The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-23
THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

The closing of the fiscal year, June
30, and the consequent flood of statis-
tics concerning every branch of Amer
lean industry calls to mind the long
maintained supremacy of the United
States in the iron and steel world.
For twenty years this country led the
world in the production of these
metals and this record bids fair to
hold good for several years at least.
Taking pig iron as the basis, it, is
interesting to note the progress made
by decades since 1850. In that year
this country produced only 568, 755
gross tons; in 1860, S2l, 1928 tons; in
1870, 1865, i79 tons; in 1880, 3, 1876,
191 tons; in 1890, 9,2O2 703 tons; in
1900, 10, 7S9, 242 tons. During the
decade from 1880 to 1890 the produc-
ton of Great Britain was overtaken
and passed, and in beating that coun-
try the world was vanquished. No
other country has thus far approached
our output for 1900, the closest being
Great Britain, with 9,42i, 435 tons,
in 1899, which was her maximum.
Germany, the next largest producer,
reached it's maximum, 1920, 54l tons,
in 1900. Large as Americas produc-
tion was in 1900, it was beaten in 1901,
when 10, S7S, 354 tons were turned out,
and again in 1909, when the record
reached II, S21, 307 tons. From present
appearances authorities argue that the
current year will show a still larger
output, as the product for the first six
months has been about 8, 100, 600 tons,
or more than either Great Britain or
Germany ever produced in full year
The record in the matter of steel is
equally favorable. This country took
the lead in the production of this
metal about the same time it secured
the supremacy in pig iron. In 1901
the production of ingots or unwrought
steel in the United States was 10, Alb, =
800 gross tons, against 5000, 600 tons
in Great Britain and G,293, 40 tons in
Germany In that year, therefore, this
country alone turned out ?, $50, 425
tons of steel, more than the combined
output Of our two leading competi-
tors. In 1902 the lead was still fur
theI increased as in that year more
than 10, 600, 600 tons was repoduced,
while it is doubtful if the European
countries mentioned exceeded their
1901 output.
In the matter of imports and ex-
ports the situation is curious and ex-
ceedingly interesting. Concerning
this the Commercial Advertiser makes
the following comments:
8" Although this country for the past
three years has been making over 4C
per cent of the total iron and steel
product of the world, its requirements
grew even more rapidly than its pro-
duction, and large importations have
been necessary. This is an extraordi-
nary condition which has amazed
everybody connected with the iron
trade both here and abroad. From
1895 to 1899 our costs in this country
were so much lower than in Europe,
and our productive capacity was sc
much in excess of our wants III that
period that we were able to sell freely
in foreign markets. Our iron and steel
imports fell to only 1873, 220 gross tons
in 1899 and 200, 955 tons in 1900, while
our exports rose to 942, $50 tons and
1,154, 2S4 tons, respectively. But last
year the home demand for iron and
steel was so heavy that our imports
rose to 1919, 4S4 tons and our exports
decliued to All, 9l5 tons The imports
have been particularly heavy during
the twelve months beginning with
July of last year. In the clever
months ending with May of this veal
the imports reached the great total OF
1,57S, $50 tons. But the height of thi:
movement was undoubtedly reached il
April, and rapid decline in iron anC
steel imports is to be expected.
1.-THE great imports of the past veal
were due to peculiar conditions. Raw
materials were in abundant supply tC
meet the necessities of the trade, but
the big iron makers and the stee
manufacturers were unable to secure
satisfactory deliveries to keep theil
works in regular operation. The rail
IOdus WtIt bO ONoI w nolllcu Wibi Scu
eral traffic caused by the activity il
all branches of business that thei
supply of locomotives and cars was no
equal to the emergency, nor were thei
yard and terminal facilities grea
enough to Permit the necessary expe
ditions discharge of freight. Conse
quently, blast furnaces ran irregularly
and steel work frequently ceased oper
q w m n
shipping points and coke piled up a
the ovens. The overburdened trans
portation facilities also interferec
with the delivery of manufacturer
products to buyers, thus hamperinl
their operations. The strike of tn
anthracite coal miners in Pennsyl
EYM RaA ISL Hex Ske.yG