Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-04
IRON AND STEEL EXPORTS TO THE
CLYDE

.@<~.
CLYDE
FROM the Glasgow Herald it is learn
ed that the sensational incident of the
week in the iron market was the re-
puted sale of quantity of American
steel ship plates for consumption on
the Clyde. The Glasgow papers pre-
fer to cast doubt upon the incident
when in all probability the certainty
OF the sale could have been established
if desired
The same paper notes further: Our
imports not only of American pig iron
but also of American steel billets in
1897 were considerable and mark the
beginning of new era in the iron and
steel trade. 1t is possible enough that
the extent of these imports has been
exaggerated for market purposes. 1t
has, for instance, been the current Cos
sip of the trade that 100. 900 tons of
American pig were imported into Liv-
erpool last year. but, as a matter of
fact, according to the Board of Trade
returns, our entire imports Of manu-
featured iron Gncluding bars, bolts and
angles) were only 6S,139 tons, and of
unwrought steel 39,9SS tons Never
theless American pig and unwrought
steel continue to come to us-pigs
alone at the rate of from 5000 to 5000
tons per month since the year opened
At the present moment we seem to be
at the dividing of the ways The con-
sumption of pigs in the States has not
overtaken the supply, and the produc-
ton of finished material is still ahead
of the demand. This would explain
the exports of both crude and finished
material to Great Britain at this june
ture without being indicative of any
thing revolutionary in the trade. Men
OF experience in the iron trade are,
however, of the opinion that American
iron has come to stay, and will con-
tinue to come to us in one form or an
other according to the circumstances
of the monochrome of which, OF
course will always be freights 1t
may be taken for granted that in the
present conditions of production here
American pigs cannot be brought
across to compete with Scotch or Eng
fish pigs except when conveyed as a
nominal ballast freight. Yet there is
nothing to prevent the shipment of
American pigs in the ordinary way of
business to other countries heretofore
accustomed to get their supplies of pig
iron from us. However we may look
at it. America is now permanently in
the international market as compe-
titor for the supply of iron and Steel"
Our consins across the water die
hard While admitting that iron
United States are arriving on
the Clyde in increasing quanti-
ties, they are loath to attribute it to
the fact that the American article can
be made and placed on the Scotch mar
ket at less than the home figures, ex-
cept from unnatural conditions one of
which is "over production on this
side: another when conveyed at a
nominal ballast freight" They are,
however, compelled to freely admit
and that is a distinct gain-that
America is now permanently in the
international market as competitor
for the supply of iron and steel
English prejudice against foreign
goods competing in her home markets
is proverbial 1t is natural. and born
from the fact that she has held a mo-
nopoly of her own markets from the
date Of their creation, and belief that
it was impossible for any other coun-
try to disturb the ownership. But she
is acquiring realizing sense that that
day is past Germany first opened her
eyes. The United States is close on
Germany's heels, and it's fair sur
mise that the time is not far remote
when the United Kingdom will be re-
ceiving many lines of our manufactur-
ed products with the same freedom as
our whea.. cotton, tobacco and other
raw materials.
During the past few years the Amer
lean manufacturers have been unremit-
ting in their efforts to push their
wares into the English market. Their
energy and industry have been we'll
directed and has been gradually bear