The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-08-10
BIG INQUIRY
ABOUT STEEL
The Hartman Lines in the
West Want New Rolling
Stock


cars, with an average of ten tons of
steel plates to the car, $4,000 car
trucks, and brake beams and $4,000
car wheels. besides all the other
fixtures for this vast equipment?"
A report from New York today
attaches this query to the name of e.
H. Hartman, and the basis of it to
the requirements Of the rilroad sys-
TENS under his control in the west.
Iron and steel manufacturers In Pitts
burg, who are usually in close touch
with new, business said they heard of
a inquiry of 10000 tons of steel plates
for cars, but aside from that knew
nothing of the actual truth of the re-
ports. M
To Make Steel Here.
Officials of the car building compan-
les in Pittsburg denied having receiv-
ed the request for figures, but said
they were not in position to deny
the report, as there was reason for
believing that it was well-founded.
AS a rule Hartman roads are not
usually found in the market, so far
as Pittsburg car builders are concern
ed, though the steedr for such cars as
they need usually comes in part from
the mills here and sometimes all of
the stock comes from this section.
That there is prospect for an order
of this magnitude in railroad equip
ment stirred up no small amount of
interest locally. The condition of the
car building business has been at its
lowest, consisting mainly Of repairs
to existing equipment.
One of the officials of these compan-
les stated yesterday that while 1t
would take less than month to turn
out such an order in the shops of the
local companies, the fact that such an
order was actually contemplated was
of vast Importance, as 1t would be the
forerunner of others that might be ex-
pected in the near future.
Keep Cars in East.
Surplus cars now existing he said,
were mainly in the east And to let
this surplus go into the far west would
not be considered because of the ul-
timately work to the discontinue of
the eastern roads when the rush
comes for fall and winter traffic. The
western roads are chronically short
Of cars, and the demand of the Har-
riman lines, If it comes, is but a ma
tural development.
That something exceptionally inter-
esting to the steel trade is about to
be made public is said to be recog-
nized. Even European inquiries re-
garding the business of the steel man
ufacturers are coming in, and will
have a vitality beneficial effect on the
American steel trade.
Sees Railroads Buying.
IF this report is true" financial
man said yesterday in Pittsburg, 'it
is another instance to prove that rail-
roads are at last beginning to buy.
You noticed the order for $4,000 tons
of rails by the Baltimore& Ohio rail-
road. It was small, but 1t was an order
that came after long dry season
among the rail men.
'The past week in Pittsburg has
witnessed the placing of orders for
several carloads of shovels by rail-
roads, which in itself is a significant
sign. Another concern tells me that
It has got its first order for the year
from railroads for nuts and bolts for
track work.
II know, too, that during the past
ten days inquiries have been made for
upward, of 100000 feet OF timber for
construction purposes, OF which half
is for railroads, and most Of this for
Pittghur9 territ0ry'' =