New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-16
CHEAP IRON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST.

An incident just reported by The Iron Age"
may lead to important consequences on the Pa
cific Coast That region has been for years pc
culiarly dependent the East for light and
heavy hardware, agricultural Implements rail-
way and bridge material. and everything else
composed mainly of steel iron Retail deal
ers in California, Oregon and Washington have
at times felt sore over this fact. Between
what they regarded the exactions of the Eastern
Jobber and the heavy transportation tax of the
railroads, the hardware merchants of the Golden
Gate and Puget Sound thought themselves sadly
oppressed. Relief was not to be had appar-
emily, from England Distance and the tariff
precluded hope IN that quarter. IT, however. on
the western slopes Of the Rockies abundant
supply Of iron could be discovered the situation
would be considerably altered.
The prospect Of absolute independence in
this respect, though still remote Is certainly
bettered by a combination of facts that have
just come to light It is asserted that in South
western Utah, not more than three hundred
miles from Los Angeles. a large quantity OF
iron ore has been found. 1t is not free from
phosphorus that obtained in the vicinity Of
Lake Superior; but the percentage is reported
to be small. According to THE Iron Ages" adj
vices, the can be taken out very easily and
cheaply Coal that be made into good
quality Of COKE and the limestone also needed
for reducing the ore, close at hand The ex-
istence of these deposits was known months ago
TO energetic prospectors; but development has
been delayed by negotiations between the own
of valuable claims there and the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company, which wanted to work
the mines A lease has been effected by
that corporation, with a stipulation that from
10000 to 10000 tons shall be taken out year
ly 1t is reported that an English syndicate,
having good financial backing, has also OBJ
tanned a foothold in the region. 1t is
credited with intention to build road direct
to the Pacific Coast. However, the Colorado
folks need to construct only ninety miles Of road
to complete connections with Pueblo, their
headquarters and it is said that the Oregon
Short Line and Rio Grande already making
extensions that will pass much nearer to Iron
Mountain.
Pittsburg was not built in a day. The iron
and steel industry OF the Pacific Coast must be
developed gradually Before 1t is well estab-
lished the Nicaragua Canal may be accom-
plished fact. Freight rates from one coast to
the other would then be reduced, no doubt. But
the manifest advantage of having a supply or
raw material close at hand would not be lost al
together 1t would only be reduced. Utah may
become another Alabama. And brains, capital
and enterprise would seize the opportunity af-
forded by a supply of cheap iron to convert the
metal into scores of different articles that are
demanded by the people of that part of the
country. The construction and operation of
hundreds of factories on or near the coast will
certainly follow the successful production of
iron in Utah. 1t must not be forgotten that
Montana and Arizona, which already furnish
more copper than Michigan, are nearer to the
Pacific seaboard than to the Atlantic; and II the
former be furnished with cheap iron also. i'm
mense manufacturing results may be expected
Within half a century the manufacturers OF
this country-practically all OF them here in the
East-have three distinct victories. First,
they almost completely excluded from the do
nestle market the European producer. Next,
they successfully invaded countries whose trade
Europe once monopolized-Egypt. China and
Japan to say nothing OF South America Final
ly they secured a footing in the very homes Of
their rivals England, Germany and France.
The transmontane region of the United States
is likely to repeat at least a part OF this pro-
gramme That 1t will in time achieve complete
independence in the manufacture of metals one
can scarcely doubt 1t is hardly less probable
that 1t will compete with the East some day in
Japan, China and Australia. And 1t is not alto
gether impossible that before the close of an
other century California will sell New-England
jaokknives cheaper than the latter make
them herself.