The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-08
NUMBER OF TONS MANUFAC-
TURED IN STATE IN 1897.
Facts Cleaned from the
Annual Report of James M. Clark,
Chief of the Bureau of Industrial
Statistics, Department of Internal
Affairs-An Increase of Sixty Per
Cent. in the Production of Black
Plate--Increased Tonnage of Open
Hearth Steel.

trial statistics, department Of internal
affairs, extracted from his forthcoming
annual report for 1897: 1t shows the
total production of open hearth steel
for 1897 was 1.421,373 gross tons; total
production of Bessemer, 2,5S6,27S gross
tons; total production crucible, 1925
gross tons; combined production for the
year. 4,056,S9 gross tons. This as
against 3,345,529 tons as compiled by
the American Iron and Steel associa-
tion in 1896, showing an increase for
1897 of I'll, 367 gross tons, of 21.02 per
cent.
A comparison by detail shows open
hearth 1,42l,373 tons as against 1,OO9,-
COS in 1896, an increase of All, 765 gross
tons or 40.S per cent; Bessemer, 1913
per cent; crucible 40. PAS tons as against
43,1O1, an increase of 6,13S gross tons
or 14.2 per cent.
The total production of pig iron is
shown to have been 4,617,34 gross TONS
an increase of 591 ,2S4 tons, or 147 per
cent The value is shown to be $4S,-
SS4,S54 as against 5,172,O O39, an increase
of $3,712,S15 or So per cent, but the
average value per ton shows a shrink
age of sc per cent, the value for 1896
1897, or a decrease of 63 cents per ton.
The aggregate cost of basic material
out of which this production of pig
iron was made, which means only the
iron ore, and scrap or cinder if any
used, is shown to have been s29, 962 ,533
as against 6,251, ,42O for 1896, an in
crease of $3,711,113 or al per cent. 1t
must be understood that neither fuel
nor limestone nor any other item of
cost is included as basic material with
the iron producing materials here
named. The cast per ton of this basic
material in 1897 was S6.4S and in 1896
$6.52, a decrease of cents per ton.
THERE WAS A DECREASE.
The number of working people en-
ployed was 11,272 as against 1850, a
decrease of 3OS or 81 per cent. The
average days of employment were SOC
as against 2S9 an increase of II days
or SO per cent. The aggregate amount
of wages paid was S4,676,970 as against
$3.50, 1885, an increase of SS7, ,S05 or 1911
per cent. The average yearly earnings
were $414.92 as against $396.30, an in
crease of $1S.62 or Az per cent. The
average daily wage was s1.36 as against
$1,37. The average labr cost per ton
was $1.01 as against $1.14, decrease
of 13 cents.
1t will be noticed from these figures
that while there is shown to have been
reduced cost per ton of labor of 13
cents and of basic material of 4 cents,
or in all II cents, that the selling
price shrunk 63 cents. These figures
are not intended to lead up to the cost
of production, as there is yet to be
considered fuel, limestone. general
management, office help, investment
and every item of expense except the
ores and labor.
Comparison as to capital invested
cannot be had for the reason that sep
aration has not heretofore been care
fully made between the capital in
vested in the rolling mill and the fur
mace, nor has it yet been possible to
get an entire separation, but it is prac-
tically safe to say that the capital in
vested in the active pig iron furnaces
for 1897 was Sal 900, 00O
In the manufacture of tin plate, that
is in the black plate works. Pennsyl-
vania had Is plants in operation as
against 13 in 1896. The capital invest
- .,
an increase of 81, ,3S9, ,S52 or 1873 per cent.
Their entire production of black plate,
timed and untinned, was 254, ,157, col
pounds as against 15S, ,306 49O in 1896, an
increase of 95,S51,111 pounds or sos per
cent. They timed of this black plate
product 9.705, 766 pounds as against
S7,Sl4,762 in 1896, an increase of S1,S91,-
2O4 pounds or S37 per cent.
PRODUCTION OF BLACK PLATE.
The production of black plate which
was not timed was 14,451, ,S35 pounds as
against 6O,49l,72S pounds, an increase
of l369O,l07 pounds or 23.1 per cent.
The value of this timed product was
S5,lSO,624 as against $3,157,699 an in
crease of $2,022, ,925 or Ga per cent. The
value of the black plate not timed was
$l,651,297 as against $1,4S0,l12 an in
crease of $l771S5 or 12 per cent. The
value of the entire production of these
black plate works, timed and untin-
ned, was $6,S3792l as against 81 637, 81
in 1896, an increase of 81, ,20O,110 or 47.4
per cent The value per 100 pounds of
their tirned production was $2SS in
1897 as against 1928 in 1896, a decrease
of 30 cents per 100 pounds or 1913 per
cent. The value per ton Of 1000 pounds
of black plate not timed was $44.5l as
against $4S.93 a decrease of SAP or 9
per cent
The average number of days in op-
Grafton was PSI as against $50, an in
crease of 81 or 124 per cent. The
number of working people employed
was 1920 as against 3,194, an increase
of 726 or 22,7 per cent, The aggregate
amount of wages paid was 50, ,227,217 as
against $l437226, an increase of S7S9,-
99i or $40 per cent. The average year.
ly earnings were 56S.17 as against $456.-
So, an increase of $ll1.62 or PA per
cent The average daily wage was
$2.02 as against $3.50, an increase of %
cents per day or 1879 per cent.
In addition to these Is tin plate
works manufacturing their own black
plate and making tin plate from the
billet or bar, there were II dipping
works in operation with a product of
45,926,0O0 pounds Of tin and terne plate
and corresponding value of $1,Sl6,4l7.
BY dipping works is meant concerns
or establishments that buy the black
plate already picked and only complete
the work of making tin plate by aud-
lHS tHe he''SSaiE N'''' VI 'iii' VI inlS
45,926,0OO, all but 10000 pounds was
American plate.
DAYS IN OPERATION.
The number of persons employed was
444, the number of days in operation
27O, the aggregate Of wages paid 81, ,139-
1872, the average yearly earnings $of6.23
or Sll7 per day, as against 41,773,94
pounds produced in 1896 with a total
value of 81 ,sss, ,39S. The number of
working people employed was Az,
davc In nnaration oAO tho ag-