The Locomotive - Lighthouse Survival Blog

70 THE LOCOMOTIVE. [May,
the entire century. It is not to be supposed that other deposits will not be discovered
before known supplies are exhausted.
A few years hence the export of steel and the manufactures of steel from the United
States to many parts of the world, which, in 1899, were valued at $119,000,000, prom-
ises to be so great as to constitute another chapter in the record-breaking history of
steel. The influence of American steel-making capacity upon development at home
must be marvelous, for the nation which makes the cheapest steel has the other nations
at its feet, so far as manufacturing is concerned in most of its branches. The cheapest
steel means the cheapest ships, the cheapest machinery, the cheapest thousand-and-one
articles of which steel is the base. The progress and commanding position of the United
States as a steel-producer are told in a few words. In 1873, only twenty-seven years
ago, the United States produced 198,796 tons of steel; Great Britain, her chief compet-
itor, 653,500 tons— more than three times as much. Twenty-six years later, namely, in
1899, the United States made more than double as much as England, the figures being
10,639,957 and 5,000,000 tons, respectively,— an eightfold increase for* Britain and a
fifty-three fold increase for the United States. The production of the United States had
become, in other words, almost forty per cent, of all the steel made in tbe world, the
world's production for 1899 being about 27,000,000 tons. Industrial history has
nothing to show comparable to this.— Cassier's Magazine.
The Nobel Prizes.
Dr. Alfred Bernhard Nobel, a Swedish manufacturer of dynamite, was worth some-
thing like $10,000,000, and he left a unique will. One of his heirs, and a very consider-
able one, is the whole world of his fellow-men ; for the interest on the larger part of
this great fortune — a sum approximating $350,000 a year — is to be given annually to
the five men who have done most during that time for the advancement of humanity.
To encourage the same activities, otherwise than by prize-giving, there are now being
formed the Nobel institutes, as provided for in the will. The first prize distribution is
to take place this year. The inauguration of the plan, indeed, began almost with the
reading of the last testament, and at once attracted the attention of the savants of the
world.
Unlike the Hall of Fame of New York University, the Nobel endowment will mark
out its famous men from among the living. And better than that, it will urge those not
yet great and good before the world, to become so. The Swedish philanthropist had no
wish to build monuments. He wanted to bring out more men to deserve them. On
the other hand, he modestly did not think that he could help mankind directly. He
would be satisfied if others could do it for him. In the same spirit wealthy men have
founded universities, where youth is wrought into a better tool for life's work. But
Dr. Nobel has gone a step beyond. He seeks the products of those better tools.
Dr. Nobel's prizes are to be awarded as follows: first, for the most important dis-
covery or invention in the field of physical science; second, the same in chemistry; third,
the same in physiology and medicine; fourth, for the most remarkable literary work
from the standpoint of idealism; and, finally, the fifth goes to the man who has been
the most efficient in promoting fraternity among people, in suppressing or reducing
standing armies, or in forming and propagating peace congresses.
The testator, perhaps unconsciously, has already set the example of universal brotherhood,
for he expressly states, and emphasizes it, too, that the award shall go to the most
worthy, without favor or prejudice whatsoever as to nationality.