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1902.] _ MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD. 21 company the government are firmly opposed. Such subsidies we regard as merely bounties in diseuise, and to the principle of giv-. ing bounties we are resolutely opposed." THE AGREEMENT IS POPULAR, Of the popularity of the agreement there can be no ques- tion. Two or three of the keener critics prefer to wait for fuller details, and when parliament meets in a fortnight's time, many searching questions will be asked. One or two have already ex- pressed the opinion that the Cunard gets a great deal more than it gives. But the man in the street has, without compunction, ex- pressed complete satisfaction. The average opinion is expressed in a leading article in the Times, from which I quote as follows: "It will generally be felt, we think, that the agreements into which the government has entered with the Atlantic shipping combination and with the Cunard company, are wise and rational. Some people will, perhaps, continue to look with a jealous eye on the power of American canital over the carrying trade of the At- lantic. Some economical purists will, no doubt, protest against the loan and the subsidy, by which the Cunard company is to be strengthened in its position as a purely British undertaking, though Mr. Gerald Balfour explains that they only amount to what is needed to make the construction of the new fast vessels not a losing venture. But the policy of the government will be judged by most people from a practical point of view. Certain points in these agreements may be open to criticism, and as a mat- - ter of course we shall have plentv of critics in the field. In the arrangement with the Cunard company the stipulation that the shares shall never be held 'by other than British subjects' appears to be futile. | Foreign capitalists can surely if they are so inclined, hold any amount of such shares under cover of British nominees. But the matter is, after all, a small one, and the provision, if it does no good, can hardly do any harm. With regard to the com- bination, it is important to remember that the interest of the American capitalists in the security and freedom of the Atlantic carrying trade is a powerful guarantee for the food supplies of the United Kingdom in the event of war. A foreign enemy would think twice and thrice before attempting to intercept our food supplies, as soon as it was realized that the result would be to. engage in an additional quarrel with interests that are very powerful in the United States. agreement with the combination is to last, like that with the Cu- nard company, for twenty years, but in the former case is to be renewable for periods of five vears. If, however, the combined companies should be found to be pursuing a policy of hostility to the mercantile marine or the commerce of this country, the British government reserves the right to terminate the agree- ment." ' GROWTH OF IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRIES. An exhaustive report on the manufacture of iron and steel has just been completed by William G. Gray, acting as expert special agent of the census bureau. The report does not deal with the consolidation of concerns known as the United States Steel Corporation because it had not been consumated in the census year. It is valuable, however, as showing the status of the iron and steel business just before this immense corporation was exploited. 'The statistics in the report relate only to estab- lishments which operate blast furnaces, rolling mills and steel works, iron ore forges and pig-and scrap iron bloomeries. A comparative statement is first given showing that while the number of establishments has decreased from 808 active and idle in 1870 to 669 active in 1900, the capital invested has increased from $121,772,074 in 1870 to $590,530,484 in 1900; the number of wage earners from 77,555 in. 1870 to 222,607 in 1900; the wages paid from $40,514,981 in 1870 to $120,836,338 in 1900; the cost of materials used from $135,526,132 in 1870 to $522,- 431,701 in 1900, and the value of the products from $207,208,696 in 1870 to $804,034,918 in 1900. During the thirty years under review the tonnage of pig iron, steel castings, rolled products, hammered blooms, etc. increased from 3,263,585 gross tons in 1870 to 29,507,850 tons in 1900. : Comparing the leading details for 1900 with those for 1890, we find a decrease in the number of active establishments of fifty, an increase in the capital invested in active establishments of $176,485,640, and an increase in the average number of wage earners of 51,426. 