Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-04
ONE THOUSAND TONS
A Day Will be the Increased Output
of Pig Iron in This District
INCLUDING THE NEW FURNACES.
The Disparity in the Pay of Different
Branches of Ironworkers.
BROTHERHOOD PAlSTERs TO CONVENE

Some interest attaches to the fact tina
more blast furnaces have been erected, o.
are nearing completion. in this district thi
year than at any time previous. In all
seven new furnaces have been projected; o
these, two are in blast, VIZ: The Clinton
on the Southside, and Furnace h. at Brad
dock. Furnace /, also at Braddock, will
be blown in about the end of the month
and Isabella No. 8 will follow soon after,
Elizabeth No. will go IA about the same
time, and the two furnaces being erected Of
McKeesport for the Monongaheia Furnace
Company, complete the lot. - ., --f
The capacity of five of these will be 200
tons every "a hours; one 15e; tons per day,
and one 100 tons per day.. These new fur
naces will bring up the number. in the dis
trict to 25, with a capacity, when all are in
blast, of about 1000 tons per day. or this
total the II owned by Carnegie Bros & Co.
will yield about 1900 tons, or more then
half The present capacity OF the district
is about 5000 tons day. Of which 700 tons
is mill pig. and the rest eBessemer, In
other words, toward the end OF the year the
district will be producing 1000 tons day
more pig than formerly, or an increase over
last year of 33A per cent.
WELCOME TO PUDDLERs.
If the increase in the production of pig
results in diminution of the hard qualities
it will be very welcome to puddlers. 1t is
claimed that the use of hard iron is on the
increase; not so much as a matter OF choice
u
iron is held to be the result OF rushing the
furnaces to keep up With the demand, but
the hard iron used in the mills in thls vi
cnity is not so much the product of the
furnace owned by the mill owners as the in
ferior metal sold by outside brokers, and
which mill owners are compelled to buy to
keep up with the demand. This inferior
metal is mixed with the ordinary run, and
is the cause of the differences which crop up
between puddlers and proprietors.
1t is therefore an interesting question,
alike to .puddlers and manufacturers,
whether the additional output already al
luded to may prove sufficient TO run mills
without the necessity of buying from outside
sources, and more especially the inferior
grades, which some brokers are commits
stoned to handle.
1t is whispered that the constant use Of
hard metal in many mills over the country
is likely to result in a similar disagreement
as to price and quality which agitated the
American Iron Works puddlers recently.
The time allowed under this years Anal
gamated scale for five heats on single fur
mace is hours and 45 minutes, but in some
mills the heats cannot be got t'insunder 8. 10
and even II hours. In the Kensington Mill
of Lloyd Sons & Co, 2uddler was II
hours on five heats. In this district
Ii
to others. The firm is very careful
in making its metal, and it only buys from
outside when its two furnaces fail to supply
enough metal. In this mill five heats in
eight hours is the rule. Is it not distin-
guished by those acquainted with the senti-
meDts of the iron workers that great deal
of dissatis'actio exists regarding the hard
boiling and piece questions as disposed of
by the last convention? The puddlers' dele
gates were instructed to ask for an advance
OF SO cents, or S. for boiling, with the un-
derstanding that in some mills the fnishers
would not ask for an advance this year.
The wishes of the puddlers were not con-
ceded, but, on the contrary, the fnishers
obtained nearly every change they de-
manded.
WHAT THEY CAN EARN.
1t is claimed that while the man ufacturers
were willing to concede Sc rate for boiling |
they were not ready to let the rate operate |
equally as to the inishers., A puddler's |
wages on 2, 500 pounds of muck iron at the |
present rate, S5 so per 2,24o pounds, is
Sc IA. OF this one-third and per cent |
goes to his helper. The heaters, who are
among the lowest paid of the fnishers. earn
from S6 to 81 per day at 20 cents ton, ten tons
to furnace being the average days work,
The heater has not to divide with any one.
The heater has another. advantage in that
if be puts piles weighing more than 100
pounds in his furnace the firm supplies
extra help. These two occupations are the
hardest in a mill, and it is claimed that
the most skill is required at the pudding
furnace. The figures just given 90 to show
that the most skilled man receives Ihe
least pay. s=t( ~
In comparison to these figures are the
wages earned by the rollers on large trains
where heavy plate and structural iron is
rolled. In 1888, at so cents ton two such
rollers received S.. COS tor their years work.
In the same two mills the average wage OF
the puddler was about $40. W. Il
In another mill where four rollers work
On IS and 20-inch trains, they received last
year over SIG, 900. A bar roller, at 70 cents
a ton, and taking 20 tons as anlaverage
days work, makes Sl4 day. But of this
be pays his rougherup 81 cents a ton and
another man So rs day, which leaves him
81 for the days work. From what is under
stood of the sentiment of the workers, there
seems to be disposition to take the
equalization of the magistrates into their
own hands, and treat with the manufactur-
srs independently of the association. How
far this sentiment reaches it is hard to say,
but it is rumored that in one large mill
within this vicinity the men were ready for
revolt if majority of the lodge could have
been obtained. tts.a
ltis said that the difficulties made drag
along throughout the year, righting them
selves wherever they can without conflict |
ng with the work of the convention. but it |
s promised that the next assembfage Of
Forkers will make radical changein the
liking of scales. t-E,T. -'..f-..