Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-26
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
PITTsBURG, MONDAY. JAN. 26, 1891
LEADERSHIP IN IRON PRODUCTION.

The Bulletin of the Anaerican Iron and
Steel Association has just published its CON-
plete return OF the production of pig iron in
the United State in 1890 A report show
ing practically similar totals was published
by the Census Bureau some time ago; but as
it was too early to get reports from the fur
naces for the entire year, it is evident that
the report of the Bulletin is the first COM
plete and authentic one.
The report is one of no slight Importance,
in view of the fact that the total Of pig iron
production in the United Statee is shown by
it to place this country in advance of the
world. The total of production was 10, 307,
OBS net tons, or 9,2O2, 703 gross tons, gain
of q per cent on the production of 1889,
which was in turn II per cent greater than
in 1855, the product of that year and 1887
being less than seven-tenths of the total of
1890. This total is 1,2OO,O 900 gross tons
above the product of England for the same
period year; but as compared with En-
glands greatest year of iron production, in
1882, it is only 100000 tons in excess
Thus it will be seen that last year the
United States exceeded England's iron pro-
duction for the same period, and in addition
placed their high watermark of iron prod
net 600,0 900 tons in excess of England's
greatest product in any single wear. 1t is
not likely that these totals will be exceeded
by either country, for a year or TWO, at
least, so that the figures of 1890 will stand
for some ii ne as the measure of the respec-
oc al
production.
1t is also pleasant to observe that the sta
tistics of the production by districts do not
show any indication of the departure from
Pittsburg of its supremacy in the iron trade.
Every one knows that Pittsburg consumes
more pig iron than it manufactures. That
is, the requirements of iron and steel mills
largely exceed the capacity of its blast fur
naces, and the ability to buy pig iron
cheaply elsewhere is no disadvantage to our
greater industries. Yet in view of the fond
hopes of the Western and Southern centers
of the iron industry that they can take away
the pig iron production from Pittsburg, it is
satisfactory to notice that the total produc-
tion of pig iron in Allegheny last year was
1,497, 7S6 tons, nearly double what it
was in 1889, and more than was
produced by any State in the
Union except Pennsylvania. If we take the
districts tributary to Pittsburg, namely, tine
Mahoning and Sheuango Valleys and the
miscellaneous bituminous furnaces of Penn
sylvania, a total of 8, GA, 949 tons is shown,
or over three times the total OF any other
State except Pennsylvania, when the Ma
honing Valleys production is deducted from
that OF Ohio. In the product of Bessemer
pig the leadership of Pittsburg is even more
marked. The total production of Allegheny
county was !, O72, 9O4 tons. and that OF the
districts just specified 1928, ,649 tons; while
the only other States that exceeded half the
production of Allegheny county alone were
Ohio, with a total of 551, 10Y tons, and IlIi-
nois with 7O4, 327 tons.
These f-ures place the Q nited States at
the head of the world Tor pig iron produc-
ton, and Allegheny county at the head of
the United States. AS the lead of Pitts
burg in the production of finished iron and
steel is even more decided than in pig iron,
tie showing is one that our city can accept
with great satisfaction.