Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-28
SOUTHERN IRON
Bound to Take the Place OF the Northern
Product-Its Cheapness.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, March 27.-A
correspondent Of The TrddeSHGt has
been looking over the Northern iron
field, and has gathered a great deal Of
| information about the manufacture Of
pig iron. In his letter to The TrddeSndn,
writing from New Castle, Pa, he says:
"When the furnhcemen failed in their
persuasive powers to induce their kim
dred industries to share in the cost OF
making iron in order to maintain their
supremacy in the Northern markets, the
wonderful enterprise of the Southern
producers and their demonstrated abill-
ty to gain a strong foothold in Northern
fields and to continue it, has succeeded
more than anything else in bringing
about this almost miraculous change In
the pig iron and .indred industries in
the North Northern merchants in
this line have learned to their
sorrow what the South is capable Of,
and they are now despite ther
great ill-feeing and prejudice
against Southern products, forced to ac-
knowledge her pre-emlnent natural ad-
vantages and her capability to compete
with Northern merchants on the latter'S
own ground. This commercial crusade.
which began during the summer OF 1890
between the Northern and Southern
furnacemen, assumed victorious as
pect for the South at the time the pres
ent shut down went into effect, for it
was then that Northern furnacemen for
the first time admitted competitor
worthy OF the name.
The struggle may indeed be said TO
be sharp, short and decisive and full Of
victory OF permanent nature for
Southern pig iron producers.
While in the city | interviewed all
the prominent pig iron producers on
the question OF to what extent South
ern pig iron is being used in this mar
ket, its quality compared with the
Northern product, the probabilities Of
its substitution for Northern made
iron. or to what extent it would con-
tinue to be used and the likelihood of
the Northern furnaces being moved to
the South.
A member Of the firm OF 2. L. Kim
berly IL Co. stated that their concern
had two blast furnaces OF their own,
the product Of one Of which being SUI
6cient TO supply their rolling mill. Ow-
ing to the fact that they make their own
iron and having TO pay no freight
charges, il being consumed at their
neighboring mill, they are in position
to produce their iron cheaper, all things
considered, than what Southern fur
naces could deliver TO their mill for.
The gentleman stated that TO his
knowledge enormous quantities OF
Southern iron were being used by the
Valley mills, especially by mills in and
around Youngstown. He did not thor
oughly understand its quality but was
given to understand that the mill and
foundry grades compared very favora-
bly with similar grades made in the
North. II il were not for the Tact that
they had furnace plants they would
themselves purchase the Southern pro-
duct. understanding that when it was
mixed to certain proportion with the
Northern made iron the result pro-
duced even better iron than what
is made wholly from Northern iron.
II It were not for the fact that their fur
naccs would remain idle they would pur-
chase il. As FOR the possibility OF the
Northern furnaces moving South, the
gentleman said that such thing would
in his mind not occur, but if the South
ern product proved in the course OF time
to be equal with Northern iron in quail
ty and II it could be made as cheap as 1t
is being made at present, he thought
the furnaces here would probably be
abandoned and rolling mills buy all
they need from the South IL Is ms
opinion that the end OF competition Is
not vet. and that considerable more Will
be heard FROM the South in the way OF
cheap andaed iron"