The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-06
PREPARE INCREASE . OF P|G IRON OUTPUT
$20,0O0,0O0 Appropriated to
 Improve Furnaces
PRODUCTION IS HEAVY
Total Production of Coke and Anthra- cite Pig Iron Heaviest in 26 Months-Shipment For May
 Almost Break Record

Cleveland. ohio June 5.--(speciaL)- The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will say:
 So heavy is the pressure for ton mage upon the Steel corporation mills that appropriations for about s200Oo, 900 have just been made for extensions to the capacity of various plants. This includes ss000,000 to $10,000,000 for undermining Edgar Thompson; s6,000, GOO for completing the Duluth plant and ss,o0o,o0O for new large slab ping mill and some miscellaneous fin ishing mills at Gary. The Duluth plant at which work has been going along in moderate way will now be pushed to completion as originally planned.
 The plant capacity at Gary will be greatly enlarged by new construction. The tremendous activity of the steel works of the country Is reflected in the statistics of pig iron production for May. Furnaces connected with steel works produced 1,9O9.367 tons, an in- crease of 75,191 tons over April, while the production of merchant iron made a gain of only 27,792 tons.
 The tOldl ol 1oht anu thiA rfhracite pig iron in the country In May was the highest in 26 months. The out put being 2,4s1, ,S03 tons compared with i2,s77,621 tons in April. The daily aver age production was S0,05s tons, the lhighest since April, 1910. The num- ber of active stacks made net gain ,of three, and it is probable the June report will show a heavier production than that of May
 In view of the fact that unfavorable weather conditions during the first 1C days of May seriously interfered with tthe movement of lake vessels, the rec ord of shipments for the month Is re- markable. It indicated that the move iment for the year will In all probabil ity show a large increase over that of the record year 1910. The shipments for May were 5,910,074 tons, the second largest movement for May on record 1t is expected that the June movement will be greater than that of any month in the history of the lakes. June, 1910, now heads the record with a movement of 7,316.592 tons.
 Prices of shafting have been ad- vanced by reducing the discounts two points. The expected advance of $2 per ton in merchant pipe has been an- nounced. Pipe companies are enjoy ing exceptionally good business at the present time and numerous inquiries are pending. The demand for boiler tubes is active and the recent advance in price is being maintained.
 New York June 5.-(Special)- Iron Age will say tomorrow:
 Our report of pig iron production in May emphasizes again the present record rate of steel works operations The pig iron n, 9 nt.S tons day, against 9,375, 436 tons, or 74,1Sl tons day in April.
 The Steel corporation furnaces made 1,927557 tons of pig iron last month against their previous high record of l. SS07 717 tons in April.
 The country is now producing pig iron, including charcoal iron, at the rate of 80.0O0, 900.
 By contrast with two months ago the industry is not now discussing predictions of recession, but reported those factors in the situation which may work against further increase in output. Coke supply is admittedly one of these. There are also reminders every week from some quarter that the scarcity of common labor is a definite check upon iron and steel work
 Highly significant after months of com plaint of over-capacity Is the giving out of plans for a new rail mill at the Edgar Thomson works, IA Cotton open hearth fur naces and other construction, all to cost SS. .000, 900. For a slabbng mill and other new work at Gary it is stated that $3,- 100000 will be spent and on the comple- ton of the Duluth steel plant in the next IS months about S600o,o00.
 The April figures of iron and steel ex- ports. showing a total of 25s0o0 tons, were a surprise. representing a yearly rate of over 3,o00.0o0 tons, against less than D. co0.Oo0 tons last year. Canadian railroads are about to place further good rail orders on this side. The only important change in prices was an advance of one point or about s2 a ton in merchant steel pipe under six inch.
 Pig iron markets are generally quiet. but there are underlying clements of strength.