The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-19

OF cOurss. this means that producers q
American iron and steel have found neW
and lAr4ef outlets for their material II
other Industries than railway building.
One outlet may now ~ accounted tho
making Of steel rails for export Foe
American steel rails are now being sup
piled on contract TO British India RnssfAA
Asia Che Trans Siberian iine}. the West
Indies. Nova Scotia and Canada Kensr~
ally. south Africa. Hawaii. and even Ire.
land. In one month last year the two
largest steel rail companies are said -
have booked between them no leno than
half miilion tons, the larger proppruon
Of which was for export. Ner - tneD saxs
priang. for prices In America under the
stress Of constantly expanding campeeS-
toni have been COMING down a. they hare
been notnx m In Europe. Thus. In usk
the pr1ce a. steel rails wAs - pr ia -
the United States. Is los in Germany an0
e ffs "a In Great Britain. In ISL IL
currsnt prices were Es lSs In the Unite9
States. IS - In Germany and ~ u -
In Great Brftain. Tho reduction In AMers
lea II not due to competition alone. buy
largely 70 tho reduced cost OF mafertAA
and greater economy In production.
II is Of course. the reduced cost az pro-
ducttoa that has given America chance
in foreign markets that shs never has
before The surpius OF many American
manufacturers has been often enough
dumped into foreign countrias-espS-
caaily CanaSaa--in order TO relieve tho
hons markets. But the business now D.
Ing done b. Americans in iron and steex
cannot be regarded ~ Of the dumping
character They are cuitsvAting an expora
trade. and with such success that In the
year ending June 80 last the exports %
raw and manufactured iron and steel
amounted TO S70.3S.Ns. as against. MI
<efE9 In the previous year These ex-
ports consisted OF -. So tons OF pig iron.
2ss6sa tons Of railway iron. AsH tons og
iron wire, e0i96 tons OF scrap iron- 0sS
tons Of structural iron and l&i tons %
steel biliets and ingots, The total guam
THY OF all sorts sent to Great Britain wAs
l5coOo tons. and nearly all the rest was
sent 10 countries accustomed hitherto 70
buy from us. In the nine months ending
September % the exports OF steel ralto
amounted to ., so tons. valued At -
oS7 These figures compare with &.ssS tons
and 8. sal 7M In the corresponding portion
OF 1857. and with 5.ssi tons and His.i@ ID
the corresponding part OF l&s.
The largest buyers OF the Increases
quantity have been Canada and Japans
and IL ID well to remember that u w1s
stated In parliament last session that the
lowest tenders for rails for the supply %
the Indian railways were American. ~
to Japan which used to get all her rails
from us. we note the following In spe-
cial report by Mr.. Lyon. United States
consul at Hiogo: In 1898 the United
States exported to Japan only little
more than one-sixth N much railway iron
a. England did: but in 1897 very notable
increase took place from the United
States In such shipments. and exportA-
tions from the two countries stood thuss
Great Britain, ts1o0ei. United 0tatees
80, "a Al this rate another year VIII
show the United States 10 have lett Ito
competitor In this export far behind"
That may or may not be: but the eaor-
nous advantage possessed by the unite0
States In the coming market for railway
iron In China II an important factor IN
the development OF production now taking
place. That development has gone on TO
steel ship plates. which are now being
shipped to this country for shipbuiiding.
The point NE have sought TO hiring QUE
n that America has now 80 developed her.
iron ana steel Industries that she must
find fresh outlets for her products Such
outlets she IL finding. an we believe with
profit, In foreign markets for certain pro
ducts. For other products. however. abe
will need to create q new shipbuiidtng IN.
dustry OF her own. and what has been
done or IL being done in that connection
we must reserve for future examinations.
No ,houghtful man. acquainted with The
American character, who considers t&o-
situation. can fall TO perceive that the
greatest competition to be faced by Brit
ish industry and enterprise In the future
Is that OF American shpSuiidinx. II may
be deferred few years, but II - bouno
TO come