Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-21
IMPORTANT CHANGES
That Will Have Notable Effect on
Pittsburg's Iron Trade.
The END OF THE COKE STRIKE
DULL SUMNER SEASON LOOKED FOR

industrial situation have very recently
taken place, and the results in the one case
seem 10 be overwhelmingly against labor,
very favorable to individual firms and pri-
vate corporations and, many assert, very
beneficial TO those trades directly and in
directly interested; and, in the other case,
while no actual results have so far been
reached it seems safe to warrant the predic-
tion that even though labor in this instance
prove successful in carrying its point the
attendant and consequent issues will cause
considerable loss both to capital and labor,
and seriously entangle general trade in the
affected districts.
The changes referred to are, first, the ap-
proach OF the end of the prevailing Con-
nelsyille coke strike, in which some 10, 900
Workmen are involved. Dnring the past
week there has been a SLOW, but neverthe-
less steady, resumption of work throughout
the entire region, the number OF men
returning TO work is daily increasing,
the labor leaders are reluctantly forced to
admit the loss o; the strike, and the general
opinion among those in position to know
is that the great strike will soon be num-
bered among the things that were.
Seven Per Cent Less Wages.
The strike was inaugurated on February
10, and an almost suspension OF operations
has existed since that time. The sliding
scale of wages, on which basis the men are
returning to work, is based on the market
price o! coke. and at the present price of
s. 80 Der net ton the rate OF wages is
about per cent less than the agreed price
which ruled last season.
The second change referred to as having
an important bearing upon the industrial
situation of this vicinity is the failure of
the officials of the United Mine Workers
Association OF America and the railroad
coal operators of the Pittsburg and Ohio
districts TO agree upon a scale 30 rule for the
coming season, and the concession of other
important points, and which failure to
agree will undoubtedly cause a total sus-
pension OF work in nearly all the mines IN
the affected districts. At the miners an
nual convention, held in the city of Colum-
bus in February, the miners declared lor
eight hours Tor q days work, and also pre-
pared scale calling for the weighing of sll
coal in many districts at prices In excess of
the present scale, which is based al 20 cents
IN She Ohio ana 80 cents in the Pitisburg
districts, for mining.
Tie con ference between the operators and
delegates in this city, during the past week,
ended rather abruptly, and no doubt the
question of the enforcement of the eight
hour day was the stumbling block by which
the opposing sides separated. AT this writing
il seems a question OF endurance on the
part OF the strikers. The operators state
they can stand long siege, and as for the
miners, the fdct is apparent that no more
money is to be sent into the ConnelisVille
regions, hut all the funds are TO be reserved
for supporting the miners in this next great
conflict. in which IuIlv 500, 900 people are d.
rectly or Indirectly affected.
Effect on Local Iron Trade.
The latter question will probably have
but an indirect effect upon the local iron and
steel trades, but the settlement OF the Con-
reIlsvilie strike and the consequent return
OF the manufacture Of coke will undoubtedly
affect the market :or these products to a con-
siderable degree, and whether good or bad
result viii follow, tie general opinion is
that it VIII not benefit either demand or
prices in the present abncrmally depressed
condition OF the trade, but Cd the contrary
the effect, il is thought, will be quite the op-
poste
Tie local production of iron, as we'll as
that OF those districts from which this mar
leg draws its supplies, is at present far in
excess Cf tie consumption, notwithstanding
the fact that three stacks OF the Edgar Thorn
son plant are cut OF blast, the two stacks of
the NouOnGaEela furnace, the two stacks of
the Isabella Furnace Company, the Edith
Furnace and the Clinton Furnace, causing
restriction in the local production amount
ing 10 70, 900 tons a month.
Every blast furnace in the State of West
Virginia is out OF blast, restricting produc-
lion 5000 tons per week. Fifteen out of a
total Of Il furnaces in the Shenango Valley,
PENNSYLVANIA, having Il weekly capacity of
over II 600 tons, are idle; also II stacks out
of 4 total Of 10 in the AIahoning Valley,
Ohio, with weekly capacity of nearly
10000 tons.
All Waiting for Coke.
It is asserted that more than half of these
furnaces are out Of blast as a result of the
scarcity Of fuel, and that when a full sup
ply Of coke is assured fully that many will
again resume making iron. The result will
inevitably be an enormous overproduction
Of iron that will reflect itself on demand
and prices. About the only grain of con-
ISOLATION that can be had out of this discour-
aging state of affairs is the fact that pig
iron prices are at present scraping bottom
and cannot possibly admit of further reduc-
1ioEs.
The general opinion among those engaged
in the iron and steel trade, which is con-
sidered the barometer of all business. is that
the unusual dullness now settled over the
trade will continue during the summer
months.
There still continue to be important
changes made in the fuel at many of the
local mills. The only mills which continue
to run with iull supply of gas after the
general return to the use of coal in the pud-
ding furnaces some lew months ago, are
now compelled to Ial back on other fuel, as
the supply OF gas is not sufficient TO allow
steady WORK. A Brown & Co.'s Wayne
Iron and Steel Works the firm contemplates
many alterations and improvements during
the coming summer, among them being the
extending Of large supply main around
the works.
Losing Much Time.
At Shoenberger S5 Co.'s, the supply of
gas is so weak that the men are unable to
make full time and are losing considerable
in consequence. At a. NJ. Byers & Co.'s
mill preparation had been made for en-
countering short supply of gas and in the
pudding department Z portion of each fur
mace has been remodeled Tor coal, permitting
the use of coal and gas together. The only
remaining mill running all departments en-
tireIy on gas is that of Jones & Laughlins,
which firm is enabled to do so, owing to
their having their own private wells and
mains.
The Pittsburg Reduction Company cast
13, 166 pounds OF aluminium during the
month of March, which beats all their
previous records. They are at present closed
down to make repairs, and will probably
use coal as fuel when work is resumed The
Edith furnace, which was recently sold to
the Oliver Iron and Steel Company, was re-
Gently put out of blast after 215 Years run,
caStinr duriur that time about 100 600 TONS