The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-15
THOSE STEEL RAILS
Startling Confirmation Of Pur-
chase Received.
a LETTER FROM NEW YORK
Gives Full Particulars Of the Trans
action GOble Road Deal the
One Referred To.

The following remarkable statements
have been received from the Astorian's
| special New York correspondent
New York, Dec. la contract for the
importation Of 10000 tons OF English steel
rails has just been entered into with an
American railway by Griswold q Gmett.
Of sc Broadway, the American represen-
tatives OF Cammell & Co., Of Sheffield
The transaction involves nearly f30O, 900.
and marks the first considerable irrupton
Of the English manufacturer into the
American market since importation was
made possible by the reduction ofduty
under the Wilson act. Under the McKln-
ley law the duty was 1890 ton. Now II
Is S.S4. Up to the present time the duty
has just about sufficed to keep out the
English product, although It has entailcd
lowering OF prices by American manu-
facturers
ut would be impossible" said Mr.. Grls-
void today, for us to compete with the
American manufacturers had they not
advanced their prices within the last few
months by 81 10 81. We can't compete
with them now on the Atlantic seahoard
or In the interior. English rails can be
brought to New York or PHILADELPHIA at
$685. Add the duty and you have Ss0.Sl.
while the American rails can be bought
here below $780, so that we are just shut
out. In the interior the American manu-
facturer has stlll greater advantage.
as we would have to unload vessel here
and re-shlp by railroad. On the southern
Pacific and Gulf coasts, however, the diff
ference In freight in our favor is sufficient
| to overcome the disadvantage imposed by
| the tariff. For the last two or three
years there has been very little business
In rails. The railroads have been poor.
| and have been unable to fioat their bonds.
Now they are beginning to buy rails
| again, and we hope to get the business" :"
Mr. Griswold refused to say for what
railroad the rails were ordered. When
Claus Spreckles San Joaquin Railroad
purchased similar amount last spring
Griswold q Gillett were among the bid
ders. but were unable to meet the price
made by the Lackawana Iron and Coal
Company. The same road has recently
been In the market for more rails, and
II is thought that It is the purchaser OF
the English rails, although It has also
been reported that the Southern Pacific
Is the purchaser From other sources.
however II Is learned that the rails were
beyond doubt purchased for Mr.. A. b.
| Hammond's new railroad from Astoria
up the Columbia river. The rails VIII bo
shipped direct from Liverpool to their
| destination.
A. r. Whitney. agent for part OF tbs
product Of the Carnegie mills. said that
the ability of the English to compete
with the American manufacturer depend
ed chiefly upon the remoteness OF the
market and the consequent difference in
freight rates.
"The last quotation OF American rails
at tidewater," he said twas $27.75. The
price OF English rails at tide water Is
s21 96, or $3.50 with the duty. Conse-
quently they cannot compete with us
here. At San Francisco. New Orleans
and Galveston, however. 1t is entirely diff
ferent. The freight from New York by
all around Cape Horn to San Francisco
Is $e.72 ton. From Liverpool to San
Francisco by the same means It Is be-
tween 50 and 81. English sailors tako
english wages, while American sailors
want American wages. Furthermore, the
English manufacturers are so eager to
get into the American market that they
will take less profit on rails sold here
than on those sold in England"
John @. A. Leishman, president OF the
Carnegie Steel Company, who was IN
own yesterday, said that he did not
hink the price OF American rails would
be lowered on account Of this importa>
ion.
American rails" he said, have gone
up pbout 81 since last spring. The rise Is
iue to rise In pig metal from so 70 slf
\ ton, which is owing to the fuctuation
| of production and freight rates. The price
Of pig metal has recently been as high as
1850. Under the present tariff we must
expect English competition on the Pacliic
and Gulf coasts. English vessels Will
bring rails out ut almost any price, for
the sake OF the ballast The trade with
oregon is generally all the other way,
consisting of wheat, 80 that rails can pc
carried practically for nothing