New-York tribune., 1900-10-13

There are other nations TO be mentioned such as
Austria Hungary AID Belgium, each Of which pro-
duces million tons. and Sweden, whose output is
half a million. But the fact Of primacy n
pig iron production which the steel industry de-
pends directly. has the utmost significance for this
country at home and abroad We are also the
greatest consumers Of our iron and steel products
The development OF a domestic consumDuve ca
pacity has been a feature of the National policy
toward the iron and steel trade. 1t has been fol-
lowed by the growth Of a National demand
equaIled BY any other. The volume of demand thus
developed has resulted in that gradual reduction in
the cost OF production which has brought this
country fully equipped 10 enter the worlds mar
kets level with the best Of her rivals, Her
position in the worlds markets is therefore not
ephemeral but enduring. because It is based on
highly developed and rapidly charging home mar
ker such as no other nation enjoys
The growth Of the steel industry is next taken up,
and the transition from the iron TO the steel age
is Indicated by the subst uton Of steel rails for
United States hold supremacy, because of her pro
ouctng almost ~ per cent OF the %9LlGs $ stee OUT
Germany q per cent. No other nation converts so
does OF the worlds pig output, 5000 600
70 per cent is made into steel whereas this coun-
amounting uniting 10 o55s5 tons out 6 The worlds total
output OF Zl'Lovo tons: me Gnltea 9ta'eS Is liie
single city having consumed l505 tons in year for
ing required 10000 OF steel to meet its yearly
contracts IN 1873 aoout one-taIro oI our pig % Ip9n
was made into rails. put since that daIe steer rams
have ceased be the chief form of steel production
@ So4 be 'Co consmDoE 81 mi Of Steel per CAPITA for
other rail in 1879 1914 pounds; in 1889.
other than rail uses Of steel have developed IN
In our iron and steel trade with foreign countries
covering the last twenty years our position has
been exactly reversed Within the last i've years
have actually changed from an importing into
exporting nation. In 1850 we imported five times
products Nov we export six times the value IF
our iron and steel imports. Ihese exports IL g l59o
aggregated Sl2Ls5S,SA thus ranking next 70 Dread-
stQffs. GOTTEN and proyisloHs the [AIee hg4eF r IA
twenty-one classes, valued at from SLV"vo 20 81
These facts give the iron and steel trade an
economic outlook such as has never before peeA
attained. While Great Britain and Germany are
stil leading us as exporters OF iron and steel OF
certain classes our experience at home in adapting
machinery ano implements ao otlr Lorts % @ sLT
tory has prepared US TO adapt our products 70 the
conditions of climate and the wants OF consumers
the world over. We have prosPeTed hitherto by
reason Of the high efficiency Of labor, by the su-
periorty of our Industrial organization ana py CON
unuous progress in technical invention But otner
ti @ uL oT ne bo5s and making
models Of our machinery and tools, in order 10
Prussia and Bavaria France and England all i'm
port our railway engines only to pick Out tnSlC
excelences and then incorporate these into the
next types TO be made At nome. The policy oI the
Iuiufe must take lns Iaet mo aGCount. anu 0 ~
productive processes at home, a systematic study
IRON ' and steel Prod9ots a6foad and more cond
crate cultivation OF the consumer than has nj h
erto been the case. With proper exceptions con
surners have heretofore bought products
thelf merits Wltnout sociLaLion from Us, pue a.
into their makes our position be secured
methods in which the commercial and the con
realize our readiness to meet their Conditions with
e superior product. Hence, the main problem OF
the American iron and steel trade is now. in
dustrial nor financial, but commercial. Our pig
iron trade with Europe. for example is limited by
the quantity Of bottoms offered 1t as ballast IN cot
ton cargoes Everywhere; TOO, our foreign trade
Tfves our greatest commercial needs as has been
well said, ships and schools.