1846.] Iron Trade. 193 



signed for. Many facts which we have given have a direct 

 application to the same geological formations which traverse cen- 

 tral New York, but the particular applications will be better 

 understood by a reference to the geological map which has just 

 been widely distributed in the different parts of the state. 



IRON TRADE AND MANUFACTURE. 



BY RANSOM COOK. 



There are few subjects on which we are more liable to err, 

 than in making estimates and predictions in regard to the product 

 and consumption of iron. For nearly thirty years we have 

 thought we had almost reached the point, where our product of 

 this article would equal its consumption in our country; and still, 

 we find ourselves farther from it at the present time, than we 

 have been for the last half century. That is, we are now endea- 

 voring to import (and shall do so, if it can be obtained at a rea- 

 sonable price), much more iron than at any former period; not- 

 withstanding the many confident predictions to the contrary. 



Among the documents accompanying the report of Mr. Salton- 

 stall, to Congress, in 1842, Mr. W. Young says: " I have been 

 an iron manufacturer in this country since 1817. I was the 

 superintendent of the West Point foundry from its commence- 

 ment in 1817 till 1831. I was president of the Ulster Iron Co. 

 from 1831 till April, 1840." After this time we find he was 

 (connected with the Mount Savage works, in Maryland, and he is 

 unquestionably an experienced iron master; farther on he says, 

 " England always guards and protects every branch of trade, and 

 encourages her own manufactures; and this policy has given her 

 the preeminence she now possesses. Let our legislators adopt 

 the same course, and within ten years we will send bar iron to 

 England." 



Our legislators complied, imposed all the duties asked, viz: 

 $25 a ton on rolled bar iron— and what is the result? "Why the 

 demand increases much faster than its product, and the fulfilment 



Vol. Ill, No. II. 15 



