The diamond drill., 1912-03-02
A STRONG PROTEST
Made BY Lake Superior Miners Against
Free Ore

FftG gre
The last issue OF The Iron Trade Re
view contained an account Of the pro.
test made by representatives of Lake
Superior ore companies against the
proposal 70 put iron ore on the free
list.
The leading argument was made by
q. ID. Dyer OF the Shenango Iron Co.
aud IL contains mnch valuable infor.
maticn tor people located rs we are. in
the Lake Superior country Mr. nyer
said in part
The Lake Superior iron ore indus
try will not take up the time OF the
committee in making any special
protest against the effect OF reducing
the tariff rate on iron for IL cents per
ton to nothing, except as il indicates a
tendency to keep the market on the
Atlantic seahoard open for foreign ore,
20 the exclusion Of our home product.
Shipments of ore from the Lake
Superior region during the year 1911
were 80, 600, 900 tone. and in 1910 and
1909 they were about equal aggregat-
ing abont ~ 900, 600 tons in each year.
and the capacity of the region,
measured by its facilities for transport
ing ore down the lakes Is about 80. OOO
600 tons
During 1911. 1000, 600 tons of
foreign ore entered the United States,
revenue 10 the government from which
was less than $500. O00
Practically no Lake Superior ore
has been sold in what we term tho
eastern market for three years and IL
the enlargement of the opportunities of
the industry is matter Of concern.
foreign iron ore should oe subject TO a
tariff rate Of at least 80 cents per ton.
which is about | cent per unit. as ores
are measured in these days Under
such condition and in order to deal
in the east. IL would still be necessary
for the Lake Superior ore producers TO
make very considerable concession in
the ideas with which they are accos.
toned TO figure the values OF their ore.
To indicate the effect upon the
general business of the country. IA IL
lustrated by the 2.000.0 900 tons OF
foreign orc received during the year
1911, and which produced TO the gov
ernment something less than $500. 600
I'm the way OF revenue. an estimate is
made showing tnat had the equivalent
OF this ore been produced and trans
ported from the Lake Superior region.
over 50. 900. 600 would have been paid
directly in wages TO workmen engaged
in mining manufacture, transportation
and other pursuits and the national
balance Of trade would have gained
over 81. 0OO 600 In our favor.
1T may be- argued. and u is pro.
badly true, tina: a 30 cent tariff rate
would have the effect of increasing the
cost OF the ore mixtures at eastern fur
naces. but IL 90. such Increase would
abodt equal the difference between the
cost of production Al home and abroad,
az IS indicated by the market prices of
the two products. and the effect would
be- 10 40 least hring the Lake Superior
producer and the eastern fnrnace men
together - negotiate The tonnage
involved would probably have large
influence IN inducing the Lake super.
ior producer 20 make some concession.
and perhaps the railroads 10 hold out
some Inducements TO secure the bust
ness, as the present tariff rates of the
railroads are merely paper rates and
produce no revenue to speak OF.
ITO onr minds the ore proposition
is lefore congress in It's function as
presiding over the business OF tho
country to decide whe her one depart
nient Of that business might not be