Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-12-01


monds, editor of Manufacturers Re-
cord, express very deep interest in
the recent presentation which he has
lately made in regard to National
Preparedness" being an impossibility
under existing iron and steel condi-
tons. Both of these letters were re-
ceived on the same day and were
equally as hearty in expressing deep
appreciation of the situation. Presi-
dent Wilson desired that his letter
shodlu not be made public, but former
President Roosevelt, in the course of
his letter on the subject, said:
Il appreciate that EDITORIAL most Of
all 1 appreciate the fight you are maxi
ing for preparedness"
The statements made by Mr.. Ed
munds, which called forth these two
letters, pointed out the fact that at the
present time SO per cent of the entire
iron-ore output of the United States
IS from the Lake Superior district, and
that as these ores are somewhat rich
er in metallic contents than the aver
age ores in other states, thu Lake Su-
! perior region furnishes the ore for
about 80 per cent of the pig-iron pro-
duction of the country and nearly 95
per cent of the steel production of
the country 1t was pointed out that
in view of the possibility of war
the limited amount of ore, about g.
100000 tons imported from foreign
countries, would instantaneously be
shut off, and that if the 500 Canal
through which the Lake Superior ores
pass, short waterway OF little more
than a mile in length, should be de-
stroyed or captured, or the Lake Su-
perior ore district, which is adjacent
TO Canada, should be invaded, there
would be a complete collapse in the
iron and steel production of the Unit
ed States, since only about 10 per cent
of the iron output of the United States
would be left undisturbed.
OF the total production of iron ore in
the United States in 1913 (that year
being selected in preference to 1914
because business was then at more
normal stage than after the war; of
Gl, $4,000 tons, a little more than 81,
100000 tons were mined in Minneso-
ia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Penn
sylvania, for instance, which, in 1913,
produced nearly 100000 tons of pig
iron and 15,500000 tons of steel, mined
only $4,000 tons Of iron ore, or less
than 5000 tons in excess of the amount
mined by Virginia. OF the total pro-
duction of steel in 1913 of 81 100000
tons, almost exactly one-half, or To-
/ $4,000 tons, was produced in Penn
sylvania. In the states dependent al
rIost wholly upon Lake Superior ores
the output for the year was 29,S06,000
tens, leaving only 100000 tons as
the output of the south and the south
west and the Pacific coast In other
words, less than ) per cent of the
steel production of the United States
is free from dependence on Lake Su-
perior and foreign ores and the limited
iutput in New York, Pennsylvania and
New Jersey.
Under these conditions, to which
attention was never before called, it
might be possible in time of war for
a capture of the Lake Superior region
or the Saa Canal to instantaneously
produce a collapse in the iron and
steel industry of the country and make
every effort to defend ourselves abso-
lutely impossible, for without steel ar
mics and navies would be without
value and railroads would be useless.
Mr.. Edmunds, in presenting this
subject, pointed out that the only pos
sible remedy which would give basis
for real National Preparedness" IS
the larger development of the iron
and steel making potentialities of the
south and southwest, where vast sup