368 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



the total production of pig iron, we find the yield in the large way to be 

 about 50 per cent. 



In order to gain some idea of the comparative merits of these figures 

 when set alongside the percentages in the ores produced in other lands, 

 a few cases may be cited. Germany, in 1907, produced 27,700,000 tons 

 of ore, exported nearly four millions and imported eight and one half 

 millions. Of the local production, three quarters were obtained from 

 Elsass, Lothringen and Luxemburg, whose percentage in iron ranges 

 between 30 and 40 and is on the whole not very different from Alabama's 

 present percentages of 36-37. Germany's imports, of course, range 

 much above these figures, else the ore could not stand the freight charges 

 from mines in such remote countries as Sweden, Spain and Algiers. 



Great Britain produced, in 1907, approximately, 15,000,000 tons, of 

 which about three quarters were the so-called impure carbonates yielding 

 30-35 per cent. iron. One ninth of the total Avas red hematite at 50-55. 

 The general average would be somewhat less than that of Alabama. Im- 

 portations of richer ores, especially from Spain, helped to raise the fur- 

 nace yield. 



France, in 1908, produced 10,087,000 tons, of which 88 per cent, was 

 mined in French Lorraine of the same t}'pe as the main German supplies. 

 The ore ranged from 33 to 40 per cent., again not far from the Clinton 

 ores of Alabama. We are justified, therefore, in saying that the largest 

 part of the output of the next three producing countries of the world is 

 about the same as the lowest grade of lump ore, which can be profitably 

 mined under present conditions in the United States. When, therefore, 

 we come to estimate comparative reserves, we must realize that in the 

 Lake Superior region — our greatest producer — we pay no attention to-day 

 to ores, which are, nevertheless, much richer than those of Great Britain 

 and continental Europe. 



In the opening sentences, I spoke of the anxiety which was felt a few 

 years ago regarding the reserves upon which the industry would of neces- 

 sity rely for its future. I mentioned Mr. Carnegie's remarks in 1902 at 

 the University of St. Andrews. But he was not the only one who dis- 

 cussed this question, and now in referring to one or two other forecasts, 

 I think you will have in mind some of the fundamentals which establish 

 a correct point of view. 



In 1905, Professor Tornebohm, the eminent and greatly esteemed 

 former director of the Geological Survey of Sweden, assigned to us a 

 reserve of only one billion and sixty millions of tons. Obviously, at an 

 annual production of over fifty millions, this reserve would only last 

 twenty years. The future thus looked still darker than when seen 



