New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-29
THE IRON AND STEEL TRADE
PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY AS RE-
ELECTED IN THE CONDITION OF
THAT GREAT INDUSTRY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


THAT GREAT INDUSTRY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
washingtn. July 2S.-Nothing reflects the general
prosperity of the country in a striking man
ner than the condition of the iron and steel indus
Try. In a forthcoming volume of the Mineral Re-
sources of the United States" issued by the Geo
logical Survey, James NJ. Swank, acknowledged
expert the subject discusses the statistics Of the
American iron trade for 1901. Mr.. Swank says that
the OF unekampled prosperity in the industries
Of this country, which may be said to have been
ushered I'm at the beginning of 1899. when an active
demand for iron and steel was developed accom-
panied by a rising price, has continued from that
day TO this, and at time has been more fruit
full Of good results than the time of his writing
in May. 1902. The of iron and steel in almost
every form increases at greater ratio than the
increase population and the of steel for high
buildings, for the manufacture of steel and for
the construction of steel vessels is to call for
an increasingly large tonnage from year TO year
II may be generally known that steam and troll
lev railroads consume in rails cars locomotives,
bridges, buildings and electrical machinery fully
one-third of all the iron and steel made in the
United States. The leading statistical results of
the year 1901 concerning the iron and steel trade
and the related industries given below,
pared with the statistics of the industries for
leOO-the first year of the twentieth century. COM
pared with the last year of the nineteenth century
In 1901 the United States produced l5S7ss54 long
tons OF pig iron, S,7l3 302 long tons of Bessemer
steel ingos 4656.309 long open hearth steel
and 595 long tons of steel of all kinds and
rolled. IN al 123 s27 long tons of finished
Steel including rails. The comparative figures for
1900 are:
,,r ,ro Long e ct tons ms
Bessemer steel ingots ..:.:: 66ss, 10
Rolled iron and steel. including rails. e4s7a 4s
In 1901 there mined 47s long tons of iron
ore and there were shipped 2O5ss.2 S7 long tons OF
Lake Superior iron 12e9s4s short tons of Con-
nesville coke and 127ss72 short of Pocahontas
coke. For 1900 the comparative figures
tons:
shipments Superior isoSS5S5
SHIPMENTS OF COKE.
co,,.,.,,u. Short he e, tons rs;
Pocahontas 1S41.444
IT will be observed that in 1901 the total produce
ton of iron increased 1.334.31s long tons. the
shipments Of Lake Superior increased 1529, S44
long TONS and the shipments of Connellsville coke
increased 2443,15 short tons; that the production
Of all kinds OF pig iron increased 112 long tons
the production of Bessemer steel increased 2O25S
long tons; hearth steel, 125s174 long TONS all
kinds Of steel 32s526 long TONS structural shapes
1889 long tons. TO total of L0l315o long tons;
plates and sheets. 49, s97 long tons a total O.
tons to total Of 2Sosi6 tons: iron and steel wire
rods 5s6a5 long tons to total Of l865 sS4 long
There was small decrease in 1901 in the produc-
ton Of iron and steel cut nails. but increase OF
1858 S43 kegs in the production of iron and steel
plates and terne plates amounted to 1886 long
tons The increase in the mileage OF new railroads
railroads built in 1900.
VALUES AND AVERAGE PRICES
The total value at the mines of the iron pro-
duced in 1901 $40 245, average value
OF 81 II long ton. as compared with a value for
1900 Of sec, $780, y0 average value OF & ~ long
ton. The average price in 1901 of Grey Forge pig
iron at Pittsburg sl4 20 a long ton COM
pared with SIG 80 in $780, of Bessemer pig iron SIS SO
ton in 1901 against SO AZ in 1scO of steel rails
at mills. in Pennsylvania, 81 80 a ton in 1901.
against SO e in 1900.
The production of anthracite coal in Pennsy
vania in 1901. including coal mined for coery
sumption amounted ~, to soz2 $50 long tons as com
production &C pal in 1901 at present ascertaned
24os5 sI7 1900 The total production of coke
n o 80 20 as at present aseertai1ed amounted O to H.
tons in 1896 The average price Of coke in 1901
the total Value Of the coke pTodueed in 1901 Was
s2a5Ss.4oo as compared with 7.4iS S32 in 1900
The total IMPORTS of iron and steel, including
as are G G0I a s for fo wah
against $40 4iSOi in 1900 and s5SoO57s in 1899
total exports of iron and steel which include loco
Ware. saws. tools Sewing machines, Stoves, Print
ing presses, boilers, ETC. amounted in the calendar
@ IL IN s iss IN s ana 81 r. 6
1897. Exports of iron and steel more than doubled
in 1901, compared with 1900 OF s27 09S, 9Oj
20 per In the early part of the calen-
dar year 1901 exports of iron and steel well
maintained, but there has been great decrease in
exports caused entirely by the decline in prices
abroad and the revival of an active demand at
home.
Exports of agricultural implements which are
not included in the iron and steel exports already
7s30S. against sl5 900 in 1900 s3 1924 in 1899,
s. 34 in 1855 and 1892 807 in 1897 These exports
increased in value three fold in the five years from
1897 TO 1901 inclusive.
IRON AND STEEL VESSELS
In the fiscal year ended June 90. 1900. there were
built the United States ninety steel vessels. with
a gross tonnage of 1851, and in the fiscal year
OF 1901 there were built 119 steel vessels and
iron vessel. with a gross tonnage of 2s26s9. In
the first nine months Of the fiscal year 1902. ended
March 81, there were built eighty-four steel yes
sells, with gross tonnage of l5l340. Vessels for
the United States navy are not included in the
figures here given
Counting the metric ton the virtual equivalent
OF the long ton, obtain In round figures ap-
proximately accurate totals for the worlds pro-
ductioE in 1900, as follows:
Coal
90 100000
Stel Zi4SOopo
OF the total worlds production of iron ore In
1900 the United States contributed over 80 cent;
Of coal over 81 per cent; OF pig iron, over "a per
Of steel. 81 per cent. II is almost UNI
necessary 10 add that the United States produced
in 1901 a much larger percentage OF the Worlds
production Of iror ore. COAL pig iron and steel than
il 1900 production of iron ore In 1901 hay
ing Increased 1884 3s long its production OF
pig iron 2089 12 long tons; its production OF steel
AIS 65 long tons, and Its production OF coal, as at
present ascerf aimed 20 5595lS long