The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-07-18
REFUSING ORDERS At
BIG WESTERN MILLS
Steel Plants Filled to Ca
pacity and Are Turning
Away Business.

Western steel mills. which last week
were reported as being virtually filled
to capacity for the remaining months
of the year on most commodities. this
week were obliged to pass I'D an in
creased amount of new business for
the reason that they were unable to
take care of 1t. Just where most OF
this is going to when 1t is found that
the western mills are unable to turn
IL out Is not known by western maxi
ers. but IT is thought that 1T must be
going to eastern mills. which are not
yet in so congested condition as
their western competitors.
Records to he Broken.
This applies to well nigh every kind
OF commodity the steel mills turn out.
plates, bars. structurals, rails, etc. The
railroads are very active in specifica-
lions. but this week has seen no new
inquiries of consequence In fact. it Is
the belief that there will not be any
rail purchasing of great consequence
for the next sixty days.
Instead of new business falling off
since the recent advance in prices,
July to date has actually shown an in
crease over the corresponding period
OF June. There Is every prospect that
the second half of the year will break
the record for tonnage production.
Many OF the mills now are working to
their maximum capacity, but 1t is not
now a question of capacity so much as
1t Is of steel supply. Some of the mills
could be speeded up somewhat were
they able to secure an adequate sup
ply of raw material The mills today
are limited by the blast furnace pro-
duction of iron.
Best in History.
Steel business at present is in bet
ter condition with regard to orders
placed than at any time in its history,
and In coming orders have shown lit
tie or no falling off in the last few
weeks. Independents and the steel
corporation alike report orders being
taken at close to production. although
prices on leading steel products and
specialties have been advanced from
81 to SO per ton in the last two weeks
For six months of 1912 the Ameri-
can Sheet and Tin Plate company took
considerably more tonnage than for
the best previous record in its history.
The American Steel and Wire company
made a record In orders and shipments
also. as did the National Tube.
There Is little interest in the con-
tracts reported this week by the west
ern fabrfcating mills. Only a few
contracts have been closed, and all Of
these are Of moderate size.
The Japanese government railway
has taken 5000 tons of bridge mate
rial from the United States Steel cor
poration.
Another feature of the situation IN
the steel industry which interests the
Lake county mills is the fact that the
Steel corporation alone needs 5000 men
and that this need is SO urgent that 1t
is not only advertising for them. but
is sending canvassers out to look for
them. Other steel mills and other In
dustrfes are in the same plight. For
instance, in the automobile and furni-
ture industry. centering in the neigh
borhood Of Detroit, the shortage Of
workmen is keenly felt.
Cleveland reports that the demand
for labor is so acute that not an avail
able workman can be allowed to leave
that city. Help wanted columns in
many cities are swelled far above the
average space and this demand is for
statesmen, clerks. bookkeepers, chauff-
eurs and men for domestic service Nor
is this insistent demand limited 10
those who posses some special train
Ing or mechanical skill The West at
the moment is sending forth a stenor-
ian cry for $4,000 men to help with the
harvests- In every section new work
is in progress and cal for day labor
Is heard. The rehabilitation of the
New York traction lines will soon
create an increased demand
All of this bears evidence of salts
factory business. To be sure profits
are still small in many lines of trade
and industry. Nevertheless with labor
fully employed all over the country
and at good wages. which are natural
ly the sequence of a demand incess Of
the supply of labor, the retail store
the traction line. and even places OF
recreation must soon feel the impulse
of increased activity.
bran bath, especially in the sum-
mer time, is delightful. softening and
cleansing the skin To prepare. tl,a ha ~