The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-04-20
THE PITTSBURGm LOCKOUT,
The Probable Elect OF the Re
sumption on tho Trade,

The lockout Of the puddlers in Pitts
burgh has engaged general attention, and
now that work has been resumed there is
considerable speculation as to the future
prospects in the trade, aud the effect
which the resumption may have on prices.
A correspondent Of the New York Tines,
writing from Pittsburgh, discusses the
situation at some length, in the course OF
which he says;
THE EFFECT OK THE PIG IRON TRADE.
1.-THE effect Of this resumption on the
iron trade OF the country can hardly be
estimated as yet. Its hrst effect will
doubtless DO 10 advance somewhat the
price Of pig iron. Tho mills Of Pitts
burgh, when in full operation, consume
about 1900 tons Of pig iron daily. A
sudden increase in the demand for
mill iron to the amount Of 1900
tons per day would send the price up in
this market at least 81 or 50 per ton.
While 1t will cause something Of an adj
vance, II will not be so decided as this,
for the reason that number Of mills
have large stocks Of pig-iron that Wero
bought at the low figures ruling in this
market two or three months ago. One
mill owner informed me this morning
that he had pig.iron enough in his yard
to run his boiling department six months,
that he had bought for $50 and 81 per
ton, the ruling price yesterday for the
same grade being 1923 and S24. Another
reason that will prevent any very decided
advance in pig-iron Is the knowledge that
two-Ihirls Of the blast furnaces that are
idle are ready to blow In, and that they
would do 80 were iron to advance 50 per
ton, as at that figure, which would DO $40
in Pittsburgh for mill iron, there would
at least be a profit equal to fair inter-
est on the capital invested. But any
such movement as this would result In a
production Of pig-iron far in excess Of
the demand, and as result prices would
decline again.
THE EFFECT ON MERCHANT IRON.
a am not sanguinc that this restmp.
ton will have u beneficial effect upon the
price Of manufactured iron. Indeed, |
believe II will DO injurious. a large part
Of the Spring trade has gone to other
points. Comparatively few orders are
left, and those will go 10 the lowest bid.
der. II the strike in the anthracite coal
region continues, Pittsburgh can make
iron much cheaper than the East, and for
two reasOns-lirst, she eau get her pig.
iron much cheaper; and, second,
the cost Of fuel for pudding, heating,
rolling, &C., will not be more than one.
third ~ much West IA East. Pittsburgh
must buy back her trade, and the few or.
ders that arc left will he eagerly sought
after.
THE LOCKOUT AND IT'S RESULTS.
"What has been accomplished by the
lockout? Nothing. II has enabled the
mills to work up Il large amount Of old
muck bar and the accumulated old stock
OF years; but they have lost the Spring
trade, and, by their complete discontinue,
the prestige OF years past in controlling
their employees. Now II will be impossi.
bic to say where the citation of the boilers
over their success will lead them, or what
demands they may choose to make.
However, the end il not yet, and II may
be before II comes that "hOnors will lie
easy and tho game a draw"
THE IRON TRADE OF THE WET.
"For years the mills west of this city
have not been 40 busy ma at present. At
every mill IL in operation, run.
ming double turn. About $4,000 kegs Of
nails per week are being turned out. The
same state Of things exists throughout the
West. At IrontOn, Cincinnati, Louis.
v illc,up the Mahoning and ShenangO Val.
leys, at Chicago, Milwaukee and ST.
Louis, the mills arc hard pushed and
have In some cases been refusing order
will doubtless interfere some.
what with their trade, but in many cases
orders are booked to keep the mills at
work for weeks.
THE PRICE OF ONE FOR 1876.
"a large part Of the ore used In this
jection and West comes from Lake Su.
perior. The price, which Is generally
ixed early in the year, Is for orc deliv.
red on the docks al Cleveland, and Ia for
he entire seasons delivery. The price |
hat has been given for 1875 on standard
No. 2 Republic Is 81 80, though II Ia not |
,ertain that this will 10 adhered To-. The
nnle grade Of ore was worth, In 1873,
,i2 90, and last year 81 90. This decline
hOwa, IA clearly "a ANYTHING CAtl, the |