The Washington herald., 1909-11-07
STEEL CONTRACTS
BREAK RECORDS
Railroads Place Big Orders
for Equipment.
THE AMOUNT IS 100000 TONS
Reports from Producing Centers for
October show Conditions Nearly
EounI 70 Those in IOOG-Output
Never Greater Manufacturers
Seek Material for Next Year.

Reports from the various centers Of
iron and steel manufacture for the month
OF October indicate an activity which
brings these industries back closely to
the situation presented in the fall of 1906.
when It was considered that iron and
steel were at high-water mark.
The reports show that the contracts for
finished steel products for the month
were approximately 100000 tons and the
orders booked for pig iron amounted TO.
10000 tons supplementary orders for
iron ore and scrap iron raise the aggre-
gates and give proof that the greatest
activity pervades the entire industry.
from the big steel plants to tho iron
mines in all parts of the country. This
activity Is specially marked in the Biz
mingham district and at other points in
the South where iron and steel are pro-
dTced.
Railroads Place Large Orders.
Railroads resumed placing contracts for
equipment during the latter part OF the
month 10 such an extent as to recall the
transactions in 1906. Through equipment
companies and railroad supply houses Ihe
railroads have entered contracts aggre-
eating nearly 100000 tons of finished
steel products, including their direct pur-
chases OF rails, and plain and fabricated
structural material. The placing Of col-
tracts for freight and passenger equip
ment was the most important feature OF
tho month. car orders aggregating be-
fWaa
companies making amends for the disap-
pointing orders for cars placed In Sep
TENDER.
Iu tie last sixty days car orders have
aggregated about 1900, making the total
number contracted for since the FIST OF
the year 10000 In 1905. the year Of de-
pIcssion, railroads ordered only 5000 cars,
but during 1907 they contracted for $4,000
cars. while I'm 1905 the orders aggregated
$4,000. At the moment additional car or
ders are pending for 1900. Including 10000
for the Pennsylvania system.
Locomotive Contracts.
Increases in the orders for locomotives
less impressive During October between
$50 and coo locomotives were ordered. or
nearly 700 IN the last two months. MAX
ing the total contracts for locomotives
placed since the first OF January ISIS.
In 1908 locomotive orders were estimated
a, l.IS2: in 1867. 300. and IN 1906. 500.
Two months remain 20 complete the 1909
record and &c is possible that the 1907
stage will be reached. IT IS estimated that
the orders for motive power and other
rolling stock placed by the railroads last
month viii call for 10000 to 100000 tons OF
steel products
Contracts for rails placed for the last
week in October aggregated 10000 tons.
including $4,000 tons for the New York
Central system. There seems 20 be rea-
son to believe that a supplementary con-
tract VIII be placed later by the New
York Central. Business IS now pending
with other Eastern roads for about 1900
tons additional The total rail contracts
for the month were 100000 tons. or about
10000 tons less than In September. Since
the first of the year railroads have been
committed TO 100000 tons. Of which 1,200.-
Oo0 tons are for 1910 delivery.
Fabricated Steel Unsettled.
October was a light month as far as
fabricated structural steel IS concerned,
preliminary estimates indicating that to-
tai orders have not exceeded 1900 tons.
OF which only $1,000 tons were taken by
the American Bridge Company
Although the railroads have been the
most important factors I'm the months
transactions. manufacturing industries
have also placed heavy contracts for both
raw and finished material, Il being esti-
mated that the total commitments during
October have reached 100000 tons OF fin
ished steel products.
The demand for tin plate and wire prod
ucts has been especially notable and sell
dom. II ever. have the orders been eN-
Ceeded az this season OF the year. Al
though there has been some decrease in
the average daily orders since the first OF
the month, contracts for wire products
have averaged about $500 tons per day.
Mig Iron Contracts Placed.
The volume Of business I'm pig iron has
been heavy. II being estimated that the
weekly transactions have averaged 800 900
tons. and activity continued up to the
close Of last week. Although the demand
for steel-mabing iron has been conspicu-
Gus because OF the relatively moderate
supply and the higher prices obtained.
the bulk Of the business has been in
foundry and forge grades. Of which the
supply is more ample. Last week addl-
tiOnal heavy orders were again placed IN
NeW York for interior Shipment four DIFF