Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-07
RESULT OF A STRIKE.
The Trouble in the Coke Region
Will RevOIutiOnize the
Iron Trade.
BIG DEALS, SMALL PROFITS,
Will Hereafter Be the Motto of the
Manufacturers Who Have
TO COMPETE WITH THE SOUTH.
Thousands of Men Idle and Miles of Empty
Cars On Sidings.
BIG DEALS, SMALL PROFITS,
TO COMPETE WITH THE SOUTH.
NECESSITY FOR LOWER FREIGHT RATES


among the blast furnaces in the Mahoning
ard iShenango valleys instead of clearing
up seems to grow more complicated from
day to day, and from week to week, so that
able degree of certainty the outcome OF these
disturbances, which have combined to un-
settle all activity in the iron line, or to kill
what the immediate future has in store for
the iron markets, the pig iron manufactur-
ers and the kindred interests.
One fact however, stands out most boldly.
and that is that the industry in these valleys
has never before undergone such "a continued
period Of depression, nor have the results
that have followed in the wake of this COM
mcrcial calamity before been equaled for
the number OF industries affected, the num-
Der of workers thrown idle, and the money
loss to the various interests affected. Prob
ably the first and greatest loss is to the pig
ron industry itself. OF total of 81
stacks in the two valleys fully 80
are inactive, and the estimated daily
capacity of these idle furnace is 5000 tons
and the loss in tonnage since the shutdown
was inaugurated (January 10) is estimated
at nearly 100000 tons. The mean price of
Bessemer and mill irons for the period is
SIS, so the money loss by the stoppage of
the production of pig iron is fully S4,-
boo, 600.
Thousands of wOrkmen Idle.
The number of workmen thrown idle was
estimated at the time the shutdown first
went into effect bv the officials of the Ma
honing and Shenango Valley Iron Manu-
faCurers' Association at 5000, but owing
TO the unemployment of all the laboring
hands to assist in making repairs about the
different furnaces the number of idle work
men has been greatly reduced, and con-
BervatIye estimate now places the number at
2,000, and the greater part of this number
are railroad employees who have been sus-
pended owing to the lack of traffi-.
The railroad interests probably come sec
ond in the list of the greatest sufferers. 1t
is very difficult to secure actual figures re-
garding the loss to the roads by lack of
traffic occasioned by the shutdown. AT the
Offices of the Lake Shore and Michi-
gan Southern Railroads Mr.. Z. W,
Niles, the Superintendent, stated that
business was never so dull since his connec-
tion with the road. He further stated that
the volume of their traffic was injured about
So per cent, and that this loss was almost in
significant compared with the losses sus-
tanned by other roads, as the Lake Shore
road is only partly affected by the shutdown,
they having only their share of the ore ship
meuts from Cleveland, the coke shipments
IL q. ! Il.
traffic to Cleveland, whereas the Eastern
roads have the hauling of the coke and lime
stone into the valleys and pig iron out of the
valleys
Miles of Empty Coke Cars.
Probably the best indication of the extent
to which the railroads have been affected
can be seen from the enormous number of
empty freight cars lying along their tracks.
While on my way to Niles noticed con-
tinual line of empty ore cars be-
longing to the Nypano road reach
ing from Youngstown 10 Girard, a
distance Of five miles. There is also Just east
o Girard an unbr oxen line of Schoonmaker |
and Youngstown Coke Company empty cars |
tullya mile and q half in length. In the |
Youngstown yards and the different furnace |
yards there is not enough space left for |
another car, the entire sidings being filled |
with empty cars. AL along the line OF the |
Lake Erie and the other roads leading into |
this city there are broken lines OF empty
cars. and railroad official, when spoken to
this matter, stated the number of idle |
cars was indeed enormous, and exceeded !
ANYTHING in his experience.
The Lake Superior ore interests have also |
come In for their share of decentralization, |
owing to the shutdown. The condition of |
the ore market at present is extremely dull, |
and the outlook, moreover, the worst |
possible. The Lake Superior mines |
during 1890 furnished $685., LAG tons |
OF 2,24O pounds each, or a total |
OF 81 per cent of the entire production of the |
country. Good authorities are of the opinion
that the production OF Superior ore this |
wear Will fall below the 6,0G0, 600 ton mark
The stock of ore lying at the several lake
ports is said to be enormous and the general \
impression is that prices will greatly suffer-
Every months idleness among the furnaces
means d corresponding reduction of the con-
sumption of ore, and if the furnaces should
Ioa 90 into blast before the latter part of
this month the direct cutting off in the ore
supply will amount to fully 1000, 000tons.
Iniuring the Lake Shipping Interests.
This dulIness in the ore trade will seri-
u~lN TeutCl pun lllt 1dht Si4 pDlUS inter-
csts, and the restricted business offering will
produce a competition that will exert itself
upon ore rates.
The limestone business is also practically
dsaG, work at the different limestone quar-
rIes has ceased and the workmen are idle.
IEe restriction in the production of lime
stone is estimated to reach 1000 tons per
dav.
The last, but BY no means the least af-
iccted industry, is that of Connellsville
coke, The peculiar situation now prevail
ing throughout the coke regions, and hav-
ing the form both Of a strike and lockout, by
which, II Is estimated, L., 0G0 men have been
thrown out Of employment, mas, no doubt,
been aggravated by the shutdown of the ur-
naces. Many iron men here think that it is
a DloW al Inc iurnacemen over the shoulders
OF the Worklngmen; that the strike was a
much-ueslred measure by the syndicate, Civ.
ing IL weIcome weapon with which to
strike the furnace interests; that 1t is purely
a war measure, an act of retaliation that was
contemplated, and the demands of the men
gave the coke people the very opportunity
lr which they were seeking. Ola total OF
= 1873 ovens IN the region only 400 of the |
.;tIury plant are IN operation and the
roduct Of these is being shipped to the
5rownBonneIl Company, in this citv. zn,.,
The abnormal depression in the price of
zig iron, primarily brought sbout bv over.
PRODUCTION superinduced by the LARGE shin.