Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24

portations from Great Britain, Germany
France, Spain and other ron-prOducing
countries have been necessary, in spite OF
the fact that the United States has become
by far the largest producer of iron and steel
in the world.
1t is, of course. a commonplace to say that
the history of the worlds material progress
in the nineteenth century is the history of
the development of the iron and steel indus
tries. Everybody knows that fact. in gen.
eral way, but few people have taken the
trouble to look into the figures for them
selves and find out how true it is.
From 1901 to 1920, inclusive, only 35O0O,-
900 tons of iron ore were produced in the
world. From 1881 to 1883, inclusive, about
361, 100000 tons were mined. According to
Mulhall the greatest of statistcians over
1.2t3. 100000 tons of ore were produced dur
ing the first lightweight years of the CEN
fury. During that period Great Britain en-
joyed an undisputed leadership among the
1ron-producing countries In the eighty
eight years her miners raised ST. ,0OO, 900
tons of ore from the ground The United
States came next, with 212 900 600 tons; Ger
many third with 1S5.0OO,OOO tons;
France fourth, with 109O00O00, and Spain
fifth. with 55,G09,0G0. The United States and
Spain increased their production wonder
fully from 1870 to 1885.
By Leaps and Bounds.
Since 1888 the worlds production of iron
and steel has gone ahead by leaps and
bounds In 1902 the estimated production
of pig iron for the whole world was A.
1871 metric tons, and of steel 3G,479 7S3
metric tons. This is the estimate of the
famous expert, Joseph Struthers The
United States produced nearly half the
steel in the world. namely, 10 1S6. 4O6 metric
TONS while their production of pig iron
amounted to 1S,OO3,44S metric tons This
latter total more than exceeded the COM
hined production of the two next iron coun-
tries, Great Britain and Germany The
fromer produced S,653,97G metric tons and
the latter S402 ego. Great Britain's day
as the leading iron-producing country of
the world seems to have passed forever
despite the fact that her mine-owners and
manufacturers are reorganiZing their works
and plants on the best modern methods to
enable them to hold their own with their
American competitors in the markets of the
world when the great activity in the iron
ana steel Industries of the United States
slackens sufficiently to allow of American
expectations corresponding in vastness with
American production.
America is not likely to lose her lead in
iron and steel as she has lost it in gold.
All the natural advantages are on her side
The probabilities are that she will vastly
Increase her lead in the course of the next
few years. The value of the production of
lron ore throughout the United States in
1902 was $64, 769, $40, as compared with
S4i,0S14 in 1901. These figures show the
remarkable rate at which the industry is
expanding. 1t will be noted that the value
VI INC Hoii oie mas not yet reached the
value of the gold produced throughout the
country; but it must be remembered that
the iron ore Increases enormously in value
in the finished product
Although it has been pointed out that the
United States is not at present an export
ing country so far as iron and steel are con-
cerned, this is, of course merely a relative
statement. The United States does export
vast quantities of iron and steel but they
are as nothing when compared with what
might be exported were 1t not for the ire
mendous home demand. In 1902 the iron
and steel exports were valued al $97, S92,-
036, as against $129, 633, 4SO in 1900 when the
production OF ore was much smaller. There
was great rush for iron and steel material
all over the United States in 1902 and 1908
Steel rails had to be procured for over
5000 miles of new railways, to say nothing
of electrical railroads, tramway roads,
steel skyscrapers, bridges, locomotives and
a thousand other things.
The Home Demand
There promises to be rush equally as
great during the coming year. Already the
cry is going up all sides, here and
abroad: steel. Steel steel! Good yellow
gold for steelv And as it grows In value
and the great mills pulsate with life day
and night and the whole country feels the
beneficent effect of the demand for rails
and beams and skeleton work, it will not be
hard for Americans to decide the question
Which is the worlds most precious metal?
in favor of iron. For there is getting
away from the fact that along with wheat,
corn and cotton, iron is primarily RESPONSE
BILE for the nations prosperity.