IRON ORES, PIG IRON, AND STEEL. By E. C. HARDER.. INTRODUCTION. The year 1908 marked a great depression in the iron industry of the United States. The greatest decline took place in the fall of 1907, but the depression continued until the middle of 1908, from which time there has been a steady but slow recovery. As a consequence of the depression, the production of iron ore dropped below that of the three preceding years, and the output of pig iron was the lowest since 1901. The total quantity of iron ore produced amounted to 35,983,336 long tons, as compared with 51,720,619 long tons in 1907; the output of pig iron to 15,936,018 long tons, as compared with 25,781,361 tons in 1907, and that of steel to 14,023,247 long tons, as compared with 23,362,594 tons in 1907. The immediate result of the financial depression of the fall of 1907 was the cessation of operations in a large number of manufacturing plants, blast furnaces, and mines, due to a decrease in the demand for their products. Since the middle of 1908 conditions have been slowly improving, very slowly during the summer, but more rapidly during the fall and winter, so that it is hoped that by the summer of 1909 the normal state of affairs will again prevail. The blast-furnace industry gives probably the best illustration of this rapid decline and subsequent steady improvement. On June 30, 1907, there were 359 furnaces in blast out of a total of 443, which number decreased to 167 by December 31, 1907. There was a gradual increase in activity to March, 1908, when another decline took place, extending to early in June; on June 30, 1908, there were again 168 furnaces in blast. Then furnaces were blown in with increasing rapidity until on December 31, 1908, 236 furnaces out of a total of 459 were in blast. Toward the end of the year the manufacturers were in general running at about two-thirds capacity. The demand for iron and steel products was reduced over 50 per cent, as compared with previous years, yet the prices did not show such a marked decline as might have been expected, this being due to an agreement among iron makers to desist from destructive competition. Prices of different iron and steel products were fixed at a certain point until it became impracticable to maintain them, when they were promptly lowered without confusion to a new basis. The total decline in prices of finished steel products from January 1 to December 31, according to the Iron Trade Review, averaged only about $2.50 per long ton. The decrease in demand was out of all proportion to the decline in prices. The year 1908 marks an epoch in steel manufacture, for in this year the production of open-hearth steel passed that of Bessemer steel for the first time in the history of steel making in the United States. The tonnage of both, however, was much lower than that of 1907. Annual production in long tons The decrease in production of both pig iron and steel in 1908 from that of 1907 was about 40 per cent, while that of iron ore was about 30 per cent. The accompanying figure shows the production of iron ores, pig iron, and steel since 1870 and illustrates well the great decrease which followed the financial panic of the fall of 1907. FIGURE 1.-Curve showing the production of iron ore, pig iron, and steel in the United States, 1870-1908, in long tons. The iron-ore statistics in this and similar previous reports were collected by the United States Geological Survey, the returns being obtained directly from the individual producers. Cordial thanks are due the various mine owners and operators for the promptness with which the reports have been sent in. The collection of iron-ore statistics was begun in 1889 by John Birkinbine and was continued by him until 1905. Much credit is due Mr. Birkinbine for the efficient way in which the work has been carried on. The collection of iron and steel statistics was begun in 1854 by the American Iron and Steel Association. Beginning with 1882, extracts of the annual reports of this association by its general manager, James M. Swank, were inserted into the annual volumes of Mineral Resources of the United States as a separate section distinct from iron ores. This policy was continued to 1904. In 1906 the iron-ore work was taken up by E. C. Eckel, and by him iron ore, pig iron, and steel statistics were combined into one chapter, the pig iron and steel statistics being obtained from the American Iron and Steel Association through the courtesy of Mr. Swank. The tables showing the shipments and receipts of Lake Superior ores are quoted from the Iron Trade Review. Mr. Eckel's policy has been continued in the present report by the writer, who hereby expresses his obligation to the various individuals who have been instrumental in gathering these statistics. The present report, besides the annual statistical tables, contains several historical tables showing the production of iron ores and the foreign trade in them and the production of pig iron and of various kinds of steel in the United States as far as they have been recorded. It further contains a section on the geologic relations of various kinds of iron ore of the United States, described by districts, and a map showing the different districts and varieties of ore. There is also incorporated an abstract of a report by C. W. Hayes to the National Conservation Commission, giving estimates of ironore reserves of the United States by varieties of ore and by districts. A separate map, showing the distribution of blast furnaces by districts, has been prepared by W. T. Thom and is submitted herewith. IRON-ORE INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES. PRODUCTION OF IRON ORE BY COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. The iron ore produced in the United States in 1908 amounted to 35,983,336 long tons, valued at $81,845,904 at the mines, as compared with 51,720,619 long tons, valued at $131,996,147, in 1907— a decrease of 30.43 per cent in tonnage and of 37.99 per cent in value, being the greatest decrease which has taken place during the last twenty years. Iron ore was mined in 27 States during 1908. Of these, three States produced ores for fluxing purposes only; the rest produced ores for blast-furnace use. The various States may be conveniently grouped into six commercial districts, namely: 1. Northeastern district: Including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. 2. Southeastern district: Including Maryland, the Virginias, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Ala bama. 3. Lake Superior district: Including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 4. Mississippi Valley district: Including Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. 5. Rocky Mountain district: Including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. 6. Pacific Slope district: Including Washington and California. Each of these districts may be subdivided into mining districts and the ores classified with regard to variety and to distribution of deposits. These subdivisions are discussed in another section. The Lake Superior is by far the most important of these districts and is followed in order by the southeastern district and the northeastern district; the Mississippi Valley and the western districts are of minor importance. The following table shows the relative output of ore in each of the commercial districts during 1906, 1907, and 1908: a Production of iron ore in the United States by commercial districts in 1906, 1907, and 1908, in long tons. a Hayes, C. W., Iron ores of the United States: Rept. National Conservation Commission, Sen. Doc. No. 676, 60th Cong., 2d sess., 1908. See also Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 394, 1909, pp. 70-113. Included in Rocky Mountain district. PRODUCTION OF IRON ORE BY STATES. The following table gives a comparison of the iron-ore production by States for 1907 and 1908, showing increase and decrease, and the percentage of increase and decrease in the various States: Quantity and value of iron ore produced in the United States, 1907 and 1908, by States. a Texas alone. 1,917 258, 430-36.74 -26.72 653, 112 -28. 19 -35.97 721, 888-49.28 -25.60 36,611 -3.80 -32.26 4,345 +12.70 -10.58 726, 371-47.07-55.93 449, 127-21.92 -33.89 73, 229-12.034.76 638,529 12.49 -23.95 35, 983, 336 81, 845, 904-15, 737, 283-50, 150, 243 -30.43 -37.99 Includes Iowa. * Includes 1907, California and Washington; 1908, Washington. 301, 095 677,547 2,996 394, 126 178,347 94,633 104, 751 |