The following table shows the imports of iron ore into the United States from 1906 to 1909, inclusive, by ports of entry:

Quantity and value of iron ore imported into the United States in the calendar years 1906-1909, by customs districts, in long tons.

Total..

1,060,390 2,967,434 1,229,168 3,937, 483 776,898 2,224,248 1,694,957 4,579,078

In the following table is shown the importation of iron ore into the United States as far as has been recorded. Iron ore was imported from Europe in large quantities for the first time in 1879, most of the ore prior to that date coming from Canada.

Imports of iron ore into the United States, 1872-1909, in long tons.

The quantity of iron ore exported from the United States in 1909 amounted to 455,934 long tons, an increase of more than 47 per cent over iron-ore exports in 1908.

In the following table is shown the exportation of iron ores from the United States by customs districts from 1906 to 1909, inclusive. The data regarding exports are collected by the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.

Quantity and value of iron ore exported from the United States, 1906-1909, by customs districts, in long tons.

The quantity of iron ore exported from the United States, as far as has been recorded, is shown in the following table:

Exporis of iron ore from the United States, 1899 to 1909, in long tons.

The iron ores which have been mined in Cuba up to the present time consist largely of hematite and magnetite and are obtained near Santiago, in the province of Oriente (Santiago). Recently large deposits of brown ore have been attracting considerable attention, especially those of the Mayari and Moa fields in Oriente Province and those of the Cubitas field in Camaguey Province. No ores of this type were reported as mined in 1909, but there was a considerable production in 1910.

The following table shows the shipments of iron ore from Cuba since the opening of the mines in 1884. The statistics of the Cuban iron-ore production were collected by the United States Geological Survey.

Shipments of iron ore from mines in the province of Oriente (Santiago), 1884–1909, in long

The latest available statistics with regard to the world's production of iron ore are shown in the following table. Of the figures in this table, those of the United States, Great Britain, Cuba, Canada, India, and Australia are in long tons; those of the other countries are in metric tons.

World's production of iron ore in 1907 and 1908, by countries.

IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES.a PRODUCTION OF PIG IRON BY STATES.

During 1909 the production of pig iron amounted to 25,795,471 long tons, as compared with 15,936,018 long tons in 1908 and with 25,781,361 long tons in 1907. The 1909 production was greater than that of any year heretofore recorded.

In the following table the pig-iron production of the United States is given, by States, for 1907, 1908, and 1909:

The accompanying diagram (fig. 2) illustrates the course of the manufacture of pig iron, by months, in 1907, 1908, and 1909. The sudden decline in production of pig iron at the close of October, 1907, the low production during the first half of 1908, the slow recovery of activity in the last half of 1908, the hesitating conditions early in 1909, and finally the steady and rapid increase in production during the last part of the year, the month of December leading with a record production of more than 2,682,000 tons, are all strikingly displayed.

• The pig iron and steel statistics in the following pages were collected and published by James M. Swank, general manager of the American Iron and Steel Association, in his annual statistical reports.

FIGURE 2.-Curve showing production of pig iron in the United States in 1907, 1903, and 1909, by months.

[Tonnage by months according to the Iron Trade Review, January 6, 1910.]

PRODUCTION OF PIG IRON BY GRADES.

The following table shows the production of different grades of pig iron from 1905 to 1909:

Production of pig iron in the United States, 1905-1909, by grades, in long tons.

In the following table is given the production of pig iron according to the fuel used from 1905 to 1909, inclusive:

Production of pig iron according to fuel used, 1905–1909, in long tons.

Aug.

Aug.

Sept.