New-York tribune., 1898-01-25
TIE BAROMETER RISES.

.The American Manufacturer" Of Pittsburg
reckons the production of pig iron IN 1871 III
o G39 S25 tons which Is nearly 2OOOoo tons more
than was ever produced in any previous year
Rut II Is not the aggregate which most deserves
attention During the first half of the year the
output was only 4.4l6,649 tons, which was less
than in the first half of $780, over seven years
ago. The product In the second half rose 10
52231I6 tons but in the first month, July, 1t
was only ~ 200 tons. or less than the monthly
average in the first half. and in August it was
only about ~. 600 tons greater. 1t was not until
the last three months that Il really unprcce-
dcnted output was attained, 2S9l 4t~' IONS. or
Mt the rate Of 11.56O000 yearly. In December,
moreover the output for the first time exceeded
600 900 tons. according 10 the estimate ot
"Thc American Manufacturer" 1,Ol3.S9S' and
with the same rate maintained through whole
year the largest output in any previous year
would be surpassed about 100000 tons. Thus
the present rate Of production is more than
quarter larger than was ever maintained in any
year.
The meaning of the figures is not AT first ap-
parent TO all For continued production I'M
plies n continuing consumption or pig iron ID
various forms of manufacture, and. in fact. the
record Of stocks unsold shows a decrease IN
each Of the last three months excepting slight
increase in December. less than would naturally
rosult from the longer and more general stop
page for holidays and repairs in the manu-
featuring works than in furnaces. which can
not discontinue even for n day without much
loss. From October TO January the unsold
stocks decreased G6.O61 tons. indicating con-
sumption to that extent greater than the pro-
duction in the quarter. or about 2,.JI,JQ tons
But it is In these various forms Of manufacture
in which pig iron is used as material that by
far the greatest number of hands Is employed.
and tine Use Of iron in their work is so nearly
i'm steady proportion to their product that the
number OF hands 40 engaged may be estimated
with reasonable accuracy from the consumption
of pig iron.
Thus in the census year 1890 the actual con-
sumption was about S.650,000 tons. the unsoid
stocks having decreased a little during the
year IL producing the pig iron the hands en-
ploycd during the year averaged only 34,4S3 i'll
number not counting those engaged In mining
ore and limestone. whereas in nearly all the
branches Of manufacture directly depending OF
IRON and steel rs material the hands averaged
4SS.197 in number, not including those in agri-
cultural implements and other branches OF
manufacture in which the product is not closely
proportioned TO tte quantity of iron used The
hands Mt that time averaged about 564 for
every 1000 tons Of pig iron consumed, and at
that rate the consumption in the last quarter
would indicate not far from G62,4S0 hands en-
ployed in such branches of manufacture about
174,OO0 more than IN the census year and over
80 per cent more than a year ago Even this Is
not the whole story for there are many thou
sand men employed in mining ore and lime
stCnc. in mining coal and making coke and the
number of those must also Increase In close
proportion TO the increase in iron production.
The transportation OF these materials. also OF
- 600 O0J tons of iron ore from the lake region,
n great distance to furnaces. and of coke and
limestone long distances also. involves great
increase in the equipment of lake and rail
transporting companies and in the number of
bands they employ II is not without reason
thai the consumption of pig iron has been re-
galded as more nearly barometer of the state
OF manufacturing industries than any other
single operation OF which accurate records are
possible.