The Iron Age 1902-08-28: Vol 70

‘THE IRON AGB THURSDAY, An Improvement in the Manufacture of Basic Bessemer Steel. A patent has recently been granted to Samuel Mec Donald of Youngstown, Ohio, which suggests an inter esting improvement in the usual process of manufactur ing basic Bessemer steel. Mr. McDonald describes his method as follows: My improvement consists in providing a tank or furnace of sufficient size to contain at one time the charges from a number of converters. Into this tank I pour the charge of each converter, and from it I take the metal for casting. I test each converter charge in turn, as in the former practice; but instéad of hold- ing each charge subject to the result of the test and re- newing the blow if too much phosphorus remains I receiving turn the charge without delay into the receiving tank next and determine the treatment of the succeeding A UGUST 28, 1902. ceiving tank after it has been filled and continue to withdraw metal until it is again empty or I may keep adding new converter charges while withdrawing metal for casting. I find it desirable to have two receiving tanks, such as I have described in connection with a Bessemer plant, and to draw from one while filling the other. By employing the receiving tank I am able to re- move the phosphorus containing slag before the intro- duction of spiegeleisen or ferromanganese, and I may thus avoid any deleterious effects of chemical action of the slag upon these substances. ————~» The New Gould & Eberhardt Shaper. The new extension base shaper built by Gould & Eberhardt of Newark, N. J., is fitted with their cross feed connecting rod, which adjusts itself entirely auto- THE NEW GOULD & charge by the result of the test of the charge which has preceded it. Thus if the test of a given charge reveals the presence of too much phosphorus, though I have al ready introduced that charge into the receiving tank, I continue the treatment of the next charge not only for such time as is deemed sufficient to reduce to the prop- er degree its phosphorus element, but for an additional time, and I thereby eliminate so much phosphorus from that charge that when it shall be introduced into the re- ceiving tank the phosphorus element of the entire con- tents of the tank shall not exceed the proper amount. It is obvious that instead of testing each charge as it goes to the receiving tank I may test the contents of the tank after the introduction of each converter charge and determine the treatment of succeeding converter charges by the results of these tests. By adopting this method of treatment I avoid the delay incident to the former practice as I have described it. My receiving tank is preferably a furnace, and being able to control the heat applied to it I am able t> maintain the metal in the tank at the proper casting temperature. It will be understood that in practicing my inven- tion 1 may either begin to withdraw metal from the re- EBERHARDT SHAPER. matically for any position of the shaper table and does not require the loosening and tightening up of a set screw to adjust. The connecting rod is also fitted with a friction slip, which prevents breaking of the feed through accident or carelessness. The vise is formed with a place to strike in order to line up, which prevents bruising the finished ways; it is also so con- structed that there is a pulling instead of a pushing strain when tightening up work, thus preventing buck- ling of the vise screw. The vertical graduations on the bottom of the cannot be obliterated. The cross head is held directly to the frame, thereby insuring rig- idity. Filter oi] hole covers are provided so that only clean oi] is admitted to the bearings. Over each cone step, as shown in the half-tone, are figures representing the proper speed for each different length of stroke. Gould & Eberhardt use a rigid sleeve bearing, shown in section in Fig. 2, on the cone shaft of their shapers, gear cutting machines, &c. The cone C, revolving on the sleeve bearing B, drives the driving shaft A through the clutch flange D by means of pins which are a tight fit in the flange D and an easy fit in the cone C. By employing this mode of construction the entire stde gears vise 2 THE strain of the driving belt on the cone is carried by the rigid sleeve journal, bolted by means of the flange to the side wall of the shaper, as shown at HE, the driving shaft being compelled to carry only the torsional strain incidental to the driving of the machine. This con- struction reduces to a minimum the wear of the cone shaft bearing and insures the proper meshing of the driving gears. With proper attention to lubrication this bearing should outlast the machine. All parts of the sleeve bearing are cast iron. — Pennsylvania’s Pig lron and Steel Produce by Counties. ILARRISBURG, Pa., August 22, 1902.—Advance sheets of the report of the Pennsylvania State Bureau of Indus- trial Statistics, whose figures are officially collected from every establishment in the commonwealth, show that the production of iron and steel in 1901 far exceeded that of the preceding year, which had held the record. Marvelous advances are shown, and once more Alle- gheny County is the banner county, its production of both steel and iron being greatly in excess of any other county of the State, being indeed about 50 per cent. of OIL CUPS OIL-CHANNEL SSS3) RS SE SESS OULSE CANNEL SSS. SSS Tits Iron Ac Fig. 2.—Section of Rigid Sleeve Cone Bearing. GOULD NEW THE the iron and almost three-fourths of the steel gains in both instances over the year 1900. There were 7,364,295 tons of pig iron made in the State in 1901, against 6,271,688 tons in 1900, 6,542,998 in 1899, 5,367,979 in 1898, 4,617,634 in 1897 and 4,026,350 in 1896, the year when the tide turned for the better in business. The capital invested in the plants necessary to produce the huge total of 1901 was $152,000,000 in round figures, or three times what was invested in fur- naces in 1896. The total production of steel for Pennsylvania in 1901 was 7,959,720 tons, 4,310,144 being Bessemer and 3,554,823 open hearth. The following table will show the growth of the industry since 1896: Year. Total. Bessemer. Open hearth. ees ee ‘ .. 