New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-23
cIB1 AND TIE IRON INDUSTRY.


Not mprobably the balance Of power In one
OF the worlds great industries may depend
much upon the result of the war with SPAN.
Already the United STATES has invaded Win
some success almost every market i'll the worid
for iron and steel products. proving It's aDiIi'y
Ia undersei producers of other countries ID!
shipments Of i';S.S9O tons OF pigron III the
fiscal year 1891 Of which England, Grrinahy'
ITALY, France and Belgium took in The order
named the larger part: of steel bars. 4G'oo tons
mainly to Great Britain. Canada. Belgium ana
France: Of locks. hinges and other builders
hardware. 81, IL. SIG worth. sent to almost every
land: of machinery, about S21,mo.OOo worth 10
almost every country; Of nails about lSo"
tons. sent 10 nearly every land; of iron ana Ste'
plates, about 300 tons. mainly to Canada'
McXico and Great Britain: Of steel rails. lO'E'l
tons mainly to Japan. Mexico and Canada; OF
saws. scales and stoves. S3.iOO.W~ worth. 10
all lands: of wire. 5000 tons, largely to B"1t-
ish Africa Australia. Brazil. Argentina. Mex
leo Canada. Great Britain and Belgium, ana
If other manufactures of iron 80, 1000 worth
mainly Ia Canada and Mexico But this sue
cess has been achieved In the main by works
shipping from Chicago. PIfiSburg or Tenncs
see with long and costly transportation to The
scaboard.
What will happen when American enterprise
and capital can freely and safely develop the
mines of cuba plnclng the ore by cheap water
transportation AZ works on the Nlanti" Coast
Something has been done already. for there
were shipped from cuba 10 this country In III"
fisca. year 1891 ~ less than 3.2,o4s tons. iii"
average cost being only 81 II a ton. In the
calendar year 1871 even more was done The
Juragua and SpanSh-Amcrican companies
shipped 10 the United States 45i1I7 tons. 10
the works which own the mines ana have built
the little roads necessary To move the ore 10
wharvc, The war has practically broken
up the business this year. although in the first
three months the Spanish American Company
shipped n larger quantity In proportion IMAM
In 1891 Of the excellence ~ This ore for Steel
making the Bethlehem and Pennsylvania steel
companies can bear witness. but better yet
the powerful war-hlps which hav" been show
ing what some OF the steel j. worth In Biiquiri
and Santiago bays. the very points whence the
ere came The deposits are said 10 he 'nor-
/ nous ard the cost ~ the ore already much
bclov that Of any other good strclnakinS ore
delivered n important works. would be- ma
tcrialy reduced 10y the development which
American enterprise and management would
/ bring with safety and peace under American
control Then on wha; terms would American
producers close 10 the scacoasf be- prepared 10
compete with those OF other countries
cuba could not maintain ana would no' de-
Sire Independence except with The protection
~ and on The closest relations with the United
States. Whether a majority ~ her people VIII
ever prefer Independence To annexation remains
- be- seen. But In any ease III" island must
4
no lnconsiiernble time after Spanish cvacua-
il0n In any case. too. the United STATES VIII
need a coallns station and base OF supplies in
that island. aud 10 other can be- found which
would be- more easily rendered mpregnable
against Ill the world than Santiago. whence
the supplies Of ore mainly come Guantanamo.
Just beyond the iron deposits. j. also n port Of
almost unrivailed advantages for a naval base.
| II Is not Improbable that this Nation may
cure permanent occupation and control OF these
ports and the ncghborhood. but for years. at
all events. It will maintain authority there
With mis- prospect the Industrial develop
mcnt ~ the Santiago iron region il likely 10
he rapid The great deposits. from which over
100000 tons were taken la, year could with
the expenditure which security now invites
caslly ship many times much What other
! deposits II valuable ore may be- found in that
region can only be- surmlscd. but enough can
certainly he taken Jnt 10 render AZ least two
powerful companies capable of competing in
! fhe iron and steel markets In almost every part
J Of the world. The results TO the trade of this
| Nation and others may be- greater than any
aniicipate The ore delivered M wharycs di-
rectly before the furnace AT Sparrows Point.
| Baltimore. or NJ wharves In Philadelphia. will
not only provide guns and armor with which
the United States can defend her new pos
sessions hut will draw from foreign countries
| IN return for IN" labor of American working
! men. the profits needed 10 pay for an indcii-
mite future development and expansion of
mines and manufactures. insurlng more cffec-
tive competition in other l?nds. \ small frac-
ton Of one province In cuba may thus become
worth 10 the United States. To lis Industries
and It's workingmcn. more millions every year
than the capture OF Santiago has cost.