604 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



The figures for several previous years are given herewith for 

 comparison : 



Of the total production of pig-iron in 1877,1,061,945 net 

 tons were made with bituminous coal (or coke), 934,737 tons 

 with anthracite, and 317,843 tons with charcoal. The States 

 of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary- 

 land, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, 

 Illinois, and Missouri increased their make of pig-iron in 1877. 

 The increase of product over that of the previous year (1876) 

 was mainly of anthracite iron in the three Middle States and 

 Maryland. New Jersey, however, shows the largest propor- 

 tionate increase, having doubled its product. Pennsylvania 

 alone produced 1,153,356 tons, or almost 50 per cent, of the 

 total production. The secretary estimates the total number 

 of completed furnaces in the country at the close of 1877, 

 which were either in blast or ready to be blown in, at 716, 

 as against 712 at the close of 187G. At the close of 1876 

 there were of the whole number (712) 236 in blast and 476 

 out of blast; and at the close of 1877 there were of the whole 

 number (716) 270 in blast and 446 out of blast; thus show- 

 ing: for 1877 a Q-ain of 34 active furnaces. The number of 

 new furnaces erected in 1877 was 17, and the number aban- 

 doned during that year was 13, a net gain of only 4 furnaces. 

 The greatest activity in the construction of new furnaces was 

 shown in the Hocking valley district of Ohio, where 9 fur- 

 naces w r ere built. 



Commentino; on the ejreat number of idle furnaces in the 

 country at the close of 1877, the secretary notices that less 

 than 300 furnaces produce all the iron that the country con- 

 sumes. Most of the furnaces built since 1871 (145 in num- 

 ber), it is stated, embrace all the modern improvements in 

 construction and equipment, and have been located with an 

 eye to securing the greatest advantages with reference to the 

 supply of raw materials and accessibility to the market; while 

 some of the old furnaces, having been badly constructed and 



