New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-11
with due economy to secure the greatest beneht
70 the States wards.
IRON OUTPUT INCREASING.

Acoin the output OF pig iron increases ana AT
tho very season in which, on account of needed
r.roirs and the frequency Of labor troubles, pro
drct,on Is usually reduced. The statement or
"rbe Iron Age" makes the increase In weekly
ortnut from July to August only 4,3U9 tons,
and II is curious mistake to suppose that the
entire increase from the first to the last OF the
month wns realized in each week of 1t, so that
tho cain was four times as great. The Amer
con Manufacturers" of Pittsburg, makes the in
crea 90 between the same dates H. 154 TONS Dut
,b,s ia mainly because that paper reckons some
Sbenanpo furnaces, with n capacity or about
seven thousand tons, as idle on July l, though
they had been in operation until that day and re-
sured after a short lime. The two accounts
substantially agree as to the increase from June
I N August l. 1.-THE Iron Age" making 1t 1850
tons and "The American Manufacturer" 1888
TONS AS the latter journal estimated the output
for the first half of the year more accurately
than any other its figures are entitled to credit,
and II makes the output on August / no less
than 289, O32 tons weekly. which is 5S,744 tons,
or 27.S per cent, more than one year ago, and
l01. 1914 tons, or 6O.8 per cent, more than two
years ago
Such expansion in production by the most inn
II is probably safe 10 say could not be. In any
other country. Nothing like it has been realized
in this country except in circumstances such as
have existed during the last two years. In 1897
this and other great industries were still suffer
ing from the prolonged depression caused by the
Democratic tariff Of 1894, and had just been as
sured of new prosperity and progress under the
present tariff which went into force at the end
% hau eyix ohttr-
dant proof of the power of protective duties to
stimulate home industries, and It is especially
worth noticing that the increase has been forced
I'm the most legitimate and natural way, by the
wonderful enlargement of demand which has re-
suited from the Improvement of business In all
directions Other industries, assured Of defence
and of the larger markets which plenty Of labor
at good wages always brings, have required
more building and machinery, mechanics have
required more tools, transporting has required
more rails and cars and bridges, lake and ocean
vessels and wharves, and thus it has come TO
pass that although the output has increased COS
per cent in two years it is still uncertain
whether 1t had quite overtaken the consumption
on August !.
THE Iron Age" shows that unsold stocks Of
anthracite and coke iron further decreased IA 800
tons In July, which is almost exactly the guam
tity lost by stoppage Of several Shenango fur
naces But for that interruption the production
would seem 10 have about equalled the con-
sumption IN that month, though 1t Is remarked
with truth that the consumption was somewhat
retarded by the scarcity Of materials. On the
other hand purchases by consumers in advance
Of their immediate needs were certainly much
stimulated by the prospect Of serious def
cheney and It is not improbable that such buy
ing exceeded the decrease in actual consumption
which resulted from scarcity OF pig iron. There
Is mt least lack of evidence that the production
during the last half OF July was not fully equal
in the aggregate 10 the consumption Of pig, and
the course Of markets as respects prices indl-
Gated but little II any excess Of demand after the
middle of July Since August 1. moreover, 1t Is
known that some additional furnaces have gone
into operation, while others Of large capacity
will be added before long. There Is fair ground
for the belief. as was stated some days ago, that
there need be no further fear Of scarcity Of iron,
provided the supply Of ore is not interrupted
Nor have recent events sustained the fears then
felt In some quarters. Vigorous efforts to insure
n larger supply Of ore have already brought
practical results in some quarters, and will soon
bring similar results in others.