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Be MARINE REVIEW. [April 27, AMERICAN IRON, STEEL AND SHIP BUILDING. Above is the title of an article in a recent issue of the London Statist, in which the admissions made as to the future of the American export trade in iron and kindred interests are of a very encouraging kind. Our iron and steel manufacturers are just now so crowded at home that ex- port trade is not for the present being developed as it had been, but it is certain to be taken up again with renewed vigor when home requirements are more fully cared for. "Perhaps the most important economic question of our time," says the Statist, "is connected with the development of the iron and steel in- dustries of the United States, and the probable consequences of that devel- opment, not only on the cognate industries of Europe, but also on the whole maritime relations of the commercial world. Reduced prices in America are not due to competition alone, but largely to the reduced cost of material and greater economy in production. It is, of course, the re- duced cost of production that has given America a chance in foreign mar- kets that she never had before. The surplus of many American manu- facturers has been often enough dumped into foreign countries, especially Canada, in order to relieve the home markets. But the business now being done by Americans in iron and steel cannot be regarded as of the dumping character. They are cultivating an export trade, and with such success that in the year ending June 30 last the exports of raw and manu- factured iron and steel amounted to $70,367,527, as against $57,497,872 in the previous year. These exports consisted of 235,868 tons of pig iron, 232,552 tons of railway iron, 64,745 tons of iron wire, 60,195 tons of scrap iron, 30,585 tons of structural iron and 16,100 tons of steel billets and in- gots. The total quantity of all sorts.sent to Great Britain was 150,000 tons, and nearly all the rest was sent to countries accustomed hitherto to buy from us. In the nine months ending Sept. 30, 1898, the exports: of steel rails amounted to 222,973 tons, valued at $4,465,087. These figures compare with 88,573 tons and $1,891,724 in the corresponding portion of 1897, and with 50,841 tons and $1,189,106 in the corresponding portion of 1896. The largest buyers of the increased quantity have been Canada and Japan, and it is well to remember that it was stated in parliament last session that the lowest tenders for rails for the supply of the Indian rail- ways were American. As to Japan, which used to geé all her rails from us, we note the following in a special report by Mr. Lyon, United States consul at Hiogo: 'In 1896 the United States exported to Japan only a little more than one-sixth as much railway iron as England did; but in 1897 a very notable increase took place from the United States in such shipments, and exportations from the two countries stood thus: Great Britain, $810,091; United States, $625,088. At this rate another year will show the United States to have left its competitor in this export far be- hind." That may or may not be, but the enormous advance possessed by the United States in the coming market for railway iron in China is an important factor in the development of production now taking place. That development has gone on to steel ship plates, which are now being shipped to this country for ship building. "The point we have sought to bring out is that America has now so developed her iron and steel industries that she must find fresh outlets for her products, especially when the present rush at home is over with. Such outlets she is finding, as we believe, with profit in foreign markets for certain products. For other products, however, she will need to create a new ship building industry of her own. No thoughtful man, acquainted with the American character, who considers the situation can fail to per- ceive that the greatest competition to be faced by British industry and enterprise in the future is that of American ship building. It may be de- ferred a few years, but it is bound to come." THE WORLD'S IRON ORE CONSUMPTION. ' "From the national point of view," says the London Statist, "it is not agreeable to find that while twenty years ago we produced 50 per cent. of the world's pig iron, we now furnish less than 25 per cent. America has taken the lead since 1890, and will easily keep it. The following repre- sents the world's output of pig iron in 1898: TONS. TONS. Wnited States sess.1i.,.c.c--02 11,774,000 Austria Hungary............... 