Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-09


Company, of Johnstown, Pa; Federal
Steel Company, Of Chicago; Lacka-
wanna Iron & Steel Company, of Scran-
ton, Pa; Pennsylvania Steel Company,
of Steelton, Pa, and Colorado Fuel &
Iron Company, of Pueblo, Col, have
sold close to 100000 tons of steel
rails for 1899 delivery, this tonnage
being sufficient TO give these mills full
employment up to July and later. The
production of rails this year will exceed
100000 tons, the largest output since
1892, which was the best year the rail
trade has ever known. Our rail mills
are sending rails to all parts of the
world, meeting competition of the best
English and German mills right in
their own territory. This export bust
ness is rapidly increasing, and the
American rail mills, after supplying the
domestic demand, can dispose OF their
surplus product abroad. This insures
full operation OF the mills, by which
minimum cost CT production is reached.
At present prices there is good profit
in rails. The minimum price of stand
ard steel rails to-day weighing from 60
to 100 pounds per yard, is S22 per ton
f. O. b., Pittsburg. They have sold
down to about SIS a ton. Of course
the large contracts from such roads as
the Pennsylvania, New York Central,
Lake Shore, and others, whose require
meats run up into hundreds of tnou-
sands Of tons yearly were all placed
some time ago at lower prices, but 1859
will be one of the best years the ra'!
trade has ever had. This, too, in spite
of the fact that no agreement exists,
except between the Federal and Car
regle companes, which, however, does
not regulate prices.
SHEET BARS, ETC.
In sheet bars more remarkable
condition exists. Sheet bars are used
by the sheet mills in the manufacture
of black and galvanized sheets, and
the entire supply Of the country has
been secured by the National Steel
Company, with the result that there
is famine in this material at the
present time, and parties who have
any to sell can get their own price.
Sheet bars have sold below $1,000,
makers mill, while to-day close to SIS
could be done if there were any to be
had. The only concern outside of the
National Steel Company that are
makers of sheet bars for the open mar
ket is the Carnegie Steel Company,
limited, and this concern have entered
into a contract with the American
Tin Plate Company by which their
product is practically under control,
In all forms of finished material most
remarkable advances in prices have
occurred, and the tendency is still de-
cidedly upwards.
In sheets a heavy advance in price
has occurred; No. q black sheets of
standard quality have sold down to
1.75c, clear advance of $40 a ton.
Other heavy guages running from IS
to "a have advanced in about the same
proportion.
In merchant steel and iron bars
there has been a tremendous demand,
filling the mills in Pittsburg and
Youngstown districts for months to
come, and prices have advanced from
$500 to $500 ton.
Steel bars have sold in the Pittsburg
market at O96c, and are quoted to-day
at Use, an advance of $500 a ton.
Iron bars have advanced nearly as
much, and prices are certain to go still
higher.
In pipes and tubes remarkable adj
vances have been made, and leading
concerns like National Tube Works
Company, of McKeesport, Pa, and
Pennsylvania Tube Works, of Pitts
burg, have their product sold up for
practically out of the market as sellers.
A movement is now under way, and
on which progress is being steadily
made, to take over Is or IS of the
leading pipe mills OF the country into
a concern to be known as the National
Tube Company. This is also having its
effect in sending prices skyward and in
the last few months prices on pipes and
tubes have advanced from $500 to IS 90
ton.
There has also been some relative
advance in prices of iron and steel skelp
from which pipes and tubes are rolled.
Wire nails, which have sold down to
s115 per key of 100 pounds, based on an
average of 13c are now s1.S5, Pittsburg,
in large lots, a clean advance of s14.00
In cd nskgN9o Bronchial