6,256,775 3,488,569 2,702,968 Ss sie ss dia ww o 6,446,159 8,971,835 2,398,210 Si a nos crea ekene ee 5,275,984 3,357,684 1,848,732 PE ah bis. creamed ...- 4,318,622 2,848,204 1,421,373 ROO sis a sadness esas 3,345,529 2,292,814 1,009,608 The balances in these five years were made by cru- cible and other processes. The production of pig iron, shows that Allegheny County is still far in the lead, pro- ducing about one-half of the total tonnage made at the blast furnaces of the Keystone State. A total of 3,685,- 665 tons was made in the 32 furnaces of the Pittsburgh district, against 3,124,072 tons in 1900, when Allegheny produced 49.031 per cent. of the State’s pig iron. Mercer County climbed to 622,877 from 437,754 tons in 1900 and Mambria gained a total of 511,533 tons from 424,056 tons according to counties, IRON & EBERHARDT AGE. August 28, 1:02 in 1900, all being made by the stacks of the Cambria Steel Company. Lawrence County, which made 365,- 802 tons in 1900, lost fourth place to Lebanon last year, the stacks in the Cornwall district producing 382,436 tons in 1901, against 235,200 in 1900 and jumping Lebanon County from eighth to fourth place. Lawrence ranks fifth this year, with 359,260 tons, while Dauphin County, with Harrisburg and Steelton furnaces, remains in sixth place, with 312,400 tons, against 276,314 tons made in 1900. Berks, the Reading district, is next, with 265,065, while Lehigh County, once the great iron county of the State, is eighth, with 230,570, whereas a year before it stood fifth, with 279,767 tons. Northampton’s production in 1901 was 179,647, a gain of 15,000 tons over 1900. Other counties and their productions are: Montgomery, 170,816; Bedford, 99,534, a gain of 20,000 tons over 1900; Lackawanna, 80,241; Fayette, 77,914; Jefferson, 68,842; Armstrong, 55,000; Delaware, 42,003; Centre, 42,000; Cameron, 37,723; Westmoreland, 37,347; Carbon, 32,227; Bucks, 30,025; York, 15,154; Perry, 13,600; Mifflin, 1954, and Huntingdon, 1958. The steel production shows that Allegheny gained over 1,000,000 tons, the record being 5,140,580, the great- est ever known, while the production in 1900 was 4,049,- TO OIL CONE %&” on curs—{—\ AT 7 — TO OtL SHAFT Tus Tron AoE Fig. 3.—Method of Oiling Cone Bearing. SHAPER. 257 tons. Cambria is next, with 655,775, the 1900 show- ing having been 511,955. Production in other counties as follows: for the two years was County. 1901. 1900. PE Cs Sead ewan e Pe cbcesiweablwde 426,787 36..,269 I 565 is HE Kors be a eR 851,845 288,052 DE: cicis a wh 0d oEM ao OMD ENE 308,990 239,064 I io 3 sain. ase ah we ed en wea aa 267,174 196,903 I oc: besos eiale ale ae eat ew ow ba 217,518 93,842 SE ne Cah ct SERRE CV ok eM 198,150 None reported. a ee te ee ee eee, - 152,715 124,746 OUND FS 30.5 oid beige aii Ba eke ee 68,796 63.778 NI os Sa, 5 5: Wales isnt Side tabi Mil wwe 4 tat 61,111 238,542 IR au x cack vasp i od Sent See, be mae Wee wes 60,597 35,577 RR a Ser ee te ae as 23,101 23,800 I ocala ab ac ablne wilh ear eel ee 14,193 11,226 DED ci Cishottawtens. seuss Racers ee 3,900 4,425 hice balk hw ene adnan AG eR Se ae 3,700 None reported. PE iat tasMengecilh CAG oN eae ak eae 3,570 2,253 Montour and Lebanon, which made steel in 1900, are not reported as in the producing list in 1901. E. J. 8. jadi ideation lama tai The Atlanta Water & Electric Power Company of At- lanta, Ga., have been organized to build a dam across the Chattahoochee River with the object of furnishing the city of Atlanta with electric power. The following are the officers of the concern: President, S. Morgan Smith, York, Pa.; vice-president, Forest Adair, Atlanta; Board of Directors: S. Morgan Smith and C, Hilmer Smith, York, Pa.; George C. Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Torest Adair and J. C. Spalding, Atlanta. The company are capitalized at $1,500,000. eee ee es — August 28, 1902 THE Census Report on Iron and Steel. More Comprehensive than Any Previous Report. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 26, 1902.—The report of the Census Bureau upon the manufacture of iron and steel in the United States in'the census year 1900 has been completed by Wm. G. Gray, expert special agent. It covers this great industry in a much more comprehen- sive manner than has been possible at any previous cen- sus. A special effort has been made to supply for this report data not gathered by the American Iron and Steel Association, in order to avoid a duplication and to fur- nish statistics not available for the association’s an- nual reports. As in the census for 1890, this report is divided into four parts, as follows: I. The iron and steel industry as a whole. II. The manufacture of pig iron. Ill. The manufacture of steel ingots and steel castings and rolled iron and steel. IV. The manufacture of iron blooms and hammered bar iron for sale. I.—The Iron and Steel Industry as a Whole. In the following table will be found full and com- plete data covering the industry as a whole, and show- ing the number of establishments, capital invested, per- sons employed, expenses, cost of materials and quantity and value of product for the census year 1900, as com- pared with 189v: 1900. 1890. Number of active establishments.... 669 719 CONOR ENS as det shaweene et CNR Aee $590,530,484 $414,044,844 Number of salaried officials, clerks, &c. 9,217 4,325 PE, ACRE RM Ea CER Belek ee me $11,741,788 $6,462,236 Wage earners, average number..... 222,607 171,181 We. WN a cb See Cee dutceke coves $120,836,338 $89,273,956 Miscellaneous expenses............ $32,274,100 $18,214,948 Cost of materials used............. $522,431,701 $327,272,845 i oe ee” re $804,034,918 $478,687,519 Tons of products, gross tons........ 29,508,730 16,264,479 Pennsylvania’s Pre-emiaence, For over 100 years Pennsylvania has led in the manu- facture of iron and steel in the United States, and in 1900 it still held this position, being far in the lead of any other State in that year. Of the total capital re- ported, Pennsylvania contributed $321,985,659, or con- siderably over one-half, as compared with $226,294,407 in 1890, which was then over one-half, and $102,956,223 in 1880, a little less than one-half. In 1900 in this in- dustry Pennsylvania gave work to 110,864 wage earners, almost one-half of the total reported, paying them $61,- 908,405, or over one-half of the totals in the United States. In 1890 the average number of wage earners reported by the State was 92,473, or considerably over one-halt of the entire number reported, and amount of wages paid was $49,550,665, also much more than half that paid by the country at large. In 1880 the average num- ber of wage earners given employment in Pennsylvania was 57,952, and the wages paid amounted to $25,095,850, being considerably less than one-half of the total wage earners; but they were paid almost one-half of the total wages reported for the country at large. In 1900 the cost of all materials used by iron and steel establishments, including freight charges in Penn- sylvania, was $283,142,785, considerably more than the total cost reported by all the other States in the Union combined. In 1890 the amount reported by Pennsyl- vania for cost of materials was $180,220,237, and in 1880 it was $92,267,039. The value of the iron and steel products reported by Pennsylvania in 1900 was $434,- 445,200, or over 54 per cent. of the total value reported. In 1890 the figures for Pennsylvania were $264,571,624, or over 55 per cent., and in 1880 they were $145,576,268, or over 49 per cent. Position of Ohio and Illinois, Of the total capital invested in 1900, Ohio, which ranked second in the manufacture of iron and steel, re- ported $86,477,552, as compared with $37,642,887 in 1890, and $22,807,606 in 1880. The average number of wage earners reported was 32,677 in 1900, 23,546 in 1890 and 20,071 in 1880, the wages paid to these workers amount- ing to $19,730,469 in 1900, $13,262,141 in 1890, and IRON AGE. 3 $8,265,070 in 1880. The cost of materials, including freight charges, was $91,329,307 in 1900, $44,551,301 in 1890, and $23,997,915 in 1880. The value of the products amounted to $138,935,256 in 1900, compared with $65,- 206,828 in 1890, and $34,918,360 in 1880. Illinois, which was third in importance in 1900 in the manufacture of iron and steel, had capital invested in that year to the amount of $43,356,239, compared with $34,689,919 in 1890, and $5,795,620 in 1880. The average number of wage earners employed in 1900 was 16,642, compared with 8685 in 1890 and 5253 in 1880. The wages paid amounted to $9,640,716 in 1900, $5,220,883 in 1890, and $2,508,718 in 1880. For materials, the active iron and steel establishments in Lllinois paid $41,729,- 261 in 1900, $30,039,674 in 1890, and $14,977,145 in 1880. rhe value of their products amounted to $60,303,144 in 1900, $39,011,051 in 1890, and $20,545,289 in 1880. Combining the leading details for Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois the results obtained show that 76.5 per cent. of the total capital reported by all active iron and steel establishments in 1990 was invested in the three States <7 named, against 72.1 per cent. in 1890, and 62.7 per cent. in 1880; that these States employed 72.5 per cent. of the number of wage earners reported for 1900 for the entire iron and steel industry, against 72.8 per cent. in 1890 and 59.1 per cent. in 1880; that in 1900 they paid these wage earners 75.5 per cent. of the total wages paid in the United States to workmen engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel, against 76.2 per cent. in 1890 and 64.7 per cent. in 1880; that in 1900 they paid for materials 79.7 per cent. of the total cost reported by all iron and steel establishments, against 77.9 per cent. in 1890, and 68.6 per cent. in 1880; and that the value of the iron and steel products manufactured within their borders amounted in 1900 to 78.8 per cent. of the total value re- ported for the country at large, against 77 per cent. in 1890, and 67.8 per cent. in 1880. Ranking the remaining leading iron and steel manu- facturing States according to the value of their products in 1900, New Jersey was fourth, Indiana fifth, Alabama sixth, West Virginia seventh, New York eighth, Massa- chusetts ninth, Wisconsin tenth, Maryland eleventh, Virginia twelfth, Kentucky thirteenth, Michigan four- teenth and Tennessee fifteenth. In each of these States the iron and steel produced in 1900 amounted in value to over $5,000,000, but less than $25,000,000. In the same year the value of the iron and steel products of none of the other States exceeded $5,000,000. Comparisons with Previous Census Figures. The ever increasing consumptive powers of the United States for iron and steel, and the phenomenal growth of the industry as a whole during the last 30 years, are most strikingly shown by comparing the production of 1900 with that of 1870. In the former year the produc- tion of iron and steel amounted to 29,508,730 gross tons, while in the latter year it was only 3,263,585 tons, an in- crease of 26,245,145 tons, or 804.2 per cent. The strong and steady growth of the industry by decades is also forcibly shown by comparing the figures for each of the census periods. In 1870 the total production of iron and steel) amounted to 3,263,585 gross tons; in 1880 it had crown to 6,486,733 tons, an increase of 98.8 per cent.,and | tonnage of 3,223,148; in 1890 it had jumped to 16,264,- 17S tons, an increase of 9,777,745 tons, or 150.7 per cent., and in 1900 it reached 29,508,730 tons, an increase of 15,244,252 tons, or 81.4 per cent. But coexistent with the phenomenal growth of the iro: and steel industry from 1870 to 1900, there was a sti! more wonderful decrease in the cost to consumers of «ll iron and steel products. Thirty years ago the av- erave price per ton of the total product was $63.49; ten years later, in 1880, the average price was $45.70 per ton; in 1890, ten years ago, it was $29.43 per ton, and in 1900, 1 year of high prices and of great prosperity, the averace price per ton has fallen to $27.24, considerably less than one-half of the price prevailing 30 years ago, and k-s than two-thirds of the price realized 20 years ago. The Production Considered by States. During the census year, 1900, there were 29 States which produced iron or steel in the form of pig iron. THE strain of the driving belt on the cone is carried by the rigid sleeye journal, bolted by means of the flange to the side wall of the shaper, as shown at E, the driving shaft being compelled to carry only the torsional strain incidental to the driving of the machine. This con- struction reduces to a minimum the wear of the cone shaft bearing and insures the proper meshing of the driving gears. With proper attention to lubrication this bearing should outlast the machine. All parts of the sleeve bearing are cast iron. ctecnsinbignleniaillanapiasaasini Pennsylvania’s Pig Iron and Steel Produce by Counties. HLARRISBURG, PA., August 22, 1902.