1,200,000 (GRaAE WONEW Ho c640550000800000 8,631,151 Beloautaeesen erent ees 980,000 (GTS TAEWIN/ csoonsenenuoaoacceedune 7,402,717 (Shy SUS ol eterna tina aachodesseosdos 560,000 AT CO Nicest cstticisa de side ees 2,000,000 Spal cscteen. eee, ee 300,000 ARSUSS1 A) 2 vate sbeceiyai'swcuns cease ss 1,750,000 All other countries, say..... 402,132 Plo tallies stent ie seat ea meet oe CER ea + <b ova Soe ibleteeesdedan cache vd 35,000,000 On the basis of two tons of ore to one ton of pig, this means a con- sumption of 70,000,000 tons of iron ore per annum. Is there a supply of ore in sight in the world to permit of an increase in the world's produc- tion of pig iron by 25 per cent? If not, it is difficult to see how the growing demands for iron and steel are to be met. But, of course, the demands may cease to grow." Capt: Cyrus Sinclair, well known as a wrecking master, is to be en- gaged during the coming season with the Prime-McCurdy interests of Chicago. mi m, "KEYSTONE" OPEN LINK. IT 18 THE ONLY OPEN LINK on THE MARKET THATIS "ip DROP FORGED rrom BAR STEEL. For STRENGTH, DURABILITY and SIMPLICITY IT STANDS WITHOUT A RIQAL Sizes from 44 in. to % in. : 4 KEPT IN STOCK. TANDARD Wrenches, Hoist Hooks, Eye Bolts, Shafti I - Thumb Nuts, Thumb Screws, Rope Ronbatgand errs ane Fence Ornaments, Bicycle Forgings. &c. SEND FOR CATALOGUE AND DISCOUNTS SPECIAL FORCINGS TO ORDER. KEYSTONE DROP FORGE €0., 19th & Clearfield Sts. . 5 y PHILADELRHIA: PA, -- cose. ELECTRIC PROPELLER VENTILATING FAN. Since the B. F. Sturtevant Co. of Boston, Mass., has entered exten- sively upon the manufacture of electric motors and generating sets, it has been carefully studying the problem of the manufacture of a compact, efficient and convenient type of electric ventilating fan. Exhaustive tests were made with different types of fan wheels. The result is rendered clear by the accompanying engraving, showing a front view of an electric ven- tilating fan that has just been put upon the market. The fan wheel has eight blades, rigidly attached to a spider at the center and held in place by a hoop at the periphery at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. The angle is increased in such a manner that as the center is approached the theoretical velocity of the air remains practically constant. In other words, the delivery edge is helical and the air is picked up on the inlet edge of the blades at low velocity. When well under the influence of the blades it is accelerated to its maximum velocity with the least amount of slip. The result is an extremely efficient wheel. The motor likewise has been the result of very careful study in the attempt to provide a, light machine, entirely enclosed, and at the same time to avoid the excessive temperature which is incident to the operation of most enclosed motors. It is claimed for this machine that it is capable of continuous operation for ten hours, with a maximum temperature rise of not exceeding 30 de- grees Fahrenheit. A practical efficiency of over 80 per cent. is claimed, even with the small-sized motors, and an excess load of 75 per cent. above the rated capacity may be carried without sparking and without change of brushes. This feature combined with the small temperature rise allows of carrying temporary overloads with impunity. The bearings are self oiling and self aligning, and are fitted with phosphor bronze sleeves, which are removable from the outer ends of the boxes. This wheel is partially enclosed within a conoidal inlet ring, which decreases the fric- tional resistance to the entering air, and furnishes at the same time a rigid support for the motor to which it is attached by the tripod hanger. These fans are built in sizes from 18 inches to 120 inches, with motors designed for either medium or maximum speed, and to run at any ordi- nary direct current voltage. A speed controller is always provided, by means of which the fan can be efficiently operated at different speeds. The wreck of the Spanish torpedo boat destroyer Pluton, which was sunk during the battle of Santiago, has been discovered by divers. The hull was found lying on the port side and with no indication of having been struck by a heavy shell, as had been reported. The vessel is, how- ever, very badly stove in. The 1899 catalogue issued by A. Wells Case & Son of Highland Park, Conn., manufacturers of the perfected outward thrust propeller wheel, not only contains a full recital of the many advantages claimed for this type of wheel but appends dozens of strong testimonials from owners of craft of all kinds who have*them in use. JAMES MCKAY & CO. Manufacturers of all kinds of. IRON CHAINS. High Grade Boom, Rafting, Toggle, Marine and Swedish Write for Prices. PITTSBURG PA. For Sale--Two Boilers. Two new Scotch Boilers, 12 ft. 6 in. diameter, 12 ft. long, with three 40-inch corrugated furnaces, built under Marine In- spection Laws for 1380 lbs. pressure. Specifications and blue prints furnished on application. CAMPBELL, & ZELI, COMPANY, Manf'rs Zell Improved Water Tube Boiler, Baltimore, Md. May4