The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-11-03

trade last winter. But when Tile laSJ
of the cheap ore of 1897 has been ship
ped and the mines start on stocking
for 1898, it may be expected that the
long delayed and much deserved adj
vance to the miners will come. That
advance must DO made up to the
companies in higher price for their
product. Labor on the lakes is en-
titled to an advance, and that must
be counted on as a factor in freights.
Beyond these considerat is the
general one that the great iron min
ing and vessel Interests expect to get
some share in the prosperity that is
coming TO the iron industry and that
is expected to be more market in 1898
than in the closing of 1897.
Account has been taken in most of
the discussions concerning next years
ore basis, of the effect of the Carnegie
purchase of Gogebic mines on an a.
greement among old-range producers.
This question, we take it, is of minor
Importance. The policy OF the Car
negie Steel Co. has been increasing
away from combinations. In the
present case it's interest in a high
price for old-range Bessemer ores
might be even greater than that OF
producers themselves. The latter
must certainly oppose any advance
that gives the Pittsburg interest
pronounced advantage over other
steel makers who are the mining
companies best customers. No special
advantage could come to other ore
producers, more over, from having the
Oliver Mining Co. in the pool unless
the latter consented to such a linn
itation of its output as would make
it buyer, to same extent, of other
old-range ores Yet it would scarcely
seem that the Carnegie Steel Co, would
go into iron mining with any inten-
tion of restricting Itself in any par
ticular. Thus it would appear that
this question, like the. Mesabi question
settles itself, and that any association
for next year will be composed OF old
range Bessemer mines outside OF the
Norrie and the Tilden.
What ever advance may come in
prices, it is certain that the mistake
of 1896 will not be repeated. Even if
the ore men found themselves able to
control the situation we are sure that
the disastrous decision of that year
would not be made again. Bright as
the outlook is for demand: limited as
the influence of the Mesabi range is
at a bear argument, the great con-
sideration of all is that prices of Lake
Superior ores must hereafter be kept
an basis that will permit of the free
and regular shipment of America steel
produ cts abroad substantially at the
prices of the past year. 1t is evident
that the day of any considerable
fluctuation in the price of Lake
Superior ores has gone by; no doubt
the statement can be made broadly Of
all iron and steel products. The eX-
port trade that has been opened up at
such cost and by such persistent effort
of the steel makers, is at last to reach
back to the ore trade and become a
controlling influence. There may be
some dissent from this view, but we
believe the logic of events will force it
upon any whose interest would oppose
it. There may be owners of mines on
Lake Superior vino, forced by the
peculiar conditions of 1897 to maintain
their properties in idleness, are hoping
for such price as will permit them to
mine ore for 1898. If % cents or 35
cents more on standard Bessemer will
enable such mines to cross the line
and operate at profit, they will no
doubt be mining their share of the
1898 product. If they must have so to
IS cents above the price of to-day, we
are convinced that they will not run
in the next few years.
1t is appreciated more and more
among American manufacturers who
have accomplished something in win
ming export trade, that they cannot
hold it for any reason their prices
must be advanced materially. The
foreign buyer is not used to the Ameri-
can way of alternating feast and
famine Of sudden, sharp advances
and disastrous reactions. flour man
ufacturers are learning that the great
fluctutuatiOns Of other years must be
avoided at home, if business is to be
kept on any health basis, and panics
and depressions averted, they have far
stronger reason for preventing the in
PRODUCTION of this American policy a.
broad, The foreign buyer will not
stand IL IT ia tho very fhiuO ba