New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-14
TIE REVOLUTION IN IRON.

The change in the character and the work OF
iron furnaces within the last few years Is moth
ing loss than a complete revolution In that
great industry The furnaces that nrc now In
active because in competition unable TO keep
up with others better located or larger. actual
~ have n higher average capacity than those
in operation eight and half years ngo. then
presumably the best. Tho total estimated ca
pacty OF all the anthracite, bituminous and
coke furnaces In tho country, operating or not
operating then 437 in number was only 2O7, 76s
tons weekly Now 23O.l3 tons weekly are pro
duccd by only l7S furnaces In operation. while
the 1G6 that are not operating have a capacity
Of 9s III tons weekly. or 59l tons each. whereas
tho average capacity OF those operating Sep
tcmber !. 1889. was only 5J6 tons each week
and the capacity OF those Idle was only 375
tons week ..sr..
These figures do not include for either date
the charcoal furnaces. OF which there were rock
oncd liG In the country IN 1850. although only
- were then producing. and their output was
II. 700 tons weekly. or only 10 tons each. Now
the number operating IS only i, but their ca
yaclty Is more than double, and they produce
$500 tons weekly or 3il tons each The NUN
Der IS limited by the comparatively small de-
mand for iron OF that sort. and In the remain
Ing comparisons only the anthracite or bituml-
nous or coke furnaces VIII be included.
Tho average output weekly in 1889 was for
the furnaces then In operation. including nearly
all the most capable. only 80 tons EACH but II
Is now ! 2o3 tons weekly for each furnace. In
every section II Is tho furnaces or highest
weekly capacity that are running, rs n rule.
though some Of the largest are nj nearly all
times idle FOR repairs other temporary rea-
SONS while in n few cases rs In the Illinois
works the arrangements are such that all the
furnaces cannot be used ut the same time, one
or two being virtually interchangeable De
fcctive location with respect 10 supplies OF fuel
or ore also keeps n few large furnaces Idle But
tho bItumlnous furnaces operating nj the
East average 1903 tons weekly each, while the
idle average only lob when nj work; tho Is
running in Alabama average l.0I6 tons each,
while the 81 idle average only Ga tons. the 81
running on anthracite in Eastern Pennsylvania
average SIC tons while the 30 idle average only
~ tons the - furnaces nj work In Northern
Ohio average l,JlO tons, while the idle aver
age $50; the II running in Illinois average sos
tons weekly. while the . idle average only ,l2o
and the 40 bltuminOus or coke furnaces run
ming in Western Pennsylvania average 1915
tons each week while the II that are idle
would produce only IA tons each If at work
1t is especially interesting to note in what
section this great change within the last eight
and half years has been effected. In the fol
lowing statement the number and weekly ca
pacitles Of furnaces in operation In tho different
sections Is given for March |. 1898, and for
September l. 1850, and similar figures are also
given for the furnaces in each section not active
at each date. The term Eastern includes the
New England States, NcwYork and New-Jcr
scy; the term Southeastern includes Maryland,
West Virginia and all the Southern Atlantic
States The furnaces In Southern Ohio are in
cuded with those Of Kentucky, Tennessee and
other Southwestern States except Alabama, and
Indiana Is Included with Wisconsin and the
Western States beyond illinois,