Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-08-28
RUSH ORDERS FOR CARS
Fear of a Winter Car Shortage-Basi
ness Reviving Throughout the
Country Rapidly.

Continued ordering OF many loco
motives and cars by the railroads in
dicates that they appreciate the neces-
sity of large increases in equipment,
but it is doubtful whether car building
/, companies will be able TO fill orders
I rapidly enough to prevent a serious
car shortage before the beginning of
the new year.. Furnace and mill ac-
t~iyities are increasing and specifica-
tions against contracts are very heavy
says the Iron Trade Review OF last
week.
The steel corporation is operating
about 80 per cent. of It's furnaces ca
pacity, as high a percentage as can
be reached under present conditions.
The steel bar market is very strong,
and the minimum price has advanced
being now s1.35, Pittsburg. Some in
dependent interests, have advanced
their quotations on plates 81 per ton.
The steel corporation mas opened its
books for rail orders for next years
delivery, and several important sys-
TENS have already made reservations
of large tonnage. Prices remain un-
changed. For this years delivery rail
sales for the week amounted to about
10000 tons,
One sale of 5000 tons of basic for
immediate delivery was made at s15.-
% at the furnace. The Standard Steel
Car Co. has not succeeded in contract
ing for its requirements for next year,
and its inquiry for 100,0 600 tons of
basic is still pending. Among the
larger sales of the week are one of
5000 tons of charcoal iron to a South
Bend Qnd.) pillow works, and several
round tonnages in the Chicago district
Pig iron prices throughout the coun-
try are firm with an upward tend
ency.
The Baltimore & Ohio has ordered
l 900 gondolas, 1000 coke cars, and
600 all steel hopper cars from the
Standard Steel Car Co., and 1000 all
steel coke cars from the Cambria
Steel Co. 1t is expected that about
1000 more cars will be ordered soon.
The Pennsylvania lines west ordered
1000 coke cars from the Standard
Steel Car Co, and 600 from the Cam
bria Steel Co. The Burlington is fig
uring on 1900 freight cars. The Hi
nois Terminal Co. is preparing speci-
fications on 1000 all steel narrow
gauge freight cars. The Erie has
placed an order for 100 furniture cars,
and is expected to order several
thousand freight cars at an early
| date.
Structural contracts for the first
two weeks of August amounted to
about $4,000 tons, of which only about
5000 tons went to the leading inter
est, Several important railroad sys-
TENS are expected to place important
orders for bridge material.
The contract for the Pullman shop,
calling for 1000 tons, was awarded
to the Kenwood Bridge company. The
Carnegie Steel company will furnish
/ 800 tons of plates and shapes for
the new furnace of the Youngstown
Sheet & Tube Co. Two new battle
ships will require 10000 tons of palte,
The Carnegie Steel Co. will furnish
from 10000 to $4,000 tons of plates
and shapes for B. & o. cars recently
| ordered.
The steel corporation has placed an
order for $4,000 tons of coke per
month for the remainder of the year.
The scarcity of labor in the Connels-
vile region is a factor OF increasing
Importance.