in the Southern dis
trict for the orc is S1,513; tho cinder,
scrap, etc, Sl,o31; tho limestone, TO
cents, the coke, S3,OS4, and tho coal,
| S1,566.
The report shows the total cost of
one ton Of pig iron from the mining of
the materials to the finished product in
| thirteen OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in the
Northern district, five in the Southern,
and one in Great Britain. In tho North
ern district the direct cost of labor in
the production of Bessemer iron ranges
from S3.70 to S9.44 for officials and
clerks, from 1716 to 81 cents; supplies,
rnrH nircn g -
difference between foregoing actual
costs and costs as charged to blast
| furnace, from Sl.10 to $500. The totals.
therefore, range from Sl3.97 per ton to
| Sl6.5O.
In tho Southern district the costs per
ton of run of furnace range as follows:
Direct labor, 81. 80 to $3.50; officials and
| clerks, 10 cents to 45 cents; supplies
| repairs and taxes. &c cents to Sl2q;
| transportation to point where used, SO
cents to Sl.55; difference between fore
going and costs as charged by blast
furnace, II cents to S2.O7. Tho totals
therefore range from S9.l6 per ton to
STOOL. In one establishment in Great
Britain the total cost of these clements
per ton is $lO.2l.
Another table shows the results of in
| quiries as the cost of producing steel
rails in thirteen establishments, two of
them being in the United States, eight
on the Continent of Europe, and three
| in Great Britain. In tho United States
| tho net cost Of materials was $o1.lO at
ono establishment and S25.11 at the
other. The cost of labor was Sl.54 and
S1.3S; total cost at one, S24.79, and
S27.6S at tho other. On tho Continent
the net cost of materials varied from
Sl7.69 to $19.Ss; the cost of labor from
Sl.02 to Sigh per ton. In the three
establishments in Great Britain the net
cost of materials varied from SIG. 80 to
SlS.05; the cost of labor from 81 81 to
S29.5i. The totals therefore varied from
Sls.5S TO S2l.00.
Col. Wright says that the labor cost
in one ton of steel rails, speaking of
labor cost after all the materials have
been assembled and are ready to be
subjected to the proper manipulations
for the production of rails, should be
less per ton relatively in this country
than in Great britain and the continent
of Europe, because American producers
OF rails dispense with at least one ex-
pcnsive process still adhered to by many
foreign producers, and materials in the
United States are purer than those used
in most other countries. Hence the
Quantity OF ore required for the produc-
ton of ton of rails is less in this coun-
try than in many places abroad, and the
labor required to handle the materials
IN way to produce Il ton is less. This
is shown by the quantities of ore used
in different establishments.
In an establishment given in the
Northern district Of tho United States
4.l37 pounds of iron orc were necessary
for tho production Of ono ton of stand
ard rails, while in an establishment in
Great Britain 5, l27 pounds of iron ore
were necessary for the production of one
ton of practically the same kind or rails;
while on the Continent of Europe 5,7Ol
pounds of ore were necessary for tho
production Of ono ton of rails These
Col. Wright says, are far more indica-
tive OF the true conditions surrounding
the productions Of rails in tho respec-
tive countries than any of the others
given. The entire direct labor cost of
production in these three establish
ments was S11.5s for tho United States,
$751; for Great Britain, and $50 for
the continent of Europe, showing diff
ference against the United States of
1918 in favor OF Great Britain and $40
in favor OF tho continent of Europe.
In speaking of transportation of steel
rails, Col. Wright says that in some
cases the heavy freight charge for
transporting iron and steel rails benc-
fits American manufacturers; in Others
1T places them at serious disadvantage
at ports whore thero is water competi-
ton with European manufacturers. AS
an illustration of the practical working
OF freight rates with reference to steel
rails, the report quotes tho statement
OF the manager OF one Of the largest
steel companies In the United States