The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-31
AMERICAN IRON IN AUSTRALIA
The Consul General at Melbourne
sends in.rInformatIon.


sends iB.1InformatIOn.
John T. Bray. the United States Consul
General at Melbourne. in a communica-
uon 10 the state department says that
owing 10 numerous complaints made to
that consulate regarding the quality Of
bar iron shipped from this country 70 the
Australian States NJ requested informa-
ton on the subject from the leading i'm
porters Of the country Mr. Bray encloses
the following reply received by him from
one of the largest iron dealers in Mel
bourne:
The abnormal rise in the price Of Brit
ish bar iron at the beginning Of the year
1900 furnished the opening for the intro
duction Of American iron 10 the Austral-
ian market There had been several par
GELS previously imported TO this country,
which had given modified satisfaction, but
the Importation was limited. and the few
tons were not relied upon as indicating the
average quality and finish OF American
iron. The various agents of American roll
ing mills speedily became alive TO the fact
that the British prices were go ton in
excess Of the American, and very large
business resulted, as the Australian i'm
porters readily embraced the opportunity
Of buying understandable bars at a figure
which would leave them large profit.
The American prices continued 10 fall
owing 10 internal competition. and orders
were diverted from the markets OF Great
Britain 10 those Of the United States.
The American rolling mills missed
their chance. and instead Of doing all in
their power to secure the business Of the
Australian merchants for future require
ments, evinced little interest in the or
ders they received. took their own time
for delivery, and, instead Of giving at
tentiOn to the oversee demand, cOnsid-
cred the home trade, which was already
secured, first They failed in every in
stance 10 comply with methods adopted
by British eXpOTters-and followed their
own Will 10 their ultimate disadvantage.
To add TO the trouble thus created, the
agents Of the various New York shipping
firms, anxious TO secure freights and
knowing little and caring less of the quail
ity of the bars shipped. based their cost
freight, and insurance price on the cheap
est rate for any quality Of iron, and OBJ
tanned large orders from Australian I'M
porterS, the bulk OF which mas gwen
great dissatisfaction. The result Is that
the American bar iron IS not liked in
Australia, its want OF popularity being
entirely due to the Indifference Of the
American manufacturers
There are three qualities Of American
bar iron. namely. ordinary, refined, and
better quality still. The refined iron, If
carefully rolled and uniform IN quality,
viii meet ali the ordinary requirements
OF this market, but the United states
mills mixed their qualities, frequently
failed 10 brand their own Outturn, and
paid little attention to the finish Of their
rolls, so that faulty rolling gave great
inconvenience to the local manufacturers
OF implements and caused them 20 con-
denim all American iron One other
source Of trouble was that the tariff in
the United States for the making Of spe-
cial sizes was infinitely in excess Of the
British scale, and although some effort
was made to reduce this enormous dis
parity, a very wide difference yet re-
mains; consequently, no Australian i'm
porter has been able 10 gauge with ac-
cUTaCy the relative values Of the British
and American iron. and has given his in
huence In favor Of the former. and Brit
ish manufacturers seeing that there was
q likelihood Of the business going to
america, promptly reduced their prices.
Australian importers then endeayo red
70 repudlate their contracts on the per
Iectly legitimate grounds that the iron
was faulty, not in accordance with speci-
ficatiOns, and in many instances not iron
at al. but mid steel; which latter while
useful for many things. doe not answer
| all the purposes Tor which ordinary re-
fined bar iron is used in this county. One
I case was tried IN the Victorian courts.
and the judge gave a verdict against the
agent Of the American Company The
BeiElanS and Germans made an effort TO
capture the Australian markets, but OW-
]
/ ers, who sacrificed quality for the sake Of
a few francs or marks per ton their pro-
| auctions easily fell out of favor and very
little is now imported into this common
wealth.
There is one way in which the United
/ States may rehabilitate itself and
that is by holding large uOnsignmentS in
both Sydney and Melbourne. satisfying
the buyers that the American mills are
honestly anxious to meet the Australian
requirements. and meeting all British
and other foreign competition Strict 'n-
tegrlty must be observed in the fulfill
mout OF an contracts and IL every other
care Is taken, II is yet possible for the
nltet States 10 retrieve its position
and command these markets. and as the
trade Of the commonwealth viii increase
/ by leaps and bounds, fl follows that in
lew years the market here viii be
very solid factor TO be considered I'm the
VIII OF necessity have 70 be conceded. and
among them are the faultless rolling Of
all bars and the throwing out OF all bad
| ones. The tariff for extra sizes must
/ conform TO the British tariff. Bundles of
bar iron must be made ID I'm exactly IS
and ~ pounds. respectively where so or
drrtG, and the lengths must be within the
/ limits named. even If the exact weights
| have TO be made up with small pieces
| This Is necessary 70 AVOID weighing each
bundle There viii have 20 be strict uni
/ formiJy in stocks, and prices must be
/ kept within the limits Of the British
I rates Given these conditions. and large
! stocks held in stores in Melbourne and
| SNGney IN the hands Of a responsible rem
reSentatVe. concessions I'm TRANSPORT TO
| other and smaller States. and uniform
quality and rolling guaranteed. there will
/ be an opportunity for the United States
/ 70 obtain the trade and control the mar
] kfaf 10 trial Han Tvn