The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-29

NEW ORLEANS, Jan 29.-Tbe iron pro-
duetion Of the United States will be in
creased very materially this year by the
debris Of war exported from Cuba 20 the
United States. Several hundred thousand
tons Of Cuban iron have already been ship
ped here. most Of it the wreckage OF the
war. The junk market is likely to be pro
Nided with the stuff, most OF which was
intended to be used against Americans.
IL is one OF the anomalies and surprises
Of war that the immense store OF shot
and shell which the Spaniard accumuiat-
. ed in Cuba for the subjugation OF the ma
uves and the annihilation Of the Ameri-
cans should at last find its way 10 this
country TO be made into plows and other
agricultural implements Il is but an
other version Of the Roman adage OF
turning the sword into a reaping hook.
number OF American dealers in iron
convinced from what they saw in The
newspapers that there must be a large
amount OF old iron in Cuba. as the result
or the destructive war there. sent agents
there to buy up such iron as they could
find The result exceeded expectations
Cuba was literally full OF junk and with
enough old iron TO keep a dozen foundries
at work
a single purchaser from Ohio. A. o. SAY
Ter. found no difficulty m buying up and
shipping away over 81 600 tons Of old iron
and steel. 7 he bulk Of this was deDrls of
the war. or rather Of the Old military sys-
TEN In Cuba. In Moro and Cabanas for
tresses for instance. Mr. - yIer purchased
no less than 1900 tons OF cannon balls.
They were obsolete projectiles. the old
fashioned. round solid shot intended Tor
the antique muzzle-loading guns Many OF
them had been in the fortresses for dec
AIDES. probably for a century or more piled
M in the old fashioned pyramitaI form.
they were really junk. Of no value in
modern warfare, and the authorities we're
glad 70 get rid Of them at bargain counter
prices They were shipped 20 American
foundries and will be made into stoves
and pots and pans.
Next in Importance TO the fortresses as
iron mines we're the sugar plantations.
There is always a great deal OF junk on
thcm as improvements In sugar machinery
induced the planters 10 get rid Of Their Old
presses and buy new ones. The war in
creased this junk, for the CUbaus asd
Spaniards burnt hundreds CT sugar houses.
leaving behind ony the iron
ar. Sdylcr says that each sugar house
yielded several thousand tons Of iron
Much Or this vas conveyed TO Havana ard
exported to the United States. but no. one
quarter OF what could have been obtained.
me chief dlHCulty being the lack OF trans
portatiou and the difficulty Of getting the
iron 60 the railroad b. which il could be
taken 20 market. The iron brings little
and ma many cases the owners OF planta-
uCns we've willing 20 h give away TO any
one who would remove Il. Even when en-
the railroad the iron can be purchased al I
from $3.50 to - = ton
Next In Importance 20 the plantations as /
a source OF old iron are the three military
irochas built across the island by General 4
Neyier- They are now disIantled. and /
are yielding a large quantity OF railroad |
iron. most Of which is being shipped TO /
the United States The blockhouses erect
ed along the line Of the trOchas and the i
railroads also contain good deal q Cd I
iron. several or them being entirely mated 4
ard made irOuClad with old railro,d iron
which projected the Spanish soldiers with !
in an bullets.
II purchase OF iron in Cuba and lis
snipment &c the United States has TEN
p0rarily ceased, because the marketing q 4
the sugar crop is keeping the railroads aud 4
he teamsters and leaders generally busy.
bat 10 VII! begin again in The spring as 4
.con as all the crops are marketed. AID /
In spite OF the large amount Of iron ex-
ported from Cuba. the supply there Is said
10 be scarcely touched The island has
been accommodating old iron for a couaIe .
OF centuries. and, being withcu, Toundries (
l- mas no market or sale for H.