The record-union., 1894-07-28
IRON AND STEEL.
PRODUCTION DURING THE FIRST
HALF OF THE PRESENT YEAR.
at No Time in Modern History Have
So Few Furnances Been In
Blast in America,
to the REcoRp-uNroN.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
PHILADELPHIA, July 26.-The Ameri-
can Steel Association has received from
the manufacturers complete statistics of
the production of pig-iron, Bessemer steel
ingots and Bessemer steel rails in the
United States in the first half of 1894; also,
complete statistics of the stocks of pig
iron which were on hand for sale on the
Both of June last.
The total production of pig-iron in the
United States in the first half of 1894 was
2,717, ,0S3 gross tons against 2,561, ,5S4 tons
in the second half of 1898, an increase of
l56.399 tons. AS compared with the first
half of 1898, however, the production in
the first half of 1894 shows a great decline
in figures, being 1862, ,9lS tons, or l, ,844, 935
tons more than the production in the first
half of 1894.
The production of pig-iron in the last
twelve months from July /, 1888, to July
l, 1894, was 5,27S, ,567 gross tons. In 1892
the production was 9,157, 900 tons. Not
since the dull year of 1885 have we made
as little pig-iron in one year as in the last
twelve months. -Four States which made
pig-iron in the first half of 1898 made no
pig-iron in the first half of lS94-Massa-
chuseettS, North Carolina, Indiana and
Minnesota. Five other States show only
|
first half of f1S94-COnnecticut, Maryland,
Texas, Missouri and Oregon. The num-
Der of furnaces which were in blast on the
Both of June, 1894, was los, and the num-
Der out of blast was 40S.
At no time IN the modern history of the
American iron trade have so few furnaces
been in blast as on the 30th of June last.
The production of Bessemer steel ingots
in the first half of 1894 was as follows:
Dr. ,io q. ~.
Ohio, III .04S; other States, la, 767. Total,
S67. .454.
The following is the production of Bes-
semer steel rails of all weights and sec
tions, including street rails in the first
half of 1894. In this statement we do not
include street and other Bessemer rails,
which were rolled from purchased
blooms; Pennsylvania, 2S4,061; Illinois,
25, ,955; other States, 19.80S. Total, 1896, 404.
The great decline in the production of
both Bessemer steel ingots and rails in
the twelve months preceding, beginning
with July i 1893, is shown by compari-
son of this production with that of the
first six months of 1893. In these same
months we produced 2.092,057 gross tons
of ingots and 704, 240 tons of rails; in the
last twelve months we produced 2,791 0S3
tons of ingots and 731, ,517 tons of rails. In
no year since 1875 have we made so few
steel rails as in the last twelve months.
EFFECT OF THE SCARCITY OF FUEL.
NEW YORK, July 26.-The Iron A1e to-
day says: While moderate progress is
being made in firing additional coke
ovens, the rate is distressingly slow. The
scarcity of fuel is the dominating factor
| in the Western iron trade, and indirectly,
of course, affects Eastern producers.
Some of the latter. being largely depend
ent upon the Connellsville region, suffer.
Others are gamers, since the Western
works, are practically letting the Eastern
markets alone.
The Eastern mills are, therefore, taking
what current work is coming out, and
the breathing spell they are enjoying
gives their local markets an air of great
cheerfulness.
The Western, the Pittsburg and Chi
cago districts are pretty nearly taxing
care of the requirements OF buyers, who
on the whole, are not great. The scarcity
of raw material keeps Bessemer pig-iron
and steel billets pretty steady for early
delivery, but buyers cover only what they
must have. For later delivery or larger
transactions buyers and sellers are still
apart. There is movement among
Southern furnaces which have long been
idle. 1t is pretty we'll known that the
best managed plant in the Birmingham
district is stopped because there is no
money in making iron. and other con-
Germs are getting readyfo the fray.