Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-28
THAT BASIC PIG.


 "A Cleveland metalnrgist who is spending the winter in Europe. writes to a friend in Cleveland that the present contrast between the prices of iron and steel in the United States and in conti- mental markets The letter is dated Ant werp January H. and the following ex- tract, which the Iron Trade Review is permitted to make, will be interesting at this time when export business, especial ly from Pennsylvania works, is having so much attention:
 ''The iron business, as I read in the American papers, Is not in brilliant shape in the states. How do you explain the low prices-billets $16 and pig iron Sll? Here on the continent prices are at the top of the ladder Steel works are very busy. Bessemer pig sells at 70 francs $14-billets at $22, while coke is S3.50 at the ovens, and scarce at that. As you are aware, on the continent nine-tenlths of the steel is made by the basic process, using pig iron containing per cent. manganese and 1.50 phosphorus, which sells at this market at 6S francs ($l3), and I believe that if such iron were made in the states it could be imported now at a profit by Europe. I wonder why the southern furnaces are not making this special pig for export. Foundry and mill pig are less salabie. I have been among the steel works in Germany and Belgium. Their practice is good, but not up to ours as to quantity.
 Furnaces 75x20 feet are making about 200 to 250 tons, with consumption of fuel of 2100 pounds. Their coke Is not very good; contains too much moisture Furnaces in Luxemburg district where ths bulk of the basic pig is made are using ores containing only 2S to 30 per cent. irorl-oyer three tons of ore to the ton of pig; fuel 2,500 pounds"
 The foregoing from the columns of an Ohio journal, the State Herald is pleased to quote, as showing an excellent open ing for the profitable exportation of bas- ic pig iron from the Birmingham dis trict to Europe. We do not learn, how ever that 1t is being done, apparently the export being confined to mill and foundry pig iron and which the letter quoted states, in comparison with basic, "are less salable." For years Birming- ham has, against great and numerous obstacles. been endeavoring to bring about the erection of a steel plant to manufacture steel from basic pig iron, to be produced here and as an object les son, the public have been informed what immense quantities of steel were turned out in England, Germany, etc., from bas- ic iron, and that 1t was prescribed by leading European engineers and archi- tects for all bridges, buildings, etc.
 That was fair notice to our iron mas ters, that with good prices and fair de- mand in those countries for the last past twelve to fifteen months, it would be probable that some basic iron might prof. itably be placed there, But here comes information written less than fifty days ago from there by a practical man in iron and steel, inquiring why our south ern iron masters are not taking advan- tage of the market price of $1350 per ton there. The State Herald is not proposing to undertake to answer fully to inquiry. but has an idea that the ghost of an in- cubus known as lat high protective tar iff' has been stalking about the premises of southern iron masters, inducing them to defer endeavoring to place their pro- duet to all the nations of the world, but instead to wait until something turns up in the home markets" This something" has been turning up'', but in the shape of under-consumption and over-produc- tion, as it is termed to suit peoples ideas, and it appears that we should in addition to exporting mill and foundry pig, be exporting much larger amounts of basic pig.
 But do nat thme( HaTMi9PoH, ,kPU
 AS tiiS Sdies oL bHihillS Hdiil pis Hon for export far exceed any sales of Penn sylvania product prior to Feb. Il, (the date of the issue of the Iron Trade Re view. the number quoted from), the State Herald respectfully inquires why the Iron Trade Review prints, twill be interesting at this time when export business. especially from Pennsylvania works. is having so much attention?" "Honor to whom honor Is due" and fair showing for the Birmingham district and southern iron makers is what we ask at the hands of our northern con- temporaries. Birmingham has the re- sources, the only question being their economic development and proper mar keting in the most profitable markets of the world.