The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-10-23


checked. but while consumption IL alb
sorblng such vast amount OF iron ~
at present. the iron trade must OF nee
essity be- crowded 1t high pressure.
"what will happen when all busi-
ness reviyes ID Is hard 10 say. but u IL
quite certain that the outlook indicates
very great expansion In every lead
log industry 10 keep In touch with the
remarkable expansion Of iron and steel.
The railroads seem 10 DO At last wax
ing up TO tho situation. but they have
been 80 slow In doing this that traffic
is already growing FAR more rapidly
than railroad facilities. and the danger
ahead OF as is collapse In railroads
from inability 10 handle freight.
Every day is simply emphasizing the
fact that railroad expansion has not
kept up with the growth OF the coun-
try. and that at least ~. 900. 0o0 900 TO
~. 900. 900. 900 would be required TO
push railroad operations 10 a<point
where facilities for handling freight
would equal the demands OF the next
two or three yeara II 81. 900, 900. 900 a
year for ths next ten years could he
expended upon railroad construction
the facilities at that time would not
equal the certainty OF the demand.
Any Legislative action that delays the
Investment needed for railroad con-
struction simply intensites the situa.
ton and really maxes all present rail.
road greater monopoly than IL rail
road construction could be broadly
pushed ia all directions.
sin connection with-this marvellous
expansion in iron and steel. IL Is evi
dent that the great steel operators are
endeavoring TO safeguard the future by
the purchase or control by lease OF the
sources OF ore supplies The announce
ment that the bethlehem steel corpora
tion has secured one OF the large ore
OF Northern New York fol-
lows very quickly after the report that
IL has arranged for heavy Investments
in Texas. where. according to reports
made by tho Santa Fe railroad TO the
state railroad commission, contracts
have been made for opening up ore
with view 10 furnishing
the bethlehem people |, O0o 900, tons of
Texas ore year
similar efforts are being made In |
many directions as 10 ooking coal prop
critics, as we'll AS ore properties, show
ing that the far seeing men OF today
are recognizing the tremendous future
through tho ownership OF the raw ma
terials for iron and steel making
1T Is hardly to be expected that the
rate of iron production which mas pre-
vailed during the last forty years will
continue for the next ten, but IL IL did
10 continue II would as shown in
'ecent paper by Prof. Porter OF the
University OF Cincinnati. carry pig
ron production In 1870 TO IS. 900. 600
ons. IL is. however. entirely within
'eason 10 estimate that iron produo-
ion will double by 1890. and give as
u that time between 80. 600. 900 and
", 900. 600 tons which would mean a
PRACTICAL doubling OF the entire iron
pike aud steel industries OF the coun-
ny. AS other industrial activities In
he long run keep pace with iron and
teel. this would mean that the general
rafiic OF the country in ten years will
~ double. unless 80 hsmpered by rail
cad facilities as TO make this lmpos
ible. The problem OF the day, there.
ore. Is 60 make possibility the Bnd.
ug u the $40. coo. 600. 900 needed for
abroad expansion during the next ten
ears