New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-15
PLENTY OF WORK FOR STEEL MILLS.
SINCE JANUARY 4 ORDERS FOR 100000 TONS OF
RAILS HAVE BEEN BOOKED.

SINCE JANUARY 4 ORDERS FOR 10000 TONS OF
RAILS HAVE BEEN BOOKED.
Pittsburg. Feb. H.-Wages have been reduced at
the Cambria Company's steel works. at Johnstown.
and In the Edgar Thomson Works Of the Carnegie
Company, where the workers are paid on n sliding
scale based on the selling price Of rails.
Yesterday the Carnegie Company booked orders
for steel rails amounting to $1,000 tons The price
was about SIS ton. and this week they will likely
be above that figure. Since January orders for
steel rails to the amount Of $4,000 tons have been
placed in the mills manufacturing that product.
This Is only 10000 less than the entire tonnage
booked by the manufacturers In the year 1896.
British makers of iron and steel products are
alarmed BY the invasion Of their home markets by
American manufacturers. Ii IL stated that tinplate
bars have been exported TO the Welsh timed plate
mills for several months and that some Of the timed
plates imported recently were made out Of American
steel Bessemer steel billets have been exported.
and one Pittsburg firm Is reported 10 have been
Gently shipping order for 1000 tons OF billets
which have been landed on the west coast OF Eng
land at a price Of IL shings below the local price.
Other forms Of iron and steel exported extensively
are hardware mechanical tools and various forms OF
machinery
Wages In American mills more than double the
wages paid in English mills for similar work. 1t Is
claimed that the higher cost OF labor in the United
States has given to employers greater incentive 10
introduce labor-savng machinery and that the labor
a
with the cost in England, by reason OF the larger
output each day that the cost ton Is actually below
what II is at the most favored mills In Great Britain
and almost low in Germany.
Two more rail- mills were put In operation at
Carnegie's Edgar Thomson Steel Works. at Brad
dock. tonight giving employment TO $50 men. Al
J. Painter * Sons Iron and Steel Works. addi-
tional departments, employing 200 or 400 men, will
resume in the morning.
1t Is not expected that prices for rails will go
lower. but If such should be the case. the Carne-
gle Company will meet all competition
baltimore Feb 1.-THE receivers Of the Baltl-
more and Ohio Railroad placed an order Saturday for
Is 900 tons Of steel rails OF this amount 900 tons
a re for immediate delivery. and will be placed In
the track as rapidly az possible. The total orders.
II IL estimated, Will make over 80 miies OF single
track
Harrisburg Penn. Feb. IA notice Of 10 per cent
reduction was posted at the works of the Pelnsyl-
vania Steel Company tonight. Ii is TO take effect
March l. The reduction. which unexpected, az
fects about three thousand employees. The expana-
ton that the reduction Is made owing 10 the reduced
price for the product accompanies the notice. Ii
places the wages Of the men at about the scale
that existed from APRIL 1S3 until August. 1896 dur
ing which period the companys affairs we're in the
hands of receivers No change In operations Is looked
for at this time the company is well supplied with
orders secured In the rush Of the last ten days.
said the company was compelled to make 1t in order
TO the fall In the price OF rails, brought abou,
by the collapse Of the Steel Rail Pool lie was not
able TO say how long the reduction would remain In
force but expressed the hope that trade conditions
would warrant the restoration OF the old wages
FULL TIME IL RHODE ISLAND MILLS
Providence. Feb 1l.--There are Indications OF q
revival Of activity in the worsed mills in this Sec
lion. The Weybosset Mills in Olneyville, which
have been running only forty hours a week for
several months past will start the preparatory
departments to-day full time to be In readiness