The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-31

The imports of iron ore into tho Unit
ed States in 1894 We're the smallest since
1878, owing to the phenomenal depres-
sion in the iron trade aud tho idlcness
of one Of the largest consumers of for
eign ore. During last year also the
prices Of Lake Superior iron ores wore
depressed to the lowest point ever reach
ed, on account of competition for tho
limited market and because of the de-
velopment of the remarkable deposits OF
cheapjy mined ore on the MoSabi range
in Minnesota. Present conditions. how
ever, point to a large Increase in tho use
Of foreign ores by iron manufacturers
along tho Atlantic scaboard
While the cost of Lake Superior iron
ores is net much above last year S figures,
eastern iron manufacturers are still Mt "A
great disadvantage rs compared with
western competitors using these ores.
The reduction Of the duty on imported
Iron ores from rs to 40 cents per ton is
OF declocd advantage to manufacturers
nsar tide water and will enable them to
Use foreign ores more freely than has
been possible hitherto. The saving of So
cents per ton on iron ore may look like
O email matter, but it means "A saving
Of about 90 cents on each ton of pig iron
made from foreign ore, and with many
manufacturers this is enough to change
loss'lnto profit. This reduction i'll duty
has not injured any domestic iron orc
mining interests, nor would the removal
OF the. remaining 10 cents per ton do any
damage. Under no conditions can foreign
ONO IL ~
territory of the great Lake Superior
mining companies, which lies west Of
the Allegheny mountains. The natural
market for foreign ores lies near the sea-
board, and to claim that this territory
belongs TO iron ore producers i'll Mime
Sofa Michigan or Wisconsin is an ab-
surd assumption
That the increasing imports Of iron
ore are not depriving domestic produ-
GERS of any portion of their trade is
shown by the reports from the Lake Su-
perior mining region, which assert that
the output of ore III that section will be
che largest ever reached. AS the maxi
mum production Of the Lake Superior
region, which was attained in 1890,
was s,012,370 gross tons, and the out
put in 1894 was only Z, 7.iS. 932 tons, it
Wall be- seen how great must be the in
crease In activity i'll that region to pass
from Inst years output beyond the high
point of 1890 Although only one-third
OF the shipping season has passed. Lake
Superior mines have sent over 5000
600 gross tons Of iron ore to market.
The Gogebic range, which shipped
1,8io, 300 tons last year, has sent out
nearly 1000, 900 tons thus far. and its
output is expected to reach $500. 900
Cons this season, and in other mining
districts of the great Lake Superior re-
glon similar activity is manifested.
This increasing activity in the iron
ore trade, both foreign and domestic. is
OF great Importance to transportation
interests. The larger imports mean in.
creased shipments of our coal to foreign
countries, for nearly every steamer that
comes IN laden with ore goes ont with
q cargo of coal. An increase of over
1000, 600 tons in the output of the Lake
Superior iron ore mines means inst
shat much. more freight for the lake
steamers to carry, and both the imports
and domestic output of ore have to be
hauled by the railroads The influence
of the increasing activity in the iron in
dustry is felt throughout a wide ramifi-
cation of allied and dependent branches
Of trada