Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-14

ln1S SHOWS al tTObtUle lN'ltf-t W.
4,5OO.00O tons in 1899 over 1898. though
the ore and coke supplies may com
pei a retrenchment Of the present rate
of output. more especially In Great
Britain and Germany; aud the estimate
for 1890 is subject to many possible
notifications for that and other real
sons. 1t hardly needs that l should
point out that an advance OF snch mag
nitude in n single year is almost. ic MOI
quite, unprecedented in the history Of
the iron trade"
OPENING OF NEW MARKETS.
The present activity is attributed by
MIR. Jeans to the opening up of new
countries and the demands for railways
caused thereby the development of the
worlds mercantile marine, Including
ships of war; and the general revival
of industry and commerce following a
long period Of general depression. 1T
is due to the demands created he
SAYS. ''by and for the 9o.000 miles OF
railway built within the United States,
that the iron industry of to-day has
attained such colossal dimensions. As
1t has been in the United states, so is
1t likely to be in other countries; but
no two authorities are likely TO agree
as to.what is or should be the standard
of adequate railroad service. In the
United States there is one mile of rail
road for every nineteen miles OF area
and for every 500 inhabitants. If this
standard We're to be adopted through
out the world, there would he about A.
600 600 miles of railroad construction in
relation to population. Manifestly, these
are figures that possess only an aca-
demic interest, since the present extent
of the worlds railways is less than
$4,000 miles But they are none the
less suggestive Of the great work that
Is yet likely to be accomplished in slim
ulating civilization and commerce by
means OF railroad facilities. l; is doubt
ful whether there has ever been
time when more was being projected
or attempted in this direction than is
at the present time in progress. In
China, Japan. India and the Australian
Colonies in Canada. Brazil Peru ana
South and Central America generally.
in Siberia, South Africa and other parts
OF the great Asiatic and African Cont
nents, vast schemes of railroad enter
prise are being put into execution"
SHIPBUTLDINC TONNAGE.
1.-THE demand for shpbuilding tom
mage Of the most modern kind ana ma
val defences has been almost universal
within the last few years. and con
tnues with undated strength. The
increase Of the carrying trade of the
world. and the equipments entailed by
Its defence. may be expected to keep
up the demands on new and improved
tonnage to "a considerably higher level
than we have known in the past. Ship
building a feeder to the iron trade is
only second 10 railway construction.
The influences that contribute to orig
mate and maintain such II boom in the
iron trade as we now have probab bly,
increases in strength and volume from
period to period. ON the present occa-
sion they have been accentuated and
extended by mechanical advances that
are of worldwide adoption. such. for
example. as electric lighting plants.
electric railway and Industrial equip
ments''
After reviewing the cost Of IRON
making in Great Britain. and compar-
ing prices with former periods of ac-
tivity. pointing out the comparative
difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies
of suitable ores at a low cost, Mr.. Jean
In conclusion says:
EXCEPTIONALLY PROMISING
OUTLOOK.
ION the whole 1 regard the outlook
as exceptionally promising the whole
world over, and one that suggests the
likelihood of continuance of activity
in most branches OF the iron trade. II
demand should continue to get ahead