—Advance sheets of the report of the Pennsylvania State Bureau of Indus- trial Statistics, whose figures are officially collected from every establishment in the commonwealth, show that the production of iron and steel in 1901 far exceeded that of the preceding year, which had held the record. Marvelous advances are shown, and once more Alle- gheny County is the banner county, its production of both steel and iron being greatly in excess of any other county of the State, being indeed about 50 per cent. of eae yn t a t > } Oo t - { 5 f } f 0) | OS 14 Nave OICCEHANNEL SS 3} LY NN SOSA CRE EEE EE SERS OILS CHANNEL. WH Tits Iron Ac Fig. 2.—Section of Rigid Sleeve Cone Bearing. THE NEW the iron and almost three-fourths of the steel gains in both instances over the year 1900. There were 7,364,295 tons of pig iron made in the State in 1901, against 6,271,688 tons in 1900, 6,542,998 in 1899, 5,367,979 in 1898, 4,617,634 in 1897 and 4,026,350 in 1896, the year when the tide turned for the better in business. The capital invested in the plants necessary to produce the huge total of 1901 was $152,000,000 in round figures, or three times what was invested in fur- naces in 1896. The total production of steel for Pennsylvania in 1901 was 7,959,720 tons, 4,310,144 being Bessemer and 3,554,823 open hearth. The following table will show the growth of the industry since 1896: Year. Total. Bessemer. Open hearth. ven akawtksci Seek 6,256,775 3,488,569 2,702,968 MOD kivirncanes bowed 6,446,159 3,971,835 2,398,210 Serer re 3,357,684 1,848,732 SR Kia Oa Gahktes 4am 4,318,622 2,848,204 1,421,373 Pcs se Snabnes eee dS 3,345,529 2,292,814 1,009,608 The balances in these five years were made by cru- cible and other processes. The production of pig iron, according to counties, shows that Allegheny County is still far in the lead, pro- ducing about one-half of the total tonnage made at the blast furnaces of the Keystone State. A total of 3,685,- 665 tons was made in the 32 furnaces of the Pittsburgh district, against 3,124,072 tons in 1900, when Allegheny produced 49.031 per cent. of the State’s pig iron. Mercer County climbed to 622,877 from 437,754 tons.in 1900 and Cambria gained a total of 511,533 tons from 424,056 tons IRON GOULD & EBERHARDT AGE. August 28, 102 in 1900, all being made by the stacks of the Cambria Steel Company. Lawrence County, which made 365,- 802 tons in 1900, lost fourth place to Lebanon last year, the stacks in the Cornwall district producing 382,436 tons in 1901, against 235,200 in 1900 and jumping Lebanon County from eighth to fourth place. Lawrence ranks fifth this year, with 359,260 tons, while Dauphin County, with Harrisburg and Steelton furnaces, remains in sixth place, with 312,400 tons, against 276,314 tons made in 1900. Berks, the Reading district, is next, with 265,065, while Lehigh County, once the great iron county of the State, is eighth, with 230,570, whereas a year before it stood fifth, with 279,767 tons. Northampton’s production in 1901 was 179,647, a gain of 15,000 tons over 1900. Other counties and their productions are: Montgomery, 170,816; Bedford, 99,534, a gain of 20,000 tons over 1900; Lackawanna, 80,241; Fayette, 77,914; Jefferson, 68,842; Armstrong, 55,000; Delaware, 42,003; Centre, 42,000; Cameron, 37,723; Westmoreland, 37,347; Carbon, 32,227; Bucks, 30,025; York, 15,154; Perry, 13,600; Mifflin, 1954, and Huntingdon, 1953. The steel production shows that Allegheny gained over 1,000,000 tons, the record being 5,140,580, the great- est ever known, while the production in 1900 was 4,049,- TO OL CONE 2= %&” on curs—(-\ TO OtL SHAFT Tue TRon AGE Fig. 3.—Method of Oiling Cone Bearing. SHAPER. 257 tons. Cambria is next, with 655,775, the 1900 show- ing having been 511,955. : Production in other counties for the two years was as follows: County. 1901. 1900. a ee a oer ree ee ne 426,787 361,269 I ik. i Hews 48s Ome ORD 351,845 288,052 PE TEE TC ee ee 308,990 239,064 ROD non Rad ieee ne VL RRR AORRRE 267,174 196,903 RN He oe ee ag che ha Chern ee 217,518 93,842 OU 05 6-5-6:5 43.8 VSU cHT Ve vag 198,150 None reported. RE ey eee 152,715 124,746 IG 5 65 5 xia de Rew hae den 68,796 63,778 NO yd x siasel s dhe ala «Oa ds Wee a 61,111 238,542 NINN Sa gigheceun Sms, WRk eR coe sie views 60,597 35,577 EE ark SS dm heh V elee ee aaah eke 23,101 23,800 NEE 5 5s 'ware 4 ba he kas Oe eee 14,193 11,226 _, ... SRLS eR Tee ree ee re TP 3,900 4,425 ws se sapie Man sla xbllels. Kaleo ee aletccets 3,700 None reported. SUE ay oes Sepia rie kaebod bake oe acd bee 3,570 2,253 Montour and Lebanon, which made steel in 1900, are not reported as in the producing list in 1901. BE. J. 8. a The Atlanta Water & Electric Power Company of At- lanta, Ga., have been organized to build a dam across the Chattahoochee River with the object of furnishing the city of Atlanta with electric power. The following are the officers of the concern: President, S. Morgan Smith, York, Pa.; vice-president, Forest Adair, Atlanta; Board of Directors: 8S. Morgan Smith and C. Hilmer Smith, York, Pa.; George C. Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Forest Adair and J. C. Spalding, Atlanta. The company are capitalized at $1,500,000. ~~ a ev cK Re mS; August 28, 1902 THE Census Report on Iron and Steel. More Comprehensive than Any Previous Report. WaAsHINGTON, D. C., August 26, 1902.—The report of the Census Bureau upon the manufacture of iron and steel in the United States in the census year 1900 has been completed by Wm. G. Gray, expert special agent. It covers this great industry in a much more comprehen- sive manner than has been possible at any previous cen- sus. A special effort has been made to supply for this report data not gathered by the American Iron and Steel Association, in order to avoid a duplication and to fur- nish statistics not available for the association’s an- nual reports. As in the census for 1890, this report is divided into four parts, as follows: I. The iron and steel industry as a whole. II. The manufacture of pig iron. Ill. The manufacture of steel ingots and steel castings and rolled iron and steel. IV. The manufacture of iron blooms and hammered bar iron for sale. I.