New-York tribune., 1901-12-16
STEEL PRODUCTION STRIDES.
IN a FEW YEARS THIS COUNTRY WILL
TURN OUT AS MUCH AS ALL
THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Iron and steel experts both in and out Of tho
United States Steel Corporation are confident that
when the figures for 1901 made up they viii
show that the United States is overtaking with
giant strdes all the rest of the world put together
in the production of iron and steel and that Dy the
end of 1902 this nation will producing 20,
Gc0Ooo tons year. against about 21.Oco.OS or
100000 tons for Germany. Great Britain Russia
France and Austria combined The experts say
that the United States is sustaining it's record Of
doubling it's production every years. and
conservative manufacturers predict that in this
nation will be producing double its output Of 1903.
which 13,7S901O tons
The fact that the production of iron and sfeei by
this country is beginning to approximate tnat on
the entire world outside will surprise the general
public and many of those in the trade The hslfres
which the iron already have at hand Justify
the statement that in the race for supremacy
Uncle Sans mines and mills Will soon De Erst.
with his rivals far in the rear that all their
production combined will not equal the rome
product
Archer Brown of Rogers. Brown & Co. extensive
producers of pig iron, has with others. been col
lecting data the years production, and IN an
swer to a request from a Tribune reporter he made
the following statement:
There has been marked change IN the iron s sl5aa-
tio III me iSSI I90a -, - fittte sborr
of 40O00,000 tons of which the United states sup
third. Great Britain came next with SS99Oee tons
Germany third with So20'lt tons tN1SSt a oo1 LII
and Belgium and Austria each with little over
were insignificant producers.
But the current year has witnessed great changes
great increase in the output in the United States.
European countries Ihe year 06o !Gd GSeS a & WITH s
country PRODUCING IN excess OF iCooJJ 10y 5 IONS yea
900 tons. and it is known that Russia france
ures for the wear are made up, il will likely be
found that the worlds production outside Of Amer
the new year making about 175C00O0 tons. It viii
Dont WeT our output of iron and Steel will equal
that of all the rest of the world -, rr..,
91a[G5 mas a FEM Years since records began 70 be
eDPns I'M & sS Ten Ig Years g ago S IT seemed ncrsdib that
we could go on that rate, and actually we de-
Vs4 6oW unforeseen If happens is5 will double the big
output of 1892 Those who take a broad view OF
afraid predict that history will repeat ttseif
States will double its output of iron in 1900 Q37Ss 600
tons). Personally. 1 firmly believe this. il vii;
plant North and South, and this increase win be
irregular in the future IL has been in the past
usually take up in three or four years the slack
Tbe @ cable dispatches give evidence almost daily
of the alarm of English and European iron makers
My opinion is that they are unduly alarmed IN
country largely expands it's business it must be at
the expense of their 1t seems 1npoSSlnle Tor
an English or German fnancier or business man to
appreciate the possibilities of expansion on the
American continent itself My own belief often ex-
pressed, is that the conquests of our American
of iron and steel VIII not De N
Europe or Great Britain, but will be IN the Dig
world outside The events Of the last year tend 70
confirm this view. German and English prices have
had sharp decline, and are now so low that
America could not hope TO compete with them at
home unless prosperous fabric should also
break down. That do not regard as a posS1-
bility in the early future. The Germans and Eng
rails bfIIets, plates and heavy material, but the
United States will continue to export the higher
finished forms where the ingenuity and skill or
American labor express themselves.
do not consider the falling off in exports OF iron
and steel as compared with year ago surpris-
tage of an inflated condition of Continental and
English trade and the fiat conditions OF home
trade to pump into those markets large snip
rents of material. and frightened the makers over
have been suffering from since English iron e
selling low to-day that it could be imported into
America in large quantities, paying fair rates OF
freight but for tariff. Middlesboro No IS
selling 80 80 at tide, and be laid DOWN
at American ports for about So 90, which but for
the d1Ity would be So a ton under current home 1s-
ures. Germany IS actually shipping US quite large
quantities of material I have mail adv1ceS Just
in from Westphalia. confirming the cable report
asst week of 900 tons of German hemate, or Bes
semer pig sold for shipment to the United states
While exports of iron and steel last year were
heavy and were important factor in supporting
our trade in the slump preceding the natonaI eec-
tion nevertheless the whole movement was scarce
ly per of total business and, as near as
/ can gather, holding One-half or thai, Sc a
that after all. the loss are dealing with IS not
more than 8 per per cent OF the whole
This is taken up many times by the expansion
Of trade at home That expansion seems TO pe on
thoroughly sound and legitimate lines. and there IS
no likelihood Of any baCksets in the near future