The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-27
PIG IRON.

PIG IRON.
The year 1899 marks the greatest era
in the production Of pig iron in the
history of the State, the increase over
1898 being s1,175,O1s gross tons, or near
ly 80 per cent, and the increase of 1895
being 2,516,64S gross tons, or 62.5 per
cent. Pennsylvania's production of c.
542,99S gross tons in 1899 was within
about 80 per cent. of the entire pro-
duction of Great Britain. The entire
production Of the United States. ac-
cording to figures furnished by the
American Iron and Steel Association,
was 13.62O,7O3 gross tons, an increase
over the production of Great Britain
of more than 46 per cent. These figures
are very significant when it is reflected
that in 1894, just five years ago, Great
Britain produced nearly 12 per cent.
more pig iron than was produced in the
United States, and that in 1899 her in
crease in production over 1894 was but
little over 25 per cent, while the in
crease on the part of the United States
was over 100 per cent. The value OF
Pennsylvania production of pig iron
for 1899 was close to hundred million
dollars, the realized value being $685.
2O3,S03. The average. number of days
of employment for 1899 was 327, being
thirty-eight in excess Of 1896. An av-
erage Of 15,347 workmen were employed
in the making of pig 4ron during 1899,
an increase over 1896 of 1867, or 325
per cent. The average earnings in 1899
for skilled and unskilled labor was
nearly one hundred dollars in excess of
1896, the average for 1899 being $495.1S,
and for 1896 but $396.3O. The average
daily wage was $1.51, an increase over
1896 of IA cents per day.
TINPLATE.
Pennsylvania had twenty-one black
plate works in operation during the
whole or part of 1899, eighteen of which
turned out timed production. The
total number of pounds of black plate
made was 36S,6OO,734, as against 1885,
306, 400 pounds in 1896, an increase Of
21O,2942 PA, or 1928 per cent. Pennsyl-
vanias increase in timed production
has been equally as satisfactory as her
increase in black plate. The aggregate
timed production for 1899 of the black
plate works and dipping works was
331, ,OS2734 pounds, as against 139,5SS, 703
pounds in 1896, an increase of 1872 per
cent.
Pennsylvania share of the entire
production of the United States of tin
and terne plate for 1899, which was
100000, was about 81 per cent. Com
pairing this production of the United
States for 1899 with the production of
1894, 166,349, 400 pounds, it will be seen
that the increase in the past five years
has been 724,656,591 pounds, or 435 per
cent. The number of workmen en-
ployed in the black plate works was
increased from 3,194 in 1896 to 1852 in
1899, an increase of 14O.5 percent Their
average daily wage was increased from
$3.50 in 1896 to $2.36 in 1899.
Black plate for timing was made
in eleven counties in 1899, Lawrence
county leading with 41.26 per cent. of
the entire productions of the state fol-
lowed by Allegheny with 1894 per cent.
Westmoreland with 1852 per cent. and
Washington with GIL per cent. The
remaining counties were under per
cent. The dipping works are confined
to Philadelphia, Allegheny and Mont
gomery counties, and their ratio is re-
spectively 6s.93 per cent, 1886 per cent.
and 7S1 per cent.