—The Iron and Steel Industry as a Whole. In the following table will be found full and com- plete data covering the industry as a whole, and show- ing the number of establishments, capital invested, per- sons employed, expenses, cost of materials and quantity and value of product for the census year 1900, as com- pared with 189v: 1900. 1890. Number of active establishments.... 669 719 UIE hee bec UECS cree cenndee dwn $590,530,484 $414,044,844 Number of salaried officials, clerks, &c. 9,217 4,325 NE ain sd Bi a/ech wiachmte tials Wa awe $11,741,788 $6,462,236 Wage earners, average number..... 222,607 171,181 Be We CRG ONechuekiwetwnee’ $120,836,338 $89,273,956 Miscellaneous expenses............ $32,274,100 $18,214,948 Cost of materials used............. $522,431,701 $327,272,845 Vere Gh -OOUNON 6 6s kik ccearsws $804,034,918 $478,687,519 Tons of products, gross tons........ 29,508,730 16,264,479 Pennsylivania’s Pre-emiaence, lor over 100 years Pennsylvania has led in the manu- facture of iron and steel in the United States, and in 1900 it still held this position, being far in the lead of any other State in that year. Of the total capital re- ported, Pennsylvania contributed $321,985,659, or con- siderably over one-half, as compared with $226,294,407 in 1890, which was then over one-half, and $102,956,223 in 1880, a little less than one-half. In 1900 in this in- dustry Pennsylvania gave work to 110,864 wage earners, almost one-half of the total reported, paying them $61,- 908,405, or over one-half of the totals in the United States. In 1890 the average number of wage earners reported by the State-was 92,4738, or considerably over one-half of the entire number reported, and amount of wages paid was $49,550,665, also much more than half that paid by the country at large. In 1880 the average num- ber of wage earners given employment in Pennsylvania was 57,952, and the wages paid amounted to $25,095,850, being considerably less than one-half of the total wage earners; but they were paid almost one-half of the total wages reported for the country at large. In 1900 the cost of all materials used by iron and steel establishments, including freight charges in Penn- sylvania, was $283,142,785, considerably more than the total cost reported by all the other States in the Union combined. In 1890 the amount reported by Pennsyl- vania for cost of materials was $180,220,237, and in 1880 it was $92,267,039. The value of the iron and steel products reported by Pennsylvania in 1900 was $434,- 445,200, or over 54 per cent. of the total value reported. In 1890 the figures for Pennsylvania were $264,571,624, or over 55 per cent., and in 1880 they were $145,576,268, or over 49 per cent. Position of Ohio and [llinois, Of the total capital invested in 1900, Ohio, which ranked second in the manufacture of iron and steel, re- ported $86,477,552, as compared with $37,642,887 in 1890, and $22,807,606 in 1880. The average number of wage earners reported was 33,677 in 1900, 23,546 in 1890 and 20,071 in 1880, the wages paid to these workers amount- ing to $19,730,469 in 1900, $13,262,141 in 1890, and [RON AGE. 3 $8,265,070 in 1880. The cost of materials, including freight charges, was $91,329,307 in 1900, $44,551,301 in 1890, and $23,997,915 in 1880. The value of the products amounted to $138,935,256 in 1900, compared with $65,- 206,828 in 1890, and $34,918,360 in 1880. Illinois, which was third in importance in 1900 in the manufacture of iron and steel, had capital invested in that year tu the amount of $43,356,239, compared with $34,689,919 in 1890, and $5,795,620 in 1880. The average number of wage earners employed in 1900 was 16,642, compared with 8685 in 1890 and 5253 in 1880. The wages paid amounted to $9,640,716 in 1900, $5,220,883 in 1890, and $2,508,718 in 1880. For materials, the active iron and steel establishments in Illinois paid $41,729,- 261 in 1900, $30,039,674 in 1890, and $14,977,145 in 1880. rhe value of their products amounted to $60,303,144 in 1900, $39,011,051 in 1890, and $20,545,289 in 1880. Combining the leading details for Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois the results obtained show that 76.5 per cent. of the total capital reported by all active iron and steel establishments in 1990 was invested in the three States named. against 72.1 per cent. in 1890, and 62.7 per cent. in 1880; that these States employed 72.5 per cent. of the number of wage earners reported for 1900 for the entire iron and steel industry, against 72.8 per cent. in 1890 and 59.1 per cent. in 1880; that in 1900 they paid these wage earners 75.5 per cent. of the total wages paid in the United States to workmen engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel, against 76.2 per cent. in 1890 and 64.7 per cent. in 1880; that in 1900 they paid for materials 79.7 per cent. of the total cost reported by all iron and steel establishments, against 77.9 per cent. in 1890, and 68.6 per cent. in 1880; and that the value of the iron and steel products manufactured within their borders amounted in 1900 to 78.8 per cent. of the total value re- ported for the country at large, against 77 per cent. in 1890, and 67.8 per cent. in 1880. Ranking the remaining leading iron and steel manu- facturing States according to the value of their products in 1900, New Jersey was fourth, Indiana fifth, Alabama sixth, West Virginia seventh, New York eighth, Massa- chusetts ninth, Wisconsin tenth, Maryland eleventh, Virginia twelfth, Kentucky thirteenth, Michigan four- teenth and Tennessee fifteenth. In each of these States the iron and steel produced in 1900 amounted in value to over $5,000,000, but less than $25,000,000. In the same year the value of the iron and steel products of none of the other States exceeded $5,000,000. Comparisons with Previous Census Figures. The ever increasing consumptive powers of the United States for iron and steel, and the phenomenal growth of the industry as a whole