Daily Kennebec Journal

PRODUCTION OF IRON.

The Portland Argus of Monday objects to the statement in Governor Perham's message that "the single State of Pennsylvania is producing more iron at the present than England and the continent of Europe." After quoting the foregoing sentence the Argus adds:

What the Governor could have been thinking of when he wrote that sentence we can't imagine, and how such a statement has passed unchallenged through the various processes of revision and correction is still more unaccountable. It was known to everybody we supposed that England was by far the largest iron producing country in the world and that the total product of iron by Great Britain and the continent is some half a dozen times greater than the whole product, not only of the single State of Pennsylvania, but of all the States and territories of the Union.

To clinch its argument the Argus brings forward statistics of 1871, triumphantly parading the figures of a year ago to show what is being done now, at the present time, in the production of iron. It is true that England was the "largest iron producing country in the world," even so late as 1871, but it is equally true that within a year she has lost that superiority and Pennsylvania wears the palm as an iron producer. Where the eyes of the Argus have been that it has not discovered that fact "we can't imagine." The Governor had particular reference to the present time, to facts as they existed on the last day of December 1872, and by those his assertion is sustained. The Argus might as well bring forward the statistics of what was done in this State in 1871 in shipbuilding to prove what builders are doing now, or in the manufacture of shoes then as an exhibit of what is being done at this time in that branch of business, as to quote the figures of 1871 as proof in regard to the present iron product.

During the last year, nay, within the last six months, the increase of the production of iron in Pennsylvania has been enormous. The high price of iron has stimulated it with wonderful power into almost magic growth. At the same time iron-ore is becoming scarce in England, the supply is difficult to obtain, the cost of manufacturing has advanced, and production has consequently decreased. Instead of England shipping iron to us at this time, we are shipping it to that country. This is a new thing, not to be found in the statistics of 1871, but may be found in facts as they exist in 1872. These are facts which a wide-awake Governor discovered in his reading and travels, but which the Argus with all its eyes has had no glimpse of. To explain and substantiate this matter more fully, we invite the attention of our readers to the following which we find in the correspondence of the New York Times of November 20th.

If the United States had no other evidence of its material advancement it might be found in the demands at present being made upon the iron furnaces of Pennsylvania. At the present time there is being made up in this State more iron than is produced by all the combined furnaces of England and the continent of Europe, and every ton of raw pig metal that finds its way to the forge is run from the native ore in the United States. This is a fact, which, above all America's most noteworthy strides, is the most unprecedented in the annals of its history. The traveler having occasion to pass through the valleys of Eastern Pennsylvania cannot fail to note the wonderful business being done. Through these great belts of coal, iron-ore and limestone country, is where at least three-fourths of our own iron is manufactured. Upon the tracts owned by well-to-do people in that section iron ore is found in one field and limestone in another. Along the mountain sides adjoining the premises where they mine coal and rushing down from the hill tops is a large stream of water. A railroad finds its way along the borders, and for pastime these Pennsylvanians build furnaces, and along with their crops of wheat, oats, and corn they turn out pig iron by way of variety at the rate of one or two hundred tons per day. Wise farmers, these iron agriculturists.

Through the Lehigh Valley the manufacture has grown to stupendous proportions. In the Lebanon and Schuylkill valleys is made the bulk of all the iron produced in Pennsylvania. Three or four months ago pig-iron was worth all the way from twenty-five to thirty dollars a ton. Now the same iron commands anywhere from fifty-four to sixty-four dollars. The demand is far greater than the supply, and in consequence of this the many forges hid away along the streams and railways of these particular sections of the State are roaring, and smelting, and moulding bars of pig iron night and day to their fullest capacities. When England shipped iron to this country our resources were able to supply about seven-tenths of our natural demand. Now, England ships no iron to this country; our natural demand is very nearly double that of a year ago, so readily can be seen the immense trade in prospect, when the fact is considered that our capacity has not at all been enlarged prior to a few months ago. A common expression now in use throughout the various sections I have travelled is "a furnace for every five miles." In the iron ore and limestone country furnaces are rapidly going up. Millions of dollars of capital are being invested in the extension and development of this branch of Pennsylvania's resources. Pig-iron can be produced at an average first cost of from $13 to 17 per ton, according to location and conveniences at hand. A clear profit of from $35 to $45 per ton is made, and when the produce ranges from one to two hundred tons per day the aggregate profits of a day's business can be readily calculated.

This will give an idea of what is doing now, not several months ago. What has produced the change is shown by the same correspondent. He had an interview with Mr. Henry S. Eckert of Reading, Penn., in the report of which occurs the following:

Correspondent—I have called, in particular, Mr. Eckert, to ascertain your reasons for this tremendous commotion in the iron world.

This had an effect similar to the explosion of a bomb shell in a camp of raw recruits. It was quite unexpected, and, for a time, the interviewed indulged in a series of evasive answers very difficult of comprehension, and not at all satisfactory to the interviewer. After a few more indirect interrogatories, Mr. Eckert replied: "The most direct cause is, that this country has been suddenly left to its own resources, England having discontinued shipping pig metal to this country altogether."

Correspondent—How may this be accounted for?

Mr. Eckert—There are a great many reasons given; but I presume the principal one is they cannot afford to consign iron to America as things at present exist. The iron-ore mines of England are all old and well worn. In the cheap times of the Kingdom, ore was plenty, and labor was to be had at very little cost. Now, the opposite is the case. Native ore is extremely rare, and labor is only to be had at advanced rates. England now receives most of its ore from Spain. By the time it reaches English furnaces and is smelted by English labor the first cost of the material is advanced fully 100 per cent. above the original cost of produce.

Cor.—What is the average first cost of iron in England?

Mr. E.—I think it is fully as much if not more than it is in this country. At one time the English smelted ore and produced iron at about $10 or $11 per ton; now the cost may reach as high as $18 or $20

Cor.—Could not England compete with America even at that rate of first cost?

Mr. E.—Oh, yes; but England has not sufficient iron for her own consumption. It is not generally known, but for the first time in the history of this country America has shipped iron to England with advantage.

With the explanation which we have given of the statement in the message called in question we presume the Argus will be content. And we are very glad to have this opportunity to call particular attention to the remarkable growth of our iron industry. The business is expanding in all directions, in the quantity of ore from the mines, in the finer qualities of iron and steel, and in the solidity, extent and convenience of the works. When the statistics of the last months of 1872 are published, they will show a growth of astonishing rapidity and magnitude, which possibly many others besides the Argus have not noticed.