The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-01
The Iron Trade.

Some thoughtful comments are con-
tanned in the following contribution ON
1.-The Iron Trade" from w. ID. Zehnder,
president of the Scranton Bolt and Nut
company:
Time and space will not permit proper
consideration of this subject. Three
phases confront us: The past. present
and future. With two we are familiar;
the third is mere conjecture.
Our industrial life, like the beach OF
the ocean. is constantly changing. The
time is, no doubt within the memory of
the majority of citizens Of Scranton
when iron was the chief centre OF at
traction. and the city occupied pros
pective position of ranking first among
the iron, centres of our country.
In the past we enjoyed the distinction
of being pioneers, both in the manufac
ture of iron and steel, and of possess
ing at one time what is said TO have
been the largest industry of its kind in
this country. The rapid transforma-
ton from iron to steel changed all these
conditions, which were rapidly met and
maintained until such time as natural
resources compelled a transfer to
point nearer the base of supplies. l
refer, OF course. to ore deposits While
we have lost for the present the manu-
facture of steel. there is no reason why
we should not retain the manufacture
of such articles as we now possess in
iron and add largely thereto. So that,
| hold. the present offers Il most assur-
ing aspect. and the future holds out
bright hopes to participate in the gen.
eral advancement that must assuredly
take place.
When the statistics of 1901 are writ
ten, it will be seen that we have passed
through Il most remarkable year in the
iron and steel business: that as ma
ton we have produced approximately
II 100000 tons of pig iron, consumed
very largely within our borders. that
the increase in this production in the
last twenty-five years has been over
1000 per cent; and that our own state
will stand first on the record.
I note from the industrial statistics
that in the year of 1900 we produced in
this state 6,649,000 tons of iron and steel.
and that Lackawanna county held
fourth position in the list. producing
4.67 per cent. Allegheny county led.
with IS per cent: Dauphin. second in
position: Cambria, third. With these
facts before us, it is apparent TO every
one that iron and steel is the most inn
portant factor in our industrial life,
and likely will for many years to come
retain the honored title of 'king.'
We are entering period of recon-
struction which extends into all lines
steamships. railroads, locomotives, cars,
bridges and builGines--the basis of
which is iron and steel: and through
which we may hope for a period OF
prosperity.
The depression prior to the year OF
'99 found us recovering from the lowest
values we had ever reached. The rapid
rise during that year, and the reaction
following. convulsed our whole indus
trial life, as the two extremes had been
met within one year. And it was not
until the spring of 1901 that we We're
able to recover ourselves and find a
true basis. Early in the year through
which we have just passed values as
sumed a normal position, and have con-
tinued so throughout
Labor in iron and steel is rewarded
today, on the highest base it has
reached in years, and peace reigns
throughout it's realms. We enter upon
conditions; and il we can but remem-
her our days OF adversely, so that the
recollections OF these may have IL satis1
flying effect upon us in our prosperity,
l see no reason why we shall not hope
that the year now entered upon shall
contribute to both employer and en-
ploye alike, the greatest blessing, from
temporal standpoint, that we have
nC,t az lat
us recall the past and profit thereby.
advancing cautiously and prepare for
the reaction sure to confront us in due
course OF time,
On June l. 1899, ground was broken
for the construction of the plant with
which l am connected. We have been
in operation now, exactly two years,
During this time, by hard, untiring ef-
fort. we have operated, practically,
every day. We We're fortunate in Sc
curing in this city an organization of
which we are proud. The bulk of our
employees have been ant students. and
many have risen from nominal posi-
tions upon which they entered, 10 that
of makers of bolts, nuts, etc.
Our policy has been to retard no
mans progress who exhibited dis
position and ability TO rise, or curtail
any mans ability to produce. The
reputation of the product of these
works has been established both in
quality and workmanship, and may be
found north, south, east and west; and
is exported TO South Africa, Mexico,
Cuba, Porto Rico. South America and
the Orient.
Competition has been keen: at times
extremely so. We have therefore found
1t necessary to increase some depart
ments, and have just completed the
construction of 1900 square feet of
factory buildings, in which win be
placed large number of new machines,
some of which are now on the ground,
others are being built. This will neces-
sarily increase the number of employees
very largely from the $50 that We now
have.