during the last 30 years, are most strikingly shown by comparing the production of 1900 with that of 1870. In the former year the produc- tion of iron and steel amounted to 29,508,730 gross tons, while in the latter year it was only 3,263,585 tons, an in crease of 26,245,145 tons, or 804.2 per cent. The strong and steady growth of the industry by decades is also forcibly shown by comparing the figures for each of the census periods. In 1870 the total production of iron and stee] amounted to 3,263,585 gross tons; in 1880 it had grown to 6,486,733 tons, an increase of 98.8 per cent.,and in tonnage of 3,223,148; in 1890 it had jumped to 16,264,- 478 tons, an increase of 9,777,745 tons, or 150.7 per cent., and in 1900 it reached 29,508,730 tons, an increase of 13,244,252 tons, or 81.4 per cent. But coexistent with the phenomenal growth of the iron and steel industry from 1870 to 1900, there was a still more wonderful decrease in the cost to consumers of all iron and steel products. Thirty years ago the av- erage price per ton of the total product was $63.49; ten years later, in 1880, the average price was $45.70 per ton; in 1890, ten years ago, it was $29.43 per ton, and in 1900, a year of high prices and of great prosperity, the average price per ton has fallen to $27.24, considerably less than one-half of the price prevailing 30 years ago, and less than two-thirds of the price realized 20 years ago. The Production Considered by States. During the census year, 1900, there were 29 States which produced iron or steel in the form of pig iron. 4 THE IRON steel ingots or castings, rolled iron or steel, or ham- mered blooms and bars for sale, compared with 31 States and Territories in 1890, which manufactured similar products, 32 in 1880 and 25 in 1870. The production of Pennsylvania amounted to 15,291,581 gross tons, as com- pared with 8,622,745 tons in 1890, 3,229,168 tons in 1880, and 1,64€,007 tons in 1870. Of the total production of the whole country Pennsylvania contributed 51.8 per cent. in 1900, against 53 per cent. in 1890, 49.8 per cent. in 1880 and 50.3 per cent. in 1870. During the last 30 years this State has produced practically one-half of the total quantity of iron and steel reported for each of the four census periods named above. From 1890 to 1900 its increased production amounted to 6,668,836 gross tons, or 77.8 per cent., compared with an increase in the whole country during the same period of 138,244,252 tons, or 81.4 per cent. Irom 1880 to 1890 its output increased 5,393,577 tons, or 167 per cent., while the increased pro- duction of the whole country was 9,777,745 tons, or 150.7 per cent. From 1870 to 1880 its production increased 1,589,161 tons, or 96.9 per cent, and the output of the country at large increased 3,223,147 tons, or 98.8 per cent. Ohio ranked second in production in 1900, 1880 and 1870, its output in the first period named amounting to 5,297,191 tons, against 2,210,296 tons in the second, 830,- 483 in the third, and 401,579 in the fourth period. Of the total production for the whole country for 1900 Ohio contributed 18 per cent., compared with 13.6 per cent. in 1890, 12.8 per cent. in 1880 and 12.3 per cent. in 1870. Illinois ranked third in production in 1900 and 1890, fourth in 1880 and fifteenth in 1870, its total output in 1900 amounting to 2,954,876 tons, against 1,479,754 tons in 1890, 373,185 tons in 1880 and 23,001 tons in 1870. Of the total production for the whole country Lllinois con- tributed 10 per cent. in 1900, against 9.1 per cent. in 1890, 5.8 per cent. in 1880 and seven-tenths of 1 per cent. in 1870. Alabama was fourth in rank in 1900 and 1890, tifteenth in 1880 and twentieth in 1870, its total produc- tion in 1900 amounting to 1,303,595 tons, against 864,- 120 tons in 1890, 56,237 tons in 1880 and 6304 tons in 1870. Alabama contributed to the total production of the country 4.4 per cent. in 1900, 5.3 per cent. in 1890, 0.9 per cent. in 1880 and 0.2 per cent. in 1870. The four States named above—Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Alabama—produced, as a whole, during the census year 1900, 24,847,243 tons of iron and steel, com- pared with 13,176,915 tons in 1890, 4,489,073 tons in 1880 and 2,070,891 tons in 1870. In 1900 their proportion of the total production of the country was 84.2 per cent., in 1890 it was 81 per cent., in 1880 it was 69.3 per cent., and in 1870 it was 63.5 per cent. They increased their aggregate production in 1900 over 1890 by 11,670,328 tons, or 88.6 per cent.; in 1890 over 1880 by 8,687,842 tons, or 193.5 per cent., and in 1880 over 1870 by 2,418,- 182 tons, or 116.8 per cent. Comparison of Branches of the Iron Trade. In 1900 over one-fourth of the aggregate capital re- ported was invested in the blast furnace industry, a little less than three-fourths in the rolling mil) and steel works industry, and only one-tenth of 1 per cent. in the forge and bloomery industry. In 1890 the blast furnace industry reported about one-third of the aggregate capi- tal invested, the rolling mill and steel works industry a little less than two-thirds, and the forge and bloomery industry a little over two-tenths of 1 per cent. In active blast furnace establishments in 1900 the capital invested amounted to $148,226,113, against $134,- 608,548 similarly invested in 1890, and $89,531,362 in 1880. In idle blast furnace establishments the capital in- vested in 1900 was $9,981,445, compared with $6,458,865 similarly invested in 1890, and $14,394,883 in 1880. During each of the three census periods the amount of capital invested in building blast furnace enterprises exceeded $1,000,000, the figures being as follows: 1900, $1,026,475; 1890, $2,566,518; 1880, $1,224,931. Referring to the rolling mills and steel works it is found that the aggregate capital invested in active establishments amounted in 1900 to $441,795,983, com- pared with $278,559,831 in 1890, and $116,458,390 in 1880, the amount reported in 1900 being almost four times the amount reported for 1880. The idle rolling mill AGE. August 28, 1902 establishments in 1900 represented an investment of $8,180,487, compared with $5,711,698 in 1890, and $4,- 064,355 in 1880. In establishments in course of con- struction the investment in 1900 amounted