Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-26

NhEaA VI III Il OF Il IL AANO-N'
According to estimates by the Amer
lean Manufacturer Of Pittsburg. the pro
duction OF pig iron in the United States
during 1895 will aggregate 9,3S76S9 tons
"a larger output than has ever before
been reached either IN this country or
in Great Britain. While this estimate
may be materially changed by the Off
cal returns next month. IL is sufficiently
accurate to show the tremendous activ-
fly IN the iron industry since the turn
of the tide Of business from depression
to prosperity. Prior to this year the
greatest activity was reached in 1890,
when the production of pig iron amount
ed to 9,202,7O3 gross tons, or 1S4.956 tons
less than the estimated output for 1895.
In 1892, the only other year IN which
the production exceeded 100000 tons,
there was an outpu. of 9,157O0O tons, or
23O.639 tons below the expected product
Of the present year. From 1892 there
was a sharp decline in the output
71245o2 tons IN 1898 and 6,6575S8 tons
in 1894. From the output Of 6,657 ,SSS
tons last year to the estimated total Of
9.3S7639 tons this year is a jump OF
g. 73O.251 tons. which is by far the larg-
est increase in any one year in this or
any other country. The nearest ap-
preach to it in the United States was the
increase from a production Of 4,044,526
tons in 1885 to 5,6SS.329 tons in 1856
an increase Of ]. 63S,SO3 tons In Great
Britain the largest increase in the out
put Of pig iron in any one year was the
advance from 5.995.337 tons in 1879 to
7.7f9.233 tons in 1SSO-an increase Of
1.753.S96 tons.
The most striking evidence Of the
rapidly with which the production Of
pig iron in this country has increased
during the present year is furnished by
the monthly statements Of the produc-
tive capacity of the active blast fur
naces. upon which the American Manu-
fscturer has based its estimates Of the
total output for the year. The figures
are as follows:
Capacity gross tons. Capacity gross tons:
january. q. ..1l5.32g August o. ..SS3.23
February O.. ..Gl93l7 September &c. .S6l. l59
March 90. o. ..GI.li October. ..g5N' iSS
April. e. .. sos. 7l3 November .... 1854. itg
May 90. =. o.. ..6gL3l6 December (esO .965.09'
J9iy - ~. It's Total ... ...sSS7 $50
i. viii be noted that there mas been
continuous increase in activity since
February. when the production was fig
ured o., 619.317 tons per month, to the
present month. which IS put down for
an output Of 965.597 tons-showing an
increase Of 345.2SO tons in the monthly
capacity for production. In February
last the productive capacity Of the fur
naces then in blast was equivalent TO
an output of 7,43l.SO4 tons per annum,
while the present production is est.ma-
ted to be at the rate of 1887 164 tons
The production during the second half
Of this year is figured at 5,3O435S tons,
which IS 392,59o tons greater than the
output of 4911.763 tons in the last six
months Of 1891, which stands next to
the past half year in point of activity.
Great Britain's maximum production
of pig iron was reached in 1882, when
the output was S.5S6.6SO tons. or about
100000 tons less than the probable
amount that will be made in the United
States this year. In 1890 this country
led Grea, Britain for the frs, time,
but the tremendous slump last year set
MS back to the second place With the
tremendous activity of the present year
the United States again lead the world
IN the production Of iron and steel