The suburban citizen., 1900-03-31
WASHINGTON, D. c., SATURDAY. MARCH 81, 1900.
SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT.

The South, which during the past three OF
four years has held such notable position
In the history of the iron world Is showing
no tendency to lose any Of It's prestige, The
rather, 1t is assuming even greater import
ance In calculations about the demands and
the means to meet them In the future. This
fact is constantly being brought home to
students OF the situation In this country and
abroad. IL Is recognized and noted with
emphasis in this weeks issue Of the Manu-
iacturers' Record by Mr.. Stephen jeans, OF
London, one Of the world-authorlties on the
subject, and for many years Secretary Of
the British Iron and Steel Institute. He re-
views In an elaborate article the outlook OF
possible supplies of material in European
and American fields. discusses the relative
importance OF Bessemcr and basic ores, and
in conclusion says;
ITO those who possess iron-ore properties,
or whose manufacturing and general indus
trial interests are bound up in the Southern
States. il should be a matter Of satisfaction
to know that the future Is likely to have In
store a vast increase OF demand for the ores
Of which Alabama, Virginia. Kentucky and
Tennessee possess such great stores--those
especially suited for the basic-steel industry.
1t Is probable that in respect OF such sup
plies the South does not possess any specia!
advantage over the Mesaba range, but the
South does possess the unquestionable ad'
vantage OF having the ores and the fuel in
juxtaposlton, while the Mesaba ores are
nearly thousand miles from the most con.
verlent coal field, and are, moreover, much
farther from tidewater than the chief de-
poslts OF the South. If this means any.
thing, It surely points to the fact that the
South could hardly 60 wrong in throwing
spirit and enterprise into the development of
its basic-steel industry, which, in all conn
tries alike, Is so likely to become the steel
business par excellence Of the future.
1T may reasonably be expected that be-
fore 1 close this article / should attempt to
offer some suggestions as to the probable
future Of demand and prices. This, how
over is risky undertaking, and do not claim
TO be any wiser than my friends and neigh
bors, although my business for quarter
Of a century has been to watch anc
record the movements OF the trade In differ.
ent countries. Rather more than two
months Of the year 1900 have already passed
into history. During those two months, so
far as the figures are at command, the out
put Of pig iron has been considerably larger
than that OF the corresponding period Of last
year. In the United States the rate OF pig
iron output has been nearly 800, 900 tons
year In excess OF 1899. In Great Britain the
increase Of output has been at the rate Of
fully 25o, 900 tons over 1899, and in Germany
and Belgium the advance has been quite
equal to that OF the first two months OF 1899.
No ono anticipates that the total make Of
pig iron in 1900 will be under that Of the
previous yeaE vsNy Ss-D pAsssiA- NEBe-'N"Ihat
before the end OF the current year tnere VIII
bo any material slump in prices. On tho
other hand, there is no general expectation
that tho prevailing boom will be continued
at It's present level much beyond the current
year. It must be overlooked that II has al
ready lasted longer and has assumed greater
dimensions than any previous period OF
prosperity. In Europe It began in the year
1896, so that before the end OF 1900 II will
have had life OF about Ave years, which is
about twice the duration OF the previous
booms Of 1924, 1s79-sl and 10000. II is
no doubt true that every boom has its own
special genesis, and Is to a large extent
law Nnto itself. That law. In the present
case, may be summed up in three words
armaments, electricity and sanitation.
These shibboleths are still prominently to
the front, and appear likely to remain 80.
The number Of minor demands Is legion, and
they are all pressing their claims so that
there Is really good cause to suppose that we
have reached permanently higher stand
ard OF iron and steel demands and OF higher
prices. In Europe, at any rate, It Is not an
tlcipated that iron ores, coal and coke will
again be so low In price as they have been.
II the United States can continue to supply
these commodities in the future rs Cheaply
as they we're supplied up to about a year
ago--well, so much the better for the United
States"