to $5,240,282, against $1,525,160 in 1890, and $902,000 in 1880. The forge and bloomery industry is rapidly declin- ing. From an aggregate investment of $4,395,963 in establishments of this character in 1880, the amount has fallen to $619,488 in 1900. In 1890 the amount in- vested was $1,074,970. Of the total for 1900 the active establishments reported had $508,388 invested, compared with $876,470 in 1890 and $3,915,213 in 1880. In 1900 the idle establishments reported capital to the amount of $111,100, against $198,500 in 1890 and $480,750 in 1880. Not one forge or bloomery producing bars or blooms for sale was in process of construction in the United States at the close of the census year, nor was any plant of this character erected in this country dur- ing the year named. The number of active, idle and building iron and steel establishments in the United States in 1900 was 798, against 872 in 1890 and 1005 in 1880, a decrease in 20 years of 207. Beginning with blast furnaces, it is found that the number of establishments has dimin- ished in 20 years from 490 in 1880 to 278 in 1900, a re- duction of 212. It is also found that during the same period the number of establishments which owned or operated forges or bloomeries declined from 118 to 14, a loss of 104. Taking up the rolling mill and steel works industry, however, a gain in the number of establishments for the 20 years is shown—namely, from 397 in 1880 to 440 in 1890, and to 506 in 1900,the gain during the 20 yearsbeing 109 establishments. It may be added that since the close of the census year a large number of new rolling mills and steel plants have been built, while the work of erecting additional plants is now being vigorously pushed. At the close of December, 1901, between 30 and 35 new plants were being equipped in the United States for the manufacture of pig iron and steel, or for rolling iron and steel. Details of Production. The preduction of pig iron in 1900, including spiegel- eisen and ferromanganese and castings made direct from the blast furnace, as compared with 1890, showed an in- crease of 5,607,049 tons, or 63.4 per cent. In 1890 the in- creased producticn over 1880 was 5,469,273 tons, or 162 per cent. As compared with 1880 the increase in 1900 amounted to 11,076,322 tons, or 328 per cent. The total production of 190 exceeded by 2,231,137 tons the com- bined production of 1890 and 1880. The production of rolled and forged iron and steel and of direct steel castings by rolling mills and steel works in 1900 exceeded by 4,605,848 tons, or 44.1 per cent. of the combined production of both 1890 and 1880, the figures for 1900 being 15,040,129 tons, and for the combined periods 10,434,281 tons. As compared with 1890 the production in 1900 increased 7,651,885 tons, or 103.6 per cent., while as compared with 1880 the pro- duction in 1890 increased 4,342,207 tons, or 142.5 per cent. If the production of 1900 is compared with that of 1880 an increase of 11,994,091 tons, or 394 per cent., is shown for the 20 years. The production of blooms and hammered bar iron for sale by forges and bloomeries shows a heavy decline in 1900, as compared with 1890 and 1880. In the ten years from 1890 to 1900 this decline amounted to 14,682 tons, or 47.3 per cent., and from 1880 to 1890 it amounted to 33,734 tons, or 52.1 per cent. In the 20 years from 1880 to 1900 the decrease amounted to 48,416 tons, or 74.7 per cent. While the figures given above for pig iron and for castings produced direct from the blast furnaces are full and complete for the three periods named, and con- tain no duplications whatever, it should be explained that in reaching grand totals for the three branches of the iron and steel industry nnder review serious dupli- eations are unavoidable, both in quantities and values. In the quantity and value of tne steel castings reported, of the rolled and forged products manufactured and of the hammered blooms and bars made, there is always August 28, 1902 a duplication of the quantity and value of the pig iron consumed in the manufacture of these products. Il.—_The Manufacture of Pig Iron The following table shows the details of this branch of the industry for 1900 as compared with 1890: 1900. 1890. Number of establishments.......... 224 304 ioe enn eee tua ees ca hake $148,226,113 $134,608,543 No, salaried officials, clerks, &c.... 1,763 1,068 So aracdia bol ute a: Wed oa e Oe Fak ws $2,308,420 $1,611,687 Wage earners, average number..... 39,358 33,415 Ns eihavewsice.s cvewees we $18,500,462 $14,614,458 Miscellaneous expenses............ >7,463,234 $6,342,675 Cost of materials used............ $131,536,424 $110,098,615 WeIGe GE BUCRIB ee cic ccecaress $206,823,202 $145,643,153 WU OF POGOe ait ce dee ie vcedess 14,452,234 8,845,185 Quantities of Materials Used. The materials used by this branch of the industry in 1900 were valued at $131,356,424, as follows: Domestic iron ore, 24,621,397 tons, value $61,800,805; foreign iron ore, including manganese ore, 754,383 tons, value $4,107,- 449; fluxing material, 7,326,706 tons, value $5,059,632: anthracite coal and culm, 886,564 tons, value $2,297,419; bituminous coal and slack, 832,235 tons, value $1,101,- 812; coke, 14,697,797 tons, value $38,976,776; charcoal, $1,421,585 bushels, value $1,846,201; mill cinder and scrap, 1,600,313 tons, value $3,772,385; all other mate- rial, value $12,574,451. The foreign ores reported, which include considerable quantities of manganese ore, were obtained from Cuba, Spain, Italy (Island of Elba), Greece, Algeria, Russia, India, Japan, Turkey, Newfoundland, Canada, Brazil, Chiie, Panama, Columbia, and perhaps one or two other countries. Cuba furnished by far the largest quantity in 1900 and 1890, about one-half of the quantity reported for 1900 coming from that country. Considerable quan- tities also came from Spain and Newfoundland in 1900. In 1890 almost all the foreign iron ore used came from Cuba. Large quantities of foreign manganese ores were consumed in Pittsburgh in 1900 in the manufacture of spiegeleisen and ferromanganese, and some even as far west as Chicago; aside from this very little foreign ore was consumed by blast furnaces west of the Alleghany Mountains. Manganese ores came chiefly from