Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-14
The Different Grades of Raw and
Manufactured Iron Are More
in Demand, and
PRICES RULE VERY MUCH higher.
The Shutdown in the Valleys and the
Coke Strike Will Continue to Cause
an Increased Demand.
A LARGE AMOUNT OF COAL CONSUMED.
The Present outuok for the Iron and Steel Trades Is
Most Encouraging One.

ing of the month. The demand for all
grades of raw and finished iron has improved
considerably, and prices in consequence are
firmer and higher, especially for pig iron.
This incipient activity and strength ex-
hibited by the iron and steel markets is at
tributed, first to the continued shutdown oi
the furnaces in the Mahoning and Shenango
Valleys and to the prolongation of tine stop
page of the production of coke in the Con-
nellsville region. When the Valley fur
naces shut down it is estimated that they had
on hand fully &C, 600 tons OF different grades
of pig iron, fully three-fourths of which
quantity has been sold since the shutdown
mOvemtat was first inaugurated. This
Inarket during periods of ordinary activity
purchases no inconsiderable amount of the
product of the valley furnaces, and now
that this source of supply has been with
drawn the stocks of iron on hand for sale are
extremely low and the outlook Tor an early
resumption of work far from encouraging.
An Advance in Prices.
There has been a rush of consumers to
purchase supplies for future use, which has
resulted in a temporary increased demand
and consequent advance in prices. 1t is
probable that the demand for iron will con-
tinue brisk, so long as the shutdown lasts,
though it is question if prices ill con-
tinue to advance owing to the combined
causes which are expressing the market be-
ing rniavorable to a continued enhance
ment of values.
The duration of the coke strike has proved
another important factor in the present up
ward movement, and the stocks of coke at
nearly ali the furnaces that are supplied
from the Connellsville district are wiped
out and the furnaces obliged to bank their
fires. There is not likely to be
full resumption OF work until
there is more pronounced improve
ment in the iron market. Some
small operators have taken steps toward a
resumption of work on the Rainey priDci-
pie, but should they prove successful their
action will have no weight either with the
operators or striking miners.
Tn: Indifference OF operators toward re-
sum ;rg work accounts for their independent
attitude in the several conferences held. 1t
means that they are not anxious for return
OF active operations until the trade condi-
tions improve, in which event the demand
for lower coke may possibly be modified.
Comparisons Tell the Tale.
An evidence OF the inactivity that every
where preyades the coke regions is seen
from a comparative statement of the ship
ment OF coke from the region during
period of ordinary activity and the present
time. For the week ending January the
number of ovens in blast was L, 900, and the
number cut of blast $780, with the total
number OF tons produced amounting to l02,-
1l2. During the week ending February %
there were but S3l ovens in blast and is, 3S8
out of blast, with the weekly production
amounting to ), 525 tons.
The number OF men idle is averaged at
one man per oven. or a total OF over Is, 900
men idle. Outside of the Connellsviiie
region the number Of idle men is estimated
at about 5000. This statement includes the
striking workmen of the Braddock Wire
Company, the = 600 men thrown idle by the
valley shutdown; fully 500 men idle as a
result of the temporary shutdown of the
Edgar Thomson Steel Works, and the re-
manning number by breaks in mach: merry,
repairs and for other causes occurring at
the different mills.
Probably the most important item of news
to the labor world recorded since the in
auguration of the coke strike is the ending
Of the great MOnongahela strike in a vic
tory for the miners. though how long this
run at 81 cents will continue is question
"A settlement of the strike was greatly
helped by the scarcity of coke at the ex-
treme Southern markets. Operators were
anxious to take advantage of the spring
floods to get their coal TO Southern ports and
I'LL contracts, besides the failure to live up
TO contracts might provoke a law suit, and
some persons intimate that just as soon as
the Lower Mississippi river operators craft
are filed the run will stOp, though it is
possible the lower Ohio people will be want
ing coal by that time.
What the Strike Cost.
The amount of the restriction of coal !
mined by this strike is estimated at IL, ,000- |
non br1 shells This ~ 2 buSha1 /
shows loss TO the men resulting from the |
strike amounting to $3.50, 900 and the loss of |
business to operators of fully twice this |
sum. The resulting victory for the miners |
caused great joy and iollifcation all along |
the river. Prior to May 1 the new scale,
which demands that all coal mined be
weighed, that eight hours shall constitute |
days work and increased demand as re-
CARDS dead work, all of which will CON-
prehend an advance in the cost of mining
equal to about 25 per cent, will be presented
to the operators for their acceptance.
These demands were formulated by the
United Mine Workers Association, and in
clude both river and railroad miners, and |
will affect the miners in the States of Indi-
ana, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania. II is not unlikely, Judging
from present indications, that severe
struggle will ensue as a result of attempts
10 enforce these demands.
The programme for the forth coming an
nual convention OF the Amalgamated Asso-
citation of Iron and Steel Workers, which is |
TO be held at Allegheny City about the irst |
week in June, is being formulated and will |
be completed before the close of this month |
1t is principally made up of the reports of |
the various sub-lodges in the association, |
deciding whether or not changes will be
recommended in the present scale. 1t is as
vet too early TO determine whether any
radical changes will be requested bv the sub
lodges, their work not being completed. The
IumOr that the base of the scale of wages is
likely to be changed from bar iron has ema-
mated from individual opinion.
Nothing Done Toward a Change.
At the last convention a committee was
appointed to investigate and report upon the
possibility of such change. Some lodges
wanted the base of wages changed to muck
bar or bar iron, but the arguments then were
strong against the change, SO nothing
further was done in the matter. The fact
that nearly all the pudding furnaces Row
use coal as fuel has created the impression
among some puddlers and heaters that they
should receive more money this wear.
1t is not probable in the present condition
of the IRON and steel trades that any extraor-
dinary changes will be requested in the set
Element of the scale, and the opinion pre-
walls among those we'll informed that no
trouble of any importance will result from
the attempts at settlement. The return OF
the local mills to the use of coal is about
completed. There will probably be no more
changes made in the pudding departments
of the different mills that at present use
natural gas as fuel until the supply is
wholly inadequate to operate the furnaces.