The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14
IRONTRADEO ON THEJUMP
HfNT NILS MIR ORDERS ON
HfyD FOR MONTHS IHElD.
The Tin-PIate Industry-The Present sum-
mer the Busiest for Years In the
Iron and Steel Trades.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, July u.-With
all wage scales practically settled the
iron trade enters upon the second halt
OF the year with bright prospects and
the probability OF the heaviest summer
production for years. Structural and
plate and bar mills, both in the East and
West, are well supplied with orders, and
rail mills have a tonnage before them
that is in decided contrast 70 their small
orders Of q year ago. As the days pass
they witness higher prices and fuller or
der books.
The feeling Of dstrust is fast giving
way to the belief that business is on a
substantial basis. and a revival OF all
dormant enterprises in every branch of
American industry now seems probable.
Nearly every day brings the announce
ment that some mill or manufacturing
industry has advanced wages. Consump-
ton is broadening and reaching into new
avenues every week. As confidence ia
the future becomes more firmly estab-
i.shed prices are likely % increase. The
visible product of furnaces and mills
for the next three months is under con-
tract, and I'm some lines this is the con-
dition for the balance OF tine year.
Plants that have not been iH operation
for several years are now being looked
over and cleaned up with an eye for an
ofportuuitv 10 resume work. This fes-
ture will probably be influential in pre-
venting prices from rising abnormally or
creating scarcity Of material. Under
the circumstances the supply and demand
are pretty well balanced. and steady
market with an advancing tendency
seems probable.
The Virginia Development Company
has leased the Bucna Vista Na) FUR
mace, al Nists, Va, 20 the Rich Iatch
Iron Company for three years. Repairs
will be made and operations resumed
about August ist.
Blast Furnace No. .. az the Milwaukee
works OF the Illinois steel Company. was
blown I'm a short time ago after being
itlo since April No furnace has been
ia operation az these works for three
months. but the gradually increasing
business neccssifates their rcstarting
In addition % the furnaces now OPP
Grating I'm the South, preparations are
being made by the Tennessee Coal. iron,
and Railuad Company 10 start the two
stacks az OxmOOr Sl0ss is pushing re-
pairs on the single idle furnace and Will
start soon; Gadsdcn Furnace will short
IS bee blown i'm. The two stacks at Wood
rNN.h Hlf f'NilE Ilfi''f'A iN i'tt'titt'|'f
Gracey-W 0Odward ut Clarksville. Tenn,
* expected 10 begin soon. and at other
plants preparations are being made for
a start. The total capacity of the fur
naces, which Will probably go I'm within
thirty days. is about lao tons week
IL is announced that a blast furnace
will Dee erected at or near Coal Creek.
Tenn.
The recently organized Sheffield Coal.
Iron. and Steel Company OF Sheffield,
Ala. blew In one OF it's three furnaces
on July LIST. The company owns three
stacks, which have been idle several
years. Another stack viii Boz ready TO
resume blast soon.
IINPLATR PRODUCTION.
Tho Metal Worker. OF New York. has
collected the statistics Of the production
OF tlnpiate I'm the United states for the
first three months Of the year. Com
plcte returns were not received, but es-
timating the works not heard from, the
Metal Worker concludes that the pro-
duction Of tin and terneplates for the
three months ending March 3lst amount
ing to 100000 pounds. During the same
quarter the production Of black plates
FOR timing amounted TO g7.eoo00 pounds
The Government formerly collected tin
plate statistics but ceased doing so on
June 80, 1891. During that quarter the
tin and terneplate production amounted
10 1865 pounds. IL will Dee seen That
the production Of the first quarter of the
present year, as compared with the sec
ond quarter of last year shows a con-
siderable decrease but this may be- ac-
counted for by the depressed condition
Of the iron and steel trades during the
early months OF 1896 IL is probable that
.. f.tf, If will
show much more encouraging results.
The Atlanta Tinplate Company. Of At
lanta, Ind, Is now running full force with
- hands. watch number will be increds-
ed as coon as the timing department is
entirely under way. The company has
orders sufficient TO keep 1t busy 10 the
end Of next month
Great satisfaction is felt among the
workmen at the American Tinplate
Works. at Elw0od, Ind, in consequence
Of the signing Of the new wage scale,
which insures steady employment for
the men the coming year. The works are
in full operation I'm all departments. Ten
hot mills. one bar mill and fourteen cold
rolls. with tventy-four timing stacks are
kept busy. The building for a new mill. 90
q ntain six hot mills, is completed and
operations will begin therein this m0nsh.
The Baltimore Iron. Steel, and Tin
plate COmpany's reconstructed tnpiate
plant az Locust Point, Baltimore, Md,
consisting OF four black plate mills and
four timing sets. is In full operation.
The directors Of the newly organized
Washington Tinplate Company have re-
ceived bids for the erection of four
inl plant. which they prOposs building
at Washington, Pa, this summer.
7'h- Britton Rolling Mil Company, OF
Cleveland. o.. is building TWO addition
al tin mills, which will make its works
a four-m!ll plant
sTEkL RAIL PRICES.
The Engineering and Mining Journal IN
4 recent issue says: THE iron trade
continues In its upward movement, and
now the greatest interest seems CEN
tered in blliets and steel rails. The
former have steadily risen, and II is
expected will soon reach the S2i mark
i'm Pittsburg. Bessemer pig Is Sl3 az the
same place, and steel rails s2i a few
weeks ago Bessemer pig was $3.50, blllets
81 and steel rails 81. That is at that
time there was supposed 10 be cost
conversion from pig 10 bllets Of $3.50,
and $3.50 from pig 20 rails. Now there
would appear 10 be 81 or s. for converting
from pig 10 bnlets, and 81 from pig 10
rails.
There could be no clearer indication