Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-19
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Those OF Iron and Steel Manu-
features Have Increased at
a Great Ratio
IMPORTS OF SUCH, DECREASE
Only In the Last Ten or Twelve Years
Have Exports Of Iron and Steel
Manufacturers Exceeded Imports of
Like Commodities - Expansion Of
Pig-lron Production.

Des Moines, April 19.-Iron and steel
expectations from the United States
have increased tenfold since 1870, five
fold since 1890, and practically one
third since 1900, while for the first
eight months of the current fiscal year
they are practically six times as much
as importations of like commodities
during the same period. Figures just
compiled by the department. Of COM
merce and labor thru it's bureau Of
statistics show that exports of iron and
steel manufactures increased from 8
million dollars in the eight months
ending with February, 1870, to 6S mil
lions in the corresponding months of
1904, and 102 millions in the same
months of the present year. Imports
OF iron and steel manufactures de-
creased meantime from 81 millions in
the eight months ending with Febru-
airy, 1870. to 10 millions in the first
eight months of the fiscal year, 1904,
and is millions in the corresponding
period of 1906.
1t is only within the last ten or
twelve years that exports of iron and
steel manufactures have exceeded inn
ports of like commodities, this change
in the relative position of such inn
ports and exports having been about
coincident with the great expansion Of
pig iron production since 1890. The
production of pig iron in the United
States in 1870 was 1.665,179 tons, or
little more than the annual average for
several preceding years; subsequent to
1870 the annual output fluctuated be-
tween million and million tons UNI
til 1886, when the total was 1858, 329
tons; in 1890 it was 9,202,703 tons, and
in 1905, practically 20 million tons.
Thus the growth in domestic produce
ton of pig iron in the period from
1870 to 1890 was about " million tons,
and in the period from 1890 to 1905,
13A millions. the last fifteen years
having therefore shown a gain almost
double that of the preceding twenty
years. The production Of steel has
also increased rapidly. In 1870 only
GS,75O tons of steel were produced in
the United States; in 1880 the total
had grown to TX million tons; in
1890, Az millions; in 1900, 10 millions,
and for 1904 the latest available year,
IA million tons Meantime the value
of the product of the iron and steel
industry in the United States, which In
1870 was 2O7 million dollars, increas-
millions
in 1890, and S36 millions in 1900.
The great expansion in domestic pro-
duction of pig iron and manufactures
OF, iron and steel has tended to dimin-
is;h the importations of this class of
merchandise. In the calendar year
1870 imports of iron and steel manu-
features were valued at little over
~ million dollars. From that date
they rapidly increased, reaching, IN
1880. ga million dollars, the highest
noint ever touched in any calendar
YEAR. Since 1880 they have, with
trifling exceptions, ranged downward,
decreasing from 81 millions IN una.
wear to As millions in 1890, ~ mllllons
in 1900; then increasing to 4lR mn.
inns in 1902 and again recedlng 10 20
millions in 1905, or IL million ooiiars
,,ss than the importations during the
,.aar 1870. and SO millions less IMAM
those Of 1880.
Not only has enlarged domestlc pro-
d,,ction of iron and steel manufactures
red,,ced importations of the 1orelgh
lsaa,,ct hut it has been followed by
i,,crea sed expectations. In the calendar
yaar 1870 our exports of iron and steel
aggregated 10 million dollars; in 1850.
rs millions; in 1890, 81 millions; in
1soo 100 millions, and in 1905, 14S mill
iona