The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-11
PRODUCT|ONRATE OF
 STEEL CORPORATION
Is Highest in United States
 Steels History
ORE SALES ARE HEAVY
While Independent Companies Are Not Doing as Well as Steel Cor poration Many Show Gains.
 Railway Orders Moderate

Cleveland, O., April -(Special.) )-The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will say:
 The United States Steel Corporation is operating this week at the highest pro- dnctive rate in it's history. It is put ting on steel making capacity wherever it can. While leading independent com panies are not as actively engaged as the Steel corporation, some of them are show ing substantial gains. This is particu- farly true in the east where mills are now operating at about S5 per cent of full capacity.
 The Lukens Iron and Steel company is among those which have increased their output rapidly during the past week. The Allan Wood Iron and Steel company has put on another open hearth furnace, max- ing seven out of nine in operation, and is about to blow in it's large blast fur mace. One large eastern concern reports that during the last week it received al most a record number of orders.
 The sales Of Lake ore during the past week have been very heavy and from S,O00,OO0 10 10OO0,oO0 tons have been placed.
 The pig iron market shows increased activity and some hardening of prices. In eastern territory inquiries for from S0, 0o0 to 40,000 tons of steel making irons are pending. A steam pump company has purchased 10,O00 tons of foundry grades and it is in the market for from 1000 to 5000 tons additional. A soil pipe maker
 has added S0eO to 1000 tons to a recent pur chase. In the Buffalo market sales of varied grades have amounted to nearly 1 3O,00O tons. In the Pittsburg district about 50,00O tons of basic have been sold and inquiries are pending for aDout an equal tonnage. Heavy specifying on contracts l for subway material in New York l amounting to 5O,000 tons, has begun and new contract for 15OO tons has been awarded to the American Bridge com pany.
 Railways have been placing yrders at a moderate rate for equipment and for roll 1 ing stock and rails. Production of rails i in Pittsburg continues at a very high rate. The Lackawanna has decided 60 use a concrete construction for it's via ducts near Scranton, Pa, and will re- quire 2400 tons of reinforced bars. If steel construction had been adop,s1. nearly 20,000 tons of steel would have been required. The Chicago and .Grea1 | Western is in the market for from 1000 to 10000 tons of shapes.
 New York, April 1o.-tspecial. )--The Iron Age will say tomorrow:
 i Favorable reports from all branches of the iron and steel trades continue. l Tho United States Steel corporation $ statement of thrilled orders as of March | 31, given out Wednesday shows a de- crease of 149,359 tons in the month. This | is in the light of the heavy operations of plant last month and the higher quota l tions in the second half of March bears a favorable interpretation. Since April 1 the bookings Of the corporation have been at the rate of nearly 5000 tons a 5ay as against 35,000 last March. Re ports from some of the other steel com panies do not make as good a compari- son with March. There are indications that the implement trade will need to buy bars before June, and some negotiations are now up that were postponed until after the governments crop report for April. One conspicious rail sale has been made 21,O00 tons of Mayari Bessemer rails for the Maryland steel company to the Norfolk and Southern.
 In pig iron, buying has not been heavy but inquiry has increased in all sections. In foundry ircn the great disparity be- tween the prices of southern and north ern grades is attracting attention. as the southern makers have announced their advances in the past week.
 Pittsburgh District sales include 2509O