New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-15
Il GIANT HEAP OF JUNK.
San Francisco Has Half Million
Tons of Scrap Iron.

Among the many queer and unusual industries
which the San Francisco fire brought into being
is what might be called the apotheosis of the junk
trade, a business which involves half million
tons of iron debris and runs millions of dollars.
says The San Francisco Chronicle"
The fact that the bricks which strewed the acres
of urban devastation would be used to build new
structures where they fell seemed patent enough
to the casual observer. but what to become of
the incalculable of twisted iron and steel in
manifold shapes which gave the ruins their most
hideous and spectacular look Is something which
many have asked and for which few have found
answer
AS matter of fact considerable amount of
this scrap iron will be used in San Franciscos
reconstruction. 1t is estimated that 100 900 tons,
in the form OF bar iron. made from scrap, has al
ready been utilized, and that probably twice as
much more Will be used in the same way. Although
there is no method of reaching anything like
accurate estimate of the amount of scrap iron in
San Franciscos ruins half million tons the guess
made by the largest operator in this class of SAL
wage, is probably conservative rather than gran
diose. This same operator estimates that only 25
per cent has been taken away, leaving some $4,000
tons of iron still lying where it fell
The manner in which this scrap iron Is purchased
by the dealers therein is varied. and. although Il
large amount of It is acquired through the agency
OF contractors ana real estate dealers. great deal
Is bought from individual well The
prices paid vary even more. In instances as
Hieh as $2 ton is paid; in other cases the dealers
receive payment for taking it away. owners being
anxious to clear building sites, deeming the iron
of value. Between these two extremes all sorts
or terms prices and business arrangements prevail
Cast iron Is the most desirable grade of scrap
IRON This is made into castings by the simple
process Of melting and remoldng at a comparative
~ low temperature, and commands practically the
same price as new material, besides meeting a
ready sale. Cast iron has less uniform
PItC5 OF 30 a ton, r Q. Il. ruins and brings
much moro than steel, wrought iron or pipe for
the reason that IT is softer and therefore easier to
work over. much greater heat being necessary to
fuse either of the other grades
Iron pipe In comparatively good condition Is next
in order of value ana brings on an average about $40
a ton, although 1t be had low
ably tho largest pile of scrap iron pipe that has
ever got together In spot is the Alexander Sal
wage Company's mammoth pile mt eth and Howard
streets. containing about thousand tons. This
pipe, when made Over-a labOrOus and therefore
rather expensive process commands 4 good market
at about $40 per ton, which represents very high
percentage Of the price paid FOR new pipe. As
matter or fact, this reconstructed pipe is in every
way as GOOD as the new article for most uses. and
though a trine softer the result of the heat to
which It was subjected wears practically the same
length of time. it is in great demand just IN
the country districts for irrigation purposes IN
sizes from half an inch TO six inches in diameter.
About thirty thousand tons Of this pine Il IS estl-
mated, have already been made over and sold. The
Alexander company operates n big shop devoted to
the construction of scrap iron pipe. which has q
capacity for making several carloads per day.
There would be a considerably larger market for
this class Of scrap iron for that
SNpE'nt hul.ding regulations practically bar 1t
from the local field. As "a result now pipe Is being
shipped from the Eust in large quantities for The
new buildings and considerable delay has resulted
from the fact that tho demand greatly exceeds the
supply In the present condition OF freight traffic
y large amount OF assorted scrap iron Is shipped
Los Angeles. where it IS cut up into small pieces.
fused together and rolled into sheets and bars.
which used in many buildings now going up
in the southern metropolis.
The Great Western Smelling and Refining Com
pany has tho biggest scrap iron pile in the world
at its yards on Spear street, near Folsom street.
where some twenty-five thousand tons OF scrap iron
OF al sizes kinds and shapes. from nails 70 CIR
ders Of the largest size. piled about fifteen feet
high, most remarkable feature about this great
collection ot feTie junk IS the regularity and sym
metry with which II is put together The tops and
sides of the great stacks levelled with the
nicely of Il Eeouetrical design. and the whole
accumulation OF odds and ends IS iutevscctcd BY
broad aises through which wagons continually
pass in the tasks OF loading or unloading
II Is estimated that two Years Will be re-
Quired to exhaust tho wealth 81 iron debris which
the fire god SO iavishly bestowed San Francisco.
and at the end Of that time probably only
three Of the largest operators in this commodity
viii remain. \ considerable number have already
forsaken the field and the day 81 the scrap iron
trust IS not far distant.
The least cleared sections in tho city are those
bounded by the bay, Market md 10Th streets and
the former apartment district within Grant and
Van Ness avenues and Sacramento and McAllister
streets These win probably furnish the bulk of
the $4,000 tons still remaining I'm the ruins,
COrding to estimate.