New-York tribune., 1902-12-31
IRON AND STEEL TRADE.
Decrease IN Erports and Increase an
ImDOrfs an 1902

The most striking fact relating to the iron and
steel trade the present year is the falling off
in exports and the doubling of imports Our eX-
ports for the first eleven months OF the year
1900 were S11o. .6O4 S4S, and for the year 1901
they We're Sa4. .o91 .a67. as against s90136024
for the present year. In the matter of imports
in the first eleven months of the year 1901 they
amounted to SIS, ,267. .6T7 for the first eleven
months OF the present year they amounted to
$40. 1885, ,961.
These figures undoubtedly reflect the trener-
dous home consumption of iron and steel prod
ucts at the present time in the United States.
The vast skyscrapers in New-York alone re
quire many millions of tons of steel girders.
beams and other structural iron. Railroads also
have spent or have placed orders to spend
about $Io00ooh0 in improvements. and this
means 2 large consumption Of iron and steel
The present condition of the steel industry.
notwithstanding our decrease in exports and in
crease OF imports, is better understood when it
is said that production of pig iron in IoS2
was 1900 600 tons, in 1892 9,15o,000 TONS and in
1902 the production, it is estimated, will be lit
tie under is, 600. 900 tons.
A still greater increase is shown in the pro
duction Of steel The figures for 1889 were
L 100000 tons; for 1892 q little less than 5000
600 tons; in 1901 about 13.o00,0o0 tons, and the
estimate for 1902 has been placed at from fifteen
to eighteen million tons.
These figures clearly demonstrate that there is
absolutely cause for alarm, or even uneasl-
ness in the fact that we have found it necessary
70 buy some steel and iron abroad to supply our
tremendous home demand nor in the other fact
that we have needed much more for home
consumption that we have been unable to ship
as much abroad as usual
Archer Brown, of Archer Brown & Co, said
concerning the outlook:
'-The year closing has been in all respects per-
haps the most prosperous in the history Of the
iron and steel trade. The output has been the
largest by about two million tons, hut ii has
fallen short Of consumptive demands by about
one million tons, and have had to look 10
Europe for the difference. The prospects FOR the
coming year are as favorable as could be de-
sired The demand for the first six months is
prettv we'll defined. and it is likely to be fully
equal to the last half of 1902 About three-fourths
Of the output up to July has been placed. It .
nand. and imports of iron and steel viii go or.
We could probably meet all domestic require
rnents if transportation facilities and fuel sup
ply were adequate. but it is likely TO take a year
before the railroads handle their traffc
rron1ptiy and before enough new mines can be
orened and coke ovens built to supply the full
needs of the furnaces. A large amount Of new
-lan. is being constructed in the form Of blast
furnaces rolling mills, foundries, machine shops,
atc Prices in most lines are 30 10 oo per
cont aboye the average of the last Hvc years,
mt costs of manufacture have risen proportion
ataJv E-ou1Detition in nearly all forms Of iron
and steel manufacture is free and uhtcst'icte"-