The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-10-03
M'KINLEY TIMES
In PENNSYLVANIA
Remarkable Prosperity in the
Steel, Iron and Tin Plate
Industries.
ENORMOUS INCREASE IN OUTPUT.
Omcinl Figures Showing the Great
Volume of business ana the Mark
ed Advance in Wages as Compared


ed Advance in Wages as Compared
with Record of Clevelnnd's Admin
istrRtion.
Pennsylvania has shared In the pros
perity that followed the election Of
William Mckinley to the presidency.
The extent to which the prosperous
times have benefited the citizens Of
this commonwealth is shown in the
records of the Office Of the bureau OF
industrial statistics.
The iron, steel and tin plate indus
tries of Pennsylvania have probably
been affected as favorably as any others
through the return of the Republican
party to power in Washington
1899 marked the greatest era in the
production of pig iron in the history Of
the state, the increase over 1898 being
1,175,019 gross tons, or nearly 80 per
cent, and the increase over 1896 being
2,516,64S gross tons, or 62.5 per cent.
Pennsylvania production of 6,542, ,998
gross tons In 1899 was within about 30
per cent OF the entire production of
Great Britain. The production of the
United States was 13,620,7O3 gross tons,
an excess over the production of Great
Britain of more than 46 per cent
GREAT BRITAIN LEFT BEHIND.
These figures are very significant
when it is reflected that in 1894, jus
six years ago, Great Britain produce
nearly IL per cent more pig iron thc
was produced in the United States
and that in 1899 Great Britain's in
crease in production over 1894 was but
little over rs per cent, while the in
crease on the part of the United States
was over 100 percent
The market value of Pennsylvania
production of pig iron for 1899 was
close to a hundred million dollars, the
realized value being 9S,2O3. 1903. AS
compared with 1898 the increase was
$44, ,S72, ,575, or S4.1 per cent. and as
compared with 1896 the increase was
$50, ,03l ,764, or 117.4 per cent
An average of 15,347 workmen were
employed in Pennsylvania in the max
ing Of pig iron during 1899, an increase
over 1896 of 3,767 or 1925 per cent.
The average earnings in 1899 for
skilled and unskilled labor was nearly
800 in excess of 1896 the average for
1899 being S4951s. and for 1896, $4,000.
Pennsylvania produced 6.4i6.l59
gross tons of steel of all kinds in 1899,
an increase of nearly SO per cent over
1896. The production of the United
States for 1899 was 1869 .857 gross
tons, and of Great Britain about 5000,-
900 tons. Pennsylvania consequently
produced over 60 per cent of the pro-
duction Of the United States and about
20 per cent more than Great Britain.
The increase In production of steel
in the United States for the past five
years has been l4l per cent while
Great Britain's increase has been but
about 55 per cent
The entire production of iron and
steel rolled into finished form In Penn
sylvania during 1899 was 7.O93.4S5 net
tons, an increase over 1896 of 3,336,415
tons, or nearly SO per cent.
The value of this enormous produc-
tion was $233. .377 .126, an increase over
1OJO VI Fllfo Z. .oOf, Ut ONtT 10 per Ctul.
LABOR WAS BENEFITED.
The number of workmen In 1899. In
dependent of those employed in the
rolling of black plate, was 69,9S2. an in
crease over 1896 of 16.4O9. or 30.6 per
cent.
The average earnings of the 69. .9S2
workmen. skilled and unskiIled, was
1859, as aRainst s444s9 in 1896. an In
crease of $l14.11, or 25.6 per cent.
Pennsylvania had 81 black plate
works in operation during the whole
or part of 1899. Of which 1S turned out
q timed production. 3GS soc, ,734 pounds
Of black plate were made, as against
1853. BOG 400 pounds in 1896. an increase
of 210. .294.24t pounds, or 1928 per cent.
Pennsylvania increase In timed
production for 1899 has been equally
as satisfactory as her increase in black
plate the aggregate OF the black plate
works and dipping works combined
being 331 ,0S2. .734 pounds. as against
139 5SS 703 pounds in 1896 an increase
of 1871 ,494 .031 pounds or 1872 per cent.
Pennsylvania share Of the entire pro-
duction Of the Tinted States of tin and
terne plate for 1899. which has been
placed at S9l 900 000 pounds was about
81 per cent Comparing this produc-
ton of the United States for 1899 with
her production in 1894, OF 66,343 400
pounds. II will be seen that the increase
in the United States for the past five
years has been 724,656,59l pounds, or
435 per cent.
The number of workmen employed
I'm the black plate works for 1899 was
1859. an increase over 1896 Of 4.4SS, or
140.5 per cent. and the average daily
wage for all workmen was 50 &c. an In
crease of Sc cents per day.