Steel Times International 1866-2016
Steel in our lives Steel is the foundation for the quality of life we have come to expect in modern society. By Thomas J. Gibson*
T
here is hardly an object we use today that
strength, rigidity and durability. While
doesn’t contain steel, or isn’t made with
we may not notice, the computers
steel equipment. Steel is an indispensable
we use 24-7 have steel in them.
of America, engendering a sense of national pride through famous landmarks such as the Golden
part of our everyday lives. It is one of the most
And steel is essential to ensure
recycled materials, and can be recycled repeatedly
the safety of the world’s water
to America’s Pacific Coast,
without loss of quality.
and food supply, and vital
the St. Louis Gateway Arch
to energy generation and
at the crossroads of America,
homes and workplaces. In the kitchen, our
national security. No other
the Chrysler Building that
refrigerator is made of steel – and so many other
material offers the combination
appliances have steel components. On our way
of strength, formability and
to the office, a job site or to school, we rely on
versatility.
Steel is a critical component in transportation,
the safety of steel to reinforce our roads, define
Gate Bridge welcoming visitors
gives a unique flourish to New York City’s skyline and the new One World Trade Centre, now the tallest building in America. As the backbone of manufacturing, steel is a strategic
trucks. As we glance out of our windows we may
The evolution of advocacy in the American steel industry
notice that signs, guardrails, railroad tracks,
The history of America’s steel industry is
and stability. The steel industry directly employs
construction cranes, pipes, commercial buildings
inseparable from our nation’s economic, political
about 142,000 people in the US, and supports
and telephone utility poles are all made of steel.
and military development. Methods for the mass
almost one million US jobs.
It is only possible to build the skyscrapers
production of steel have been around more than
of the world’s largest cities because of steel’s
150 years. The steel sector helped build the face
our bridges and form the body of our cars and
industry essential to America’s economic growth
The need for an organisation “to take all proper measures for advancing the interests of the trade in all its branches” led ironmasters, clustered mainly in the eastern part of the US, to establish the American Iron Association in 1855. That year, world pig iron production amounted to 7Mt. In 1864, Bessemer steel was made in the US, and the Association, headquartered in Philadelphia, changed its name to the American Iron and Steel Association (AISA). Early in the 20th century, as the industry experienced explosive growth, its leaders saw the need for an organisation to supplement the largely statistical activities carried on by AISA. That led to the founding of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in 1908, with Elbert H. Gary as its first chief executive. From 1908 to 1912, the
The USS New York
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Institute and the Association functioned side-by-