The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-05-30
. EvERAL months ago the chief
- of the Swedish geological sur
vpv In nurs,,onca of n rncolu.

luUenI, preDureU report SHOWING Tue
extent of the known deposits of iron in
the world and the rate at which such
deposits are being consumed. While
there has been some dissension as TO
the exactness of certain details con-
tanned in the report, 1t may be accepted
as substantially accurate investiga-
ton of a subject of vital Importance to
the world. Most disquieting in this re-
port is the conclusion that we are like
ly to run short of iron within a single
century if the present rate of consump-
ton is maintained.
The world has only 10,000,000000
tons of iron ore available. OF these
Germany has twice as many tons as
the United States. Russia and France
each have 4O0O00,000 tons more than
this country. Our annual consumption
of iron is placed at 35,0O0,O00 tons,
which is more than third of the
worlds total consumption. Comment
ing on the known and generally accept
ed facts of the situation, the Iron and
Coal Trades Review In one of its re-
cent issues stated: 1--WE would seem to
be within little more than half cen
tury of an absolute iron famine. This
| fact raises problems of serious conse-
quence to the worlds iron industry and
to the outlook of civilization itself"
The efficient ConsulGeneral of the
! United States at Paris. Mr.. +. Mason.
| has analyzed with considerable astute-
ness the problems involved in this
threatened industrial catastrophe. From
an elaborate report of his we abstract
the following facts;
1t is we'll known that the high-class
ores of the lake district in America
will, at the present rate of consump-
tion, be exhausted within less than
fifty years. The Mesaba deposits, with
the present annual output of 12000,-
900 tons or thereabouts, will not out
last twenty-five years. and it requires
only simple calculation to demon
strate that q continued yearly con-
sumption of 35,000.000 tons of ore by
the iron and steel industries of the
United States will within the lifetime
of many persons now living eat away
entirely the 1,1O0,000,000 tons which,
according TO the Swedish report cited
constitute our country's entire work
able supply as Mt present known. In.
asmuch, Therefore, as the United States
possess but about one-ninth of the
worlds ore deposit and yet consumes
more than one-third of the total an
nual output from all countries, the
conclusion is direct and unavoidable
that the future economic policy OF
American iron masters should be Sc
sure by all practical means the larges
possible ore supply from the mines o
other countries. How can this be NOR
economically and effectively accom-
plished?
The problem is largely one of trans
pOrtation, in which the item of marin
freight rates plays dominant part
An economic long-distance ocean rat
for heavy. low-class merchandise in
wolves necessarily two conditions. viz.
vessels especially adapted to tn
trade, and return frelghts that vii
bear an equal or higher charge 70
transportation. The ship that bring
ore from Spain. Sweden and other Eu
ropean countries to the United States
must have each trip an eastward
bound cargo that will be more thai
ballast and yield Il regular and deinit,
profit. There is but one materla
which will meet the requirements o
the case, and that is coal.
! 1t is in respect of quantity and quail
ty of coal supply that he advantag
of North America over European
| I ic nd .haI Inn
ing. Whatever may be the facts con
cerning ores, the known coal measure
of the United States render their fue
supply secure. abundant and of eX
cellent quality for centuries to come
There are hundreds of thousands 0
acres OF gas and coliing Goals Of hig
quality in the Appalachian region-t
say nothing of other regions-whlc
have as yet been hardly scratched b.
I the pick and drill of the miner. NeN
coal deposits of great or less eXten
and value are being discovered fror
I year to year. With what is noy
5 known the present enormous annuG
: output of 2S0.000,000 tons of bitumiI
Gus coal can be maintained for hur
dreds of years without eXhaustlng til
available supply.
:: In Europe, on the contrary, the year
l of adequate coal provision are definite
ly numbered. In England experts est
mate the duration of the workabl
coal measures to be from sixty to on
. hundred years. Germany has somC
; what longer lease of industrial lif
: dependent on coal supply. but alread
: the subject is so acute that heav
y contract for the delivery of Germa
coal to France for iron and steel work
= is understood to have been cancelle
= recently at heavy loss to the seller
;, because, il is definitely understood
:, the imperial Government objected I
= the depletion of the National coal SUI
. ply for the benefit of neighboring coui
tries. France has native coal for
generation or more, but the mines al
deepening. the cost of production
II gradually increasing, and economist
:. are looking with growing appreheI
= sion to the future. Twenty-Five. {
;. at most thirty years hence, the que
a tion of an adequate fuel supply will |
a serious problem for France.
. In 1903 France consumed 42,694 1C
4 tons of coal, of which 34,217,06 tor
,. We're the product of French mine
q while the remaining S,476,439 'tor
v We're imported. Cardiff and Belglui