Russia, India, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, Panama and Chile. The consumption of foreign ore in 1900 was 219,467 tons less than in 1890. In 1880 the quantity consumed was not ascertained. Character and Value of Pig Iron, The pig iron produced in 1900 was divided as fol- lows: Mixed anthracite coal and coke pig iron, 1,796,000 tons; coke and bituminous coal pig iron, 12,253,818 tons; charcoal pig iron, 303,567 tons; anthracite coal pig iron, 45,857 tons; mixed charcoal and coke pig iron, 52,992 tons. Massachusetts reports the highest average price per ton for pig iron in 1900. Connecticut reports the next highest average price. No details can be given for these States for the year named, however, without disclosing the operations of their single pig iron producing estab- lishments. The pig iron made in these States is pro- duced exclusively with charcoal as fuel and is used for special purposes. Georgia reports the next highest aver- age price per ton for 1900—namely, $17.96. Almost all of this iron was made with charcoal as fuel. The average price reported by Pennsylvania in 1900, nearly all the iron being made with mineral fuel, was $14.98, as compared with $17.31 in 1890 and $26.08 in 1880. In Ohio the average price was a little higher than in Pennsylvania—namely, $15.75—but in 1890 it was lower. In 1880:the prices were almost the same. The lowest average price for pig iron in 1900 was reported by Illinois, the average being $10.23. A large part of the pig iron made in this State is consumed by the makers in the manufacture of steel, which perhaps acounts for the low average price shown. Alabama re- ported the next lowest average, $11.21, and Tennessee the next, $12.54. The average price for the whole coun- try was $14.29 in 1900, $16.46 in 1890 and $26.13 in 1880. The total blast furnace production in the census year is classified by grades, as follows: Bessemer pig iron, THE IRON AGE. > 8,475,530 tons; basic, 937,489 tons; foundry, 3,514,743 tons: forge, 1,057,616 tons; white and motted and mis- cellaneous, 208,323 tons; ferrosilicon, 35,910 tons; spiegel- eisen, 163,672 tons; ferromanganese, 51,878 tons; direct castings, 7123 tons. Rank of the States as to Grades of Pig Iron. Pennsylvania produced considerably more than one- half (54.5 per cent.) of the Bessemer pig iron made in the United States in the census year 1900, over two- thirds (71.1 per cent.) of the basic pig iron, almost one- fourth (24.4 per cent.) of the foundry iron, over two- fifths (42.2 per cent.) of the forge iron, about one-fourth (24.04 ner cent.) of the white and mottled and miscel- laneous grades, over one-fourth (28.4 per cent.) of the ferrosilicon, almust one-half (45.9 per cent.) of the spie- geleisen, practically all of the ferromanganese, and over thiee-fifths (61.1 per cent.) of the direct castings. Ohio ranked second in the production of Bessemer pig iron (22 per cent.), second in the production of basic iron (10 per cent.), and second in the production of forge iron (23.3 per cent.), was first in the production of ferro- silicon (53 per cent.). Its rank as a producer of foundry iron, however, was third (8.7 per cent.), and it was also third as a manufacturer of white and mottled and mis- cellaneous grades (16 per cent.). Illinois held third rank as a manufacturer of Bes- semer pig iron (15.6 per cent.), and second rank (29.1 per cent.) as a manufacturer of spiegeleisen. It made all told only a little over 100,000 gross tons of foundry and forge iron. Alabama, which produced no Bessemer pig iron at all, was first in rank as a manufacturer of foundry iron (25.1 per cent.), exceeding the production of this grade of iron in Pennsylvania by 26,736 tons. It ranked first’in the production of white and mottled and miscellaneous grades (27.2 per cent.), third in the production of basic pig iron (9.6 per cent.), third in the production of forge iron (16.2 per cenf.), and second in the production of di- rect castings (34.6 per cent.). No other State produced over 430,000 tons of pig iron in 1900. Twelve States produced Bessemer and low prosphorus pig iron during the census year 1900; 8 States produced basie pig iron, 19 States produced foundry pig iron, all the active States except two (Colorado and West Vir- ginia) reporting this grade; 15 States made forge or mill pig iron, 16 States made white and mottled and miscel- laneous grades of pig iron, 3 States made ferrosilicon, 5 States made spiegeleisen, 2 States made ferromanganese and 6 States made castings direct from the furnace. Decrease in the Number of Blast Furnaces. While the production of pig iron increased heavily from 1880 to 1900, the number of blast furnaces de- creased in the same period from 681 to 399, a loss of 282, or 41.4 per cent. This falling off was largely in New York, Pennsylvania und Ohio, these three States losing, all told, 209 furnaces (New York, 38; Pennsylvania, 121, and Ohio. 50). During the same period Virginia lost 5 furnaces. Tennessee 2, Maryland 15, Wisconsin 8, West Virginia 8, New Jersey 9, Michigan 14, Kentucky 16, Mis- souri 15, Georgia 5, North Carolina 5, Connecticut 3 and Massachusetts 3. Indiana, which had four furnaces in 1880 and two in 1890, had gone out of the pig iron busi- ness altogether, its furnaces being last active in 1893. So, too, has Maine, which reported one furnace in both 1880 and 1890, no pig iron having been made in the State since the year last named. Vermont, which reported one furnace, and Utah, which had two furnaces in 1880, have also given up the manufacture of pig iron, the furnace in Vermont having ceased work in 1882, and the two furnaces in Utah having gone out of blast finally in the same year. As was explained in the report for 1890, many of the furnaces which were active in 1880 were abandoned or dismantled prior to 1890, owing to their inability to com- pete with the more modern, better located and larger furnaces of that year, the ahandoned stacks being, as a rule,of small capacity, and capable of producing pig iron at a profit only during periods of high prices. Increase in Output per Workman. A word or two concerning the production of pig iron per wage earner employed in 1900 as compared with 1890 6 THE may be of interest. In 1900 the average number