The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
AUSTRIAN IRON INDUSTRY
Less Attention Paid Recently to Ex-
port Trade.
Home Demand Grows and Has Abb
sOrbed the Product of All the
Important Mills.

An interesting statement has been pub
lshed recently by the head Of the largest
iron and steel plant in Austria concerning
the present condition OF the iron industry
in that country. The article Is summarized
by Consul General W. A. Rublee, Of vi
emma, as follows:
The fact is emphasized that the Austri-
an iron industry depends almost wholly
on the home market and participates in
foreign trade only on rare occasions un-
der particularly favorable conditions. and
even then only to a moderate extent. The
home market has not been stimulated by
any particularly great demand in recent
years. but showed only the natural eX-
pansion due to the gradual growth of the
population and 20 the normal development
OF modern Industrial needs The growth
Of the Austrian iron industry is not.
therefore. a sudden one as in some other
countries. but is. on the contrary, slow
and gradual Il IS, consequently. out Of
the question that a violent reaction should
occur. as may be observed in other coun-
tries
The constant development Of the Austri-
an iron industry is illustrated by the busi-
more important products Of the iron
works comprised in the Austrian iron car
tel or association. During the five years
from 1903 10 1907 the sales Of rolled iron
were as follows: 1903. 81, go tons: 1904. 6lO.-
30 tons 1905, 64S.5S0 tons. 1905, 709. Gao tons.
l.07, 10, ,660 tons. The sales OF pig iron IN
the same period were: 1903. 1850 tons.
1904. 20S.lO tons; 1905 2l9 l20 tons: 1906 2i6.-
400 tons; 1907, 2S5, 80 tons, These figures
demonstrate the gradual growth OF the
home market es well as OF the iron in
dustry.
The Austrian iron works have met the
increased demand OF the home market by
charging their plants and have been able
up TO the present time 10 supply the re-
quirements OF the market on the other
hand, there is no possibility Of an over
production, not because. as IS generally
thought. the organization Of the cartel
regulates the production according 20 the
demand, but because OF more fundamental
reasons. The particular cause that pre-
vents an overproduction in the iron indus
try, and even makes Il impossible 20 sup
ply a sudden great demand. is the scare
ity Of coke. which is essential In the cp-
GRAFTON OF blast furnaces
An increase OF the Austrian pig-iron
production in geometrical progression
seems impossible. as the deposits OF ore.
with the exception of those In Styria.
hardly admit of being worked 10 a greater
extent than at present. Even the Alpine
MOntangesellschaft the one Austrian
company that is in a position 10 meet the
greater Iron consumption on account OF
its ownership Of iron mines. Is not able to
undertake the task because Il depends
upon the possibility Of purchasing the
necessary coke I'm foreign markets. This
company is at present meeting the situa-
tion by Withdrawing from the export bust
ness IN so far as it becomes necessary to
satisfy the home consumption
This gradual absorption OF the EXPORT
business by the home market is shown by
the trade statistics Of recent years. as il
IS TO be noticed that In 1907 the export Of
iron was only about half what II was IN
1906. A still further reduction OF exports
In favor Of the home consumption Is 10 be
expected in the near future On the other
hand, the import OF pig iron shows con-
tinual increase. During 1908 there was an
import Of 4l.690 tons Of foundry pig iron.
whereas in 1906 this import was GO. 800
tons, and FOR the first eleven months Of
1907 1t had gone up TO 1850 tons The
home market will in the future, as IN the
present. have 20 draw part OK It's supplies
from other countries. inasmuch as even
such Austrian blast furnaces as make
foundry pig iron are now buyers IN for
eign markets.
The further expansion Of the market In
Austria is 10 be expected on account Of
considerable extension Of the railway sys-
TENS and the construction Of aqueducts in
several Of the principal cities Of the en-
pire