New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-09
TPON CONSUMPTION.

10 was a BrltlSh SJdClSIlCldH WIZ ucCldIOu
that the consumption of iron was the best test
of the civilization of great nation. When
this country began protecting its Industry IN
1861 the British consumption of iron for every
inhabitant was nearly three times the consump-
ton in the United States namely, 1921 pounds
per capita, against 61.44 in this country. Now,
after thirty years of Protection here and Free
Trade in Great Britain, the consumption OF iron
in the United States is greater than in Great
Britain by about so pounds for every inhab-
liant, so that the excess of consumption in this
country over Great Britain is now about as much
as the total consumption for each inhabitant
in the United States thirty years ago when
Protection began. The census Of Great Britain
has Just been taken, showing slender increase
in population for the last ten years, but the in
crease in quantity Of iron consumed has been
even smaller During the last twenty years
the consumption for each inhabitant in Great
Britain has actually declined 9.15 pounds, while
the consumption in the United States for each
inhabitant has more than doubled; in 1871 it
was 1858 pounds, and it Is now 1929
pounds.
These statements are based upon the official
reports of the British and the American Iron
and Steel associations as to production, that of
Great Britain last year being 7S75,13O gross
tons, and that of the United States 9,202,7O3
gross tons. To the production the decrease of
stocks in Great Britain is added, and then the
net exports of pig and manufactured iron ac-
cOrding to British official records are deducted.
But In this country, because the more accurate
statistics of imports are not prepared for the
calendar year, the accounts have been made up
for various years by adding to the domestic
production for each calendar year the net i'm
ports for the fiscal year ending six months later.
Thus the net imports DUNG the fiscal year
which has just ended are reckoned with the
production of pig-iron for the calendar year
1890 Proper account is also taken of the in
crease or decrease IN stocks on hand each year.
This mode of reckoning, usually the more ac-
CITRATE. happens this year to make the consump-
ton about IL pounds per capita larger than
it would have been if the extraordinary imports
of tin plates before the new duty went into
effect had not occurred. But with correction
on that account the American consumption
would still be about 335 pounds for each in
habitant, against 275 pounds in Great Britain.
1t may naturally be supposed that the great
difference between the two countries in growth
of consumption of iron has been mainly due
to the extraordinary development of the railway
system in the United States. In past years this
has been true TO a large extent as a consider
able proportion of the iron used in this country
was required IN the building of new railroads
But during the last year railroad building was
at its lowest ebb. The consumption of iron in
that form was smaller than it had been for
many years, and it IS not improbable that the
consumption for all railroad uses was consider
ably smaller, since nearly the whole railway
system has now been reaid with steel rails
within a comparatively short time The really
wonderful change in this country has been the
other than railway purposes, and it is this in
crease which has caused the United States to
outstrp Great Britain in this particular.
Great Britain sends large quantities of iron
to all parts of the world, and a portion of it in
manufactured FORMS it is true, so that from the
manufacturing point of view the consumption of
pig-iron in the old country is considerably great
err than the figures above given herein indicate.
But even after deducting only the pig iron ex
ported from Great Britain, the remainder left
for manufacturing use in that country last wear
was nearly 100000 tons less than the quan-
tity consumed in the United Suites in mann
facture. But the true test. rs respects the pros
perty and welfare of the people is not the
production for shipment to other countries, but
the consumption of iron and steel and their
various products in maintaining the industries