Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-17

Id1iS were uOA SdlgdDlE ~ dDJs0 90 PNA
ton.
These contracts, at reduced prices for
steel rails, mean undoubtedly considera-
bly, reduced prices in ether lines of tin-
ished steel output, involving to consid-
cradle extent the prices of rolling mill
and other finished iron product coming In
competition with similar finished steel
productions.
The Cambria Iron company, tot JOINS
town, Pa one of the largest producers
of steel rails and other finished steer pro-
duct. announce that they are in the fight
to stay and have given notice of cut In
wages of 10 to 10 per cent. Of their en-
ployes, and the Illinois Steel company
have reduced wages in about the same
percentage at their various plants. Thls
taken in connection with reductions In
the wages of miners in several extern
sive iron ore mines of the northwest, in
dicates to the State Herald general
reduction in the wages and salaries OF
miners, blast furnace employees, man
ayers, etc, throughout the north. For
instance, the Illinois Centrars estimate
of rails needed for 1897 use was 24,6O0
tons, they purchasing $4,000 tons, and
of course 26,400 tons are naturally for 1898
delivery, as contracts are customarily
made. New aspects are placed upon the
steel rail markets of the world by this
reduction to 81, as $50 per ton has been
land is now) English rail-maker's prices
f. 0. b. at their mills. Upon Chesapeake
Bay at Sparrow's Point. Nd, is located
the extensive blast furnaces, rail and
structural mills, etc, of the Maryland
Steel company, who use principally Gu
ban ores upon which an import duty
is paid, using coke from the mines of
Maryland and West Virginia to smelt and
manufacture the ore into iron. Il is said
a rate Of about SO per ton upon rails to
Liverpool and other English ports can
be had from the deep water wharves at
Sparrow's Point, and taking the rebate
of import duty on the ore result in maxi
ing rails for export to foreign countries,
based upon price of SIT per ton in our
domestic markets, would indicate that
they might obtain better net prices in
England than here, at the present time.
Exports Of steel rails in 1895 amounted
to $222,661, increasing to $1,712716 for the
year 1896. or nearly $1,500000 increase,
and the State Herald hopes to see the
present break in prices made to increase
the amount by many millions of dollars.
Our exports of miscellaneous machinery
for 1895 were $12 11511S and increased to
S17,625,7S4 for 1896. In builders hard
ware in 1895 the exports amounted to
$4.77S,5S2, increasing to $6,140.252 for 1896.
Some days ago we called attention to the
increased exports of our manufactures.
having exported in 1894 SIT 800 $685. and
in 1895 s201 ,153 eos and in 1896 $3.50, 6SS,527,
Ehpyinp n tba f1aiob bOrhOnd nf no
cent increase in those three years. The
wage question in connection with Il suf-
flciency of employment about rolling
mills, ETC.. producing articles competing
with the. entire machine handled out
put. or nearly So of the more modern
steel plants producing all varieties of
finished steel product. seems to be be-
coming a leading question throughout
the north since this cut in the prices Of
steel rails, etc, with an expectation that
in order to keep the rolling mills, ETC.,
busy and dispose Of the output in COM
petition with steel, reduction in wages
must come or else be idle much of tha
time, and which later developments will
better determine. The State Herald
wants to see good wages maintained, but.
rather than see our mills idle most of the
time and the honest wage earners who
want to labor destitute and their
families in want, 1t would prefer to see
wages reduced to enable them to earn
living for themselves and families, and
much Of the product be exported to for
eign countries.
In 1894 England sold Brazil $36, ,21t
worth Of her goods and manufactures
and the United States $15,135125 worth,
taking from them coffee, etc, amounting
TO $7S,S31,476 Whereas England took
$19, 174,6S1 worth. We exported for the
eleven years ending with 1895, $119,645, 230
worth of goods to Brazil importing dur
ing the same period $74s, 1886, 134 worth.
Uruguay imported goods to the value
of $50, 1856, l06 in 1896. This trade was d.
vided among the principal countries as
fo1lows.