Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-30

raw materials have been imported from
across the border or the sea, instead of be.
| ing produced at home. Up to few years
ago there were but about a dozen iron
foundries distributed throughout the
provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Mon.
treal, Toronto and Hamilton leading in the
number and capacity OF these establish
ments.
Increase in Number of Iron Foundries.
Now these establishments number
dozens, and from the primitive form they
have been added to and enlarged until they
now include great forges, rolling mills, nail
works, malleable ironworks, but with the
exception of the product Of a single
furnace in Nova Scotia and three others in
the Province of Quebec, the whole supply
of pig iron used in these establishments
has come from the United States or
abroad
The production of pig iron in the Domin-
ion has never reached proportions which
can be considered as affecting the industrial
progress of the country. This statement
will, perhaps, be better understood when it
is known that the total production of pig
iron in the provinces during the year 1890
was only 2l,772 tons. These igures sink
into insigni6cance when compared with the
monthly report of any one of your man.
moth Pittsburg furnaces. They at the same
time serve to very forcibly illustrate the
possibilities of Canadian pig iron produc-
ton, were the conditions such that devel-
opment of the industry compatible with the
needs of native non-using establishments
alone would be rendered possible
Only One Furnace Producing Coke Pig.
The principal establishment for the pro-
duction of pig iron, and in fact the only one
producing coke pig, is at Londonderry,
Nova Scotia. This furnace was established
years ago by English capitalists and Is still
operated by them. Aside from this there
are three charcoal iron furnaces. There is
one at Radnor and one at Three Rivers on
the north shore of the ST. Lawrence. The
third is on the south bank of the st.
Lawrence, all three furnaces being III the
vicinity of Montreal.
Illustrating alike both the need of even
higher protection and the distrust that
manufacturers have OF continuance of the
protective policy, the decline in pig iron pro-
duction during the past few years may be
noted. In 1890 the four furnaces in blast in
Canada produced 81, 772 tons of pig iron, as
compared with 1921 tons made in 1882
During 1890 the exports of iron and steel
goods manufactured in Canada amounted in
value to S133.724, but the imports during
the same period reached $13, 1856, 493 in
value, on which So, 721, 109 in duty was paid.
The pig iron production in 1889 was valued
at 50, 210,06 but in 1890 it had dropped to
$331. .6SS.
Continuance of Protection Uncertain.
With the inviting field which iron manu-.
promises under favorable condi-
tions capitalists and manufacturers are
revolving in their minds reasons why Cam
l. II xnIv hAr to- l&s
dustry, viii h her Importance as ma
tion and her own natural resources
demand that she should have. However
elaborate these reasonings may be
or the deductions therefrom, the philoso-
phizer on industrial conditions is confronted
finally with the fear that when the Liberal
succeeds the Conservative party in the
of governmental affairs the
protective policy will be abandoned. Some
what significant OF this feeling, and at the
same time little curious as to motive or
design, is the effort of some Canadians in
terested in the manufacture of hollow ware
and other household hardware to either
have the duty of 81 80 on pig iron removed
or the duty on their particular wares
raised. They have made formal requests to
the Government OF Ottawa for this change,
supporting their petition with the asser-
tion that American castings are being sent
over the border cheaper even, duty paid,
than they can manufacture them here.
American Manufactures In Canada.
That some American manufacturers are
not so imbued with the,fear of 9 change of
policy is evidenced by the fact of
the establishment here of several concerns
capitalized and managed bv people from
the States. A notable instance OF this is
in the line of ,ctrical development, a |
number of the largest companies having |
started manufactures in Canada. A COM
pany located in Waynesboro, in the rich |
and highly protected Cumberland Valley,
in your own State, manufacturers of agri-
cultural machinery, are seeking location |
Ia the Province Of Ontario. Other sx |