New-York tribune., 1899-06-22
TILE IRON USING NATIONS.

That the iron using nations have large IN
1uence in this age Of iron and steel Is not sur
prising But not many are aware how great a
part OF the worlds entire consumption or iron
and steel is by less than twelfth OF the pop
ulation All know that natural resources and
high development in particular branch or
manufacture have given TO Great Britain and
the United States q large share Of the pro-
duction In 1898 this country produced 1888
per cent Of the iron made in the world. and
Great Britain 2447 per cent The United
States produced 1914 per cent of all the steel
and Great Britain 10 per cent, gross tons being
used for all countries and not metric tons for
some, as in most accounts. In 1866 all the
world produced less than the United States
produced last year by 100000 TONS and this
country then produced only 10000 tons more
than Germany. each about an eighth Of the
worlds output Twenty years ago the British
output was 454S per cent, and that OF the
United States 1910 per cent Of the whole, with
a German output of 1906 per cent. Now Great
Britain and the United States yield 57.S5 per
cent Of the whole and Germany 2014 per cent.
But production may be mainly a matter Of
good fortune In having ample supplies OF ore
and fuel. If It is only work done for the use
and even creditable and in a way gives power.
But consumption by a nation within Its own
borders and for its own development means
something very different The nation which
produces tools and machines, war vessels and
guns railroads and engines, for the benefit Of
other nations is an excellent servant without
doubt. but one which produces and has need
for the greater quantity of all these things in
| md for ntnra md dafQ
is likely to be master If the various nations
were all equally civilized and advanced in their
industries there would be some measure of
| correspondence in their consumption Of iron
In proportion to population. But the United
States and Great Britain are using for their
own requirements more iron than all the rest
| Of the world produces and adding about a
seventh of the entire output TO make up the
deficiency outside.
An exact statement in quantities Of the iron
and steel worked into the machinery and other
manufactured forms exported is impossible as
the greater part OF such exports Is reported
only In value by the United States or by Great
Britain. But by observing the known weights
of some articles. such as locomotives and Other
| engines and machines. and the relation OF
ascertainable consumption OF iron in Other
manufactures to the value OF their products.
close approximation can be made Thus ths
census shows the quantity OF iron consumed
in the production Of many kinds Of machiner,
and the relative value Of that material at tn,
price Of pigiron then prevailing to the tota
value Of products The details would occup,
much space. and are scarcely necessary
suffices to say that careful computation baset
ON such data indicates that TO the known ton
mage OF British exports OF iron and it's product
less imports, 2,655,942 tens last year, must h
added about S41,369 tons for pig-iron consumes
In manufactured exports. less Imports Of whlcl