'he number of men, sixteen years of age and over, increased 50,962; and the number of women, sixteen years of age and over, increased 1,013, but the number of children under sixteen years of age employed shows a decrease of 279. The miscellaneous expenses increased $14,059,152 in 1900 over 1890; the cost of materials, $195,158,856; and the value of products, $325,347,309. In quantity the products increased in the same period 13,243,382 tons. : : : Of the total capital reported for active establishments in 1900, namely, $590,530,484, Pennsylvania contributed $321,985,659, or considerably over one-half, as compared with $226,294,407 in 1890 (total, $414,044,844), still over one-half, and $102,956,223 in 1880 (total, $209,904,965), a little less than one-half. The average number of wage earners employed in the whole country in 1900 was 222,607, who were paid wages amounting to $120,- 836,338. Of these totals 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 wages paid in this industry in the United States. ' Of the total capital invested in 1900, Ohio, which ranks second m the manufacture of iron and steel reported $86,477,552 as compared. with $37,642,887 in 1800 and $22,807,606 in 1880. It should be added that the The averave number of wage earners reported was 22.677 in 1900, 23,546 in 1890 and 20,071 in 1880, the wages paid to these workers amounting to $10,730,469 in 1900, $13,262,141 in 1890, and $8,- .265,070 in 1880. 'The cost of materials, including freight charges, was $91,320,307 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. The increase in capital invested in 1900 over 1890 was $48,834,665, and over 1880 it was $63,669,946. a Illinois, which was third in importance in 1900 in the man- ufacture of iron and steel, had capital invested in that year to tne amount of $43,356,239 in 1800 compared with $34,680,919 in 1890 and $5.705,620 in 1880. 'The average number of wage earn- ers emploved in 1900 was 16,642, compared with. 8,685 in 1890 and 5,253 in 1880. The value of the products amounted to $60,- 303,144 in 1900, $39,011,051 in 1890 and $20,545,589 in 1880. _In the decade from 1800 to 1900 a large number of consoli- dations of iron and steel establishments were effected. During the census year 1900 there were fourteen companies which owned or operated 136 blast furnaces with an annual capacity of 11,550,000 gross tons of pig iron, or over 54 per cent. of the capacity reported for the whole country; seven companies which had forty-one © Bessemer steel converters with an annual capacity of 8,000,000 tons of steel ingots or castings, or over 69 per cent of the total capacity; twelve companies which had 142 open-hearth furnaces with an annual capacity of 3,370,000 tons of steel ingots or castings, of over 59 per cent. of the total. capacity, and nineteen companies which had 158 rolling mills, with an annual capacity of 16,418,000 tons of rolled and forged iron and steel products, or over 60 per cent. of the total capacity. A comparative summary of the capital invested in active, idle and building establishments (including rented property), as returned at the census 1880 to 1900 inclusive, is given. Idle estab- lishments embrace all plants which were not in operation during the census years enumerated, but which were in good condition and could be readily put into oneration. Establishments which at one time were engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel, but which were not likey to resume operations, are not included in this table Classes. Year. No. Capital. AOU a i .-. 1900 669 $ 590,530,484 ; 1890 719 414,044,844 1880 792 209,904,965 Tile ee ee 1900 04 18,368,032 : 1890 ~--s:r IQ 12,369,058 1880 200 18,939,988 In' course of. constriction' +... 0.2... - 1900 34 6,266,757 ? 1890 34 4,091,678 1880 13 2,126,931 Potala 1900: . 707° *655,165,273 1890 872 *430,505,580 1880. 1,005 230,971,884 *Includes rented property valued in 1990 at $17,245,413; in 1890, at $8,291 058. The total production of all kinds of iron and steel in 1900 amounted to 29,507,860 tons, compared with 16,264,478 tons in 1890 and 6,486,733 tons in 1880. he increase in 1900 over 1890 was 13,243,382 tons, or 81.4 per cent., and the increase in 1890 over 1880 was 9,777,745 tons, or 150.7 per cent. Compared with 1880 the increase in 1900 amounted to 23,021,127 tons, or 354.9 per cent. .The increase production of 1900 over 1899 -was more than twice the total production of 1880 and the total production in 1900 exceeded by 6,756,649 tons the combined production of 1890 and 1880. These figures graphically exhibit the wonderful growth of the iron and steel industry during the last twenty years. SHIP BUILDING IN THE BATH DISTRICT. A review of ship building in the Bath customs district during the nine months of the present year gives the total amount of tonnage sent overboard as 21,975. 'This is a falling off of over 4,000 tons from the corresponding term in 1901. The decrease is attributed to the coal strike, which has diminished profits during the year considerably. Following is a summary of the principal vessels launched during the period mentioned: Rig and Name. Masts. Tonnage. Ship. Atlas .. 0 ..355.455i 4 3,381.00 Sch. Prescott 'Palmer: .) 6224 .1,.555, 1. 5 2,811.00 Sch. Lizzie. M. Parsons'. 52.4, 46550 1 655.00 Sch. Kate. Peore 2.4.5 osteeke ee 3 382.71 Yacht. Pantooset.. 9444 4-656 2 538 00 Barge Cienfugos ..2 5%, 4200528 eee 4 1,915.00 Barge Santiago. 33-252 pi bea 4 1,918.00 Sch: Cosa F.. Creséey 5204553. 0 25a 5 2,499.00 Tug John G: Chandler...) oo ee oO 100.00 Str. Ransom B. Piller oo... oO 2,000.00 Sch. Fatrheld 4.25662. 3-540 3 564.00 Sloop Marion .:..¢ 06.4500 50 es. ee I 83.27 Str. Nornumbera 640601 95 ee ee ee Oo 100.00 Sch. "Alice. M. Davenport :. : (sii 5.555 5.3 3 589.00 Sch- Margaret: Ward: o2...0 020 i 4 1,074.00 Sch. Samuel -P.- Bowers... ccs ise ie es oT 626.00 Sch: Frank W: Benedict. 242214222... 2523 3 534.00 Sch. Madeline oo sec dscns core tee a 463.00 Sch. Fred A. Davenport ....... fees ee eS 4 740.00 Barge Charles -K. Nighols 00.4. a 4 280.00