The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-12
AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL.

AmEklSAN IkON AND STEEL.
The phenomenal growth OF our man
ufacturing industries, both in supply
ing our own markets and those OF other
parts OF the world. is illustrated by
some figures just compiled by the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics regard
Ing the imports and exports OF manu-
factures of iron and steel. These tables
show that the exports of manufactures
OF iron and steel in the fiscal year 1898
were Ave times as great as in 1880, more
than double those in any year prior to
1896. and 20 per cent. greater than in
1897. On the other hand the imports of
the manufactures of iron and steel in1sss
were in value but one-sixth those of
1850. one-fourtk those of 1888 and one
half those OF 1896. To quote the official
figures the exports from the United
States OF all articles classified as MAN
ufactures of Iron and Steel amounted
in 1880 to sl4.7l6.524, in 1890 to s25542.-
2os, In 1896 to sn.1so.s77. in 1897 to $751;
1s4,s72 and in 1895 to s7o.ss7,527. Mean
time the imports of manufactures of
iron and steel which In 1880 were s7i.-
sss. 500 fell by 1890 to s41.s7s.5o1. by 1896
80 $25.s3s. .1o3 and in 1898 to $12,615,91a
Thus while the exports OF manufac-
lures OF iron and steel are In 1898 FIVE
times those of 1880, the imports of the
same class OF articles were in 1898 less
than one-fifth those of 1880. In 1880 our
imports Of manufactures of iron and
steel were five times as much as our ex-
ports. while in 1898 our exports of iron
and steel were more than five times as
much as our imports. American manu-
facturers have. since 1880. taken pos
session OF five-sixths OF that portion OF
the home market which was held by
Foreign manufacturers of iron and steel
and have at the same time increased
their sales in foreign markets 400 per
cent. While the imports of iron and
steel were falling from n millions to ~
millions the exports of the same class
OF articles increased from IA millions to
20 millions.
While the list of articles OF iron and
steel IL an elaborate one and a de-
creased in imports has occurred in
nearly all articles. II is practicable to
point out few Of the more important.
Under the classification OF "Ingots.
Blooms. slabs, Billets and Bars OF
Steel the importations of 1883 were
1l.lss.6ss pounds and in 1898 only so.-
B2l,157 pounds. Wire rods. which in 1888
were 27o,sss.55o pounds were in 1898.
B9. col ,63s pounds. Chains. which in 1883
were 2.os5.7s7 pounds were in 1898. 49,
$40 pounds Imports OF tin plate. terne
plates and taggers tin which in 1880
amounted TO 6s4,si4,s45 pounds were in
1893. 1882 ,s45 pounds. On the other
hand the increase in exports of the
leading articles OF this character have
been equally striking. The exports OF
bar iron in 1855 were but 1.5os. i2s pounds
and In 1898 were I2.sos.s15 pounds. an
increase Of about 200 per cent; of cut |
nails our exports in 1883 were 11.sss,ssa
pounds and in 1898 were 32.S1o.ss3 |
pounds. while wire nails which in 1883 |
were 1.sl7o7s pounds were in 1898 o.
$4,000 pounds OF locomotive engines
we exported in 1883, s4o7.ol4 worth and
in 1898. ss.sss, ,7ls worth. OF wire our ex-
ports in 1855 were l2.7s4Is5 pounds and
IN 1885, 1osssi.s2l pounds.
The people Of all parts OF the world
seem 10 have developed liking for our
manufactures OF iron and steel; our
sewing machines hum In Africa. the
- zn4isA Colombia Cuba. Central J