The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-03
THE STEEL COLOSSUS. II

FROM the New I DIX w OIAu.l
This is the true age OF iron Iron and
its products form the foundation and a
very large part of the superstructure OF
material civilization
What is the relation of this billion dol
lar steel colossus to the age Of iron?
The latest figures for the worlds prod
uct OF pig iron are 40. 100000 tons a year.
OF This France produces two and hall
millions. Germany eight millions. Great
Britain nine and half millions. tbs
United States just under fourteen mill
lions. That is. the United States pro
duces nearly one-third of all the iron.
To the worlds production of steel. q =
COZ, 600 tons, the United States contrib
utes 10,750.000 tons-considerably more
thaa one-third.
The Steel Colossus mines about so per
cent Of all the iron mined IN this couA-
try and is incomparably the largest own
er of iron mines and iron lands in tie
world. 1t could produce twice as much
iron as it does It produces 50 per cent
OF all the steel made in this country and
has the capacity to produce more than
11,090,00 tons a year at the very lowest
prices in the whole world.
The United States iron industry dorai-
mates the iron industry OF the world. Aid
the Steel Colossus is the United States
tron industry.
But is it far more than the largest iron
1nirer and maker Of pig-iron and of steel
biliets in the world-larger than all the
French and Germans together. larger
than all the French and British together,
with a greater capacity than all the Ger
mans and British together. It is also the
facturers of steel except machinery It
males every one Of the coarser kinds of
steel products. from rails and structural
iron to nails It even manufactures Iron
bedsteads.
It directly dominates the most extern
Elve lines Of steel production. It indI-
rectly dominates all the others through
its control Of pig-iron and steel billets
1t makes 70 per cent of the steel billets,
IS per cent of the heavy rails, so per
cent Of the street railway rails. IS per
cent Of the structural steel. so per cent OF
the steel plates IS per cent of the wire.
All the sheet steel. all the tubes.
But this is only part Of the story. The
Steel Colossus is also the greatest coal
miner in the world 1t mines annually
more than 50 million tons, chiefly fer its
own use In producing the heat necessary
to its multiform activities. It is the larg-
est manufacturer OF tin-plate in the
world, owning about 265 mills in the
United States and making practically
all our tln-plate. It IS the largest man
ufacturer Of coke. with about a hundred
coke works and upward Of $4,000 coke
ovens 1t is the largest manufacturer Of
gas IN the world. one Of the largest quar-
RES OF stone
It owns 1,00e miles Of railway. 1t Owls
great fleets of lake steamers, river steam
ers. sailing vessels and barges In addi-
ton to its vast coal and iron lands, it is
one Of the great owners of city and town
real estate 1t is the largest owner Of
houses. whether for manufacturing or
dwelling purposes. AS tens Of thousands
OF its employees live IN its houses or on
its ships and boats. and get their sup
plies from its stores. 1t ranks very high
as a dealer in groceries. furniture. clota-
ing. etc. etc.
such are few Indications Of the mu;-
titude and magnitude OF its products and
possessions