The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-03
LARGE AMOUNT OF PIG IRON IMPORTED. United States Government Gives Out Interesting Figures IN THE BRISK PERIODS More Iron and Steel Has Come from Europe in This Fiscal Year
 Than in Any One Year
 Since 1891.
IN THE BRISK PERIODS

1mportations of Iron and steel into the United States in the fiscal year 1903 are larger than in any preceding year since 1891, and with that single exception are larger than at any time within the past twenty years. In only seven earlier years in the history of the country have the importatlons of Iron and steel been as large as those of the fiscal year just end- ed The total value of iron and steel im- ported in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903 as shown by the figures of the de- partment of commerce and labor through It's bureau of statistics Is $51, 613312, against s27, 1SO,247 in 1902, $l7,S74,7s0 In 1901, and $12 210o.440 In 1899.
 Running back through the import rec ord from 1850 down to 1903 the only years in which the value of iron and steel im- ports exceeded those of 1903 are 1872, when the total was ;55,54O.lSs; 1873. $59, ,sos. .452; 1ssO $5s,714,OOs; 1881. $6O, GOA, AT; 1882, s67- 976,ss7; 1SSS $5s, 4s5 Sls; and 1891. $53544,272.
 In Active Periods.
 These large lmportations or Iron and steel have occurred 1t will be seen, In periods of exceptional busines activity. but on no former occasion have such large importations been made in the face of so great home productions of iron and steel
 In 1891, when the importations were two million dollars greater than in the year Just ended, the total home production of pig iron was only eight and one-half million tons while that of 1902 was over f1ant of 1891. In the period from 1880 to 1883. when the importations of iron and steel were larger than those of 1903, pig iron ] production only averaged about four mil 1 lion tons per annum, or less than one fourth the annual production of the pres- ent time, and in 1872 and 1873, then the 1 importatons slightly exceeded those of 19O3 the pig iron production averaged only two and one-half million tons an- nually, against seventeen millions at the present time.
 Partially Manufactured Grades.
 This large increase in the importation of iron and steel Is chiefly in the partial ly manufactured grades. Pig iron in- creased from 158.o00 tons in 1902 to 956,OOO tons in 1903, the value being in 1902 less than three and a half million dollars, and in 1908 nearly seventeen millions.
 
 lion pounds in 1902 to ninety-six millions In 1908, and steel ingots, blooms, slabs, billets and bars from 02.000, 900 pounds to $50 GOO 900, the value increasing from three and a half million dollars in 1S02 to nearly ten millions In 1903. Steel rails increased from $37l. 452 to S2s741ss; and scrap iron and steel, fit only for manu- facture, increased from S76S 75S to s2,- 019,258. These five classes of iron and steel-pig Iron, scrap iron. bar iron steel rails and steel ingots, blooms billets and bars-when combined, show an increase In 1903 as compared with 1902 of $24. 296,- 427. while the total increase in all im- ports of iron and steel during the year Is SPA, 437. 065. The one class of importa- tions of iron and steel which shows a marked reduction is tin plates of which the total importation fell from 199, 0c0 GOO pounds in 1902 to 10000 900 pounds in 1903 and the value from six million dollars in 1902 to a little over three millions in 1908
 Pig iron imported during the fiscal year of 1903 amounted in money to S16,S3O 592 as compared with s. 367.1 172 in 1902.