New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-03
FRENCH STEEL AND IRON
Insufficient Supply of Fuel a
L Serious Problem.
Normandy Being Developed in
Steel Industry-Will Oil
Replace Coal?
from The Tribune, Correspondent

rams, May 20.
e.ports from all the iron and steel
,.,tres in France are very favorable to the
assent condition OF these industries. Con-
.,derable and increasing activity reigns in
~. mills. foundries and workshops Of the
,orth. the east and the centre of France.
:, many OF the works orders have come
IN such numbers that II is impossible 10
.yscute them all during the current year;
narrower the books of some Of the leading
Establishments are covered with demands
ar the ensuing year as we'll and at re-
IMPERATIVE prices
certain branches Of these industries
,.rsft more especially than others. The
,,,ernational competition in ornaments. 50
,,,snse at the present time, is one of the
cspses Of the flourishing state of the steel
manufactures and those companies that
dsyote their attention TO warlike materials
have large orders 10 execute for the gov
eminent in armor plate. cannon and pro-
,.1.iles as we'll as in all articles of steel
and iron required by the army and navy
departments
But the trades Of peace also absorb large
~ the energies of French manufacturers.
The building trades take a foremost place
~ their increasing requirements of iron in
mace Of wood for building and construction
~ avery kind Though still a little dearor.
iron Is steadily superseding wood in this in
dustrv. Hence there is much activity in
the making Of iron rafters. for which there
is profitable sale.
The centre OF France has obtained some
NJ the largest orders for war materials.
such great firms as the Acieres de France,
the Acieres de la Marine. lie Creusot and
Chatllon- Commentry have made big con-
tracts with the government and also with
foreign states. Important mines Of iron
mineral have lately been conceded to the
great esta bn shments Of the Acieries de
france and the Usines de la Base Loire.
which will increase largely the industrial
power and the output of these vast foundries
and mills, which have been hampered hith-
4rto through dependence on competing COM
NAMES for the supply of raw materials.
The Acieries de France have likewise Sc
cured the conces sion of over 100 acres Of
land near Abbeville for iron mining pur-
poses. and with the same object the Usines
N1tallurgiques de la Basse Loire have Sc
cured the concession known as the Grand
Rimont extending over 1920 acres.
The two tributary companies will pay
20 per cent of the profits OF the enterprise
10 the state. This money will be employed
BY the government for two purposes. One
half is TO be expended in studies and vari-
Gus enterprises by the Service des Mines
for the better development Of the mining
industries in France, and the other half for
the benefit OF provident institutions and
funds Of assistance.
Thirty thousand bonds Of 500 francs at
Works have been admitted on the floor Of
the Paris Bourse.
Bio Railway Orders Expected.
In the north Of France the continuous
sov Of orders and the difficulty 70 meet
the more urgent calls have caused prices
IN that region to 90 UP one franc on each
hundred kilograms. Considerable quantities
OF material are required for the railways.
Already several orders Of consequence have
been executed for the state railways. the
P L. NJ CParis-Lyons) and the Est Rail
vay. both in engines and rolling stock.
Large orders are expected from the great
railway companies, both in rails and ma
chinery OF the work already in progress
the establishments Of Gail, at Lille. secured
a part. But there is no doubt that the
needs Of the new lines that will be con-
structed by the Est Railway TO open up the
famous Valley Of Briey 10 industry will
give further stimulus 10 the iron ana
steel trades The Valley of Briey, which IS
in the department Of the Meurthe-et-M Mo-
selle is very rich In iron ore and prom
Uses TO become one Of the busiest centres
Of industry in Eastern France. The new
railway line will also be OF strategic value,
for it runs close TO the German frontier.
The large output expected from this region
will tend 10 reduce the price Of pig iron.
Normandy is being developed as a steel
and iron producing region. The Societe
Francaise des Mines de Fer will greatly
benefit by the newly constructed smelling
furnaces Of Caen. This company is former
under the segs of the great banks and
the works are being installed near the
port Of Caen. Some German ironmasters
also are seeking concessions in Normandy
They will, if successful. transform Frenct'
minerals into iron and steel and perhaps
carry out sheir enterprise with French Dor
rcBed money.
Iron Most Plentiful.
The subsoil Of France is rich in various
minerals, such as iron. lead, zinc, silver and
even tin. but iron is by far the most plenu-
ful, Iron lies in large quantities in lower
Normandy and the eastern department.
The Pyrenean region produces lead ana
silver Parts Of Brittany contain conslo-
cradle quantities Of lead and zinc The
mines Of the Ariege are famed and 50 also
are some in the departments of the Lot In
the Var the mines produced 1890 tons Of
mineral in 1909.
II minerals are abundant in France, the
nsedful fuel TO work them is scarce. IN
Ike America England. Germany or Be-
gum, coal is not TO be found in large quar-.
uties near the iron stone. Imported co2i
dear and the output Of French COM
hustibles limited. What Of petroleum as
eoel in place o. coal? The word has gone
srth. VIII il fructify? What Of the new
ly found oil pockets Of Oklahoma? WIN
greater heating power could naphtha DC
supplied TO the French iron and steel inous-
Try At price that would be an economy Ill
Comparison with coal or coke?
New plants would be needed, but thiS
would not hinder the reform II real saw
Ing could be effected. In the case OF coai
there is continual loss through incomplete
combustion whereas in the use OF liquid
iusl there is complete consumption. The
future Of French metal industries partly de-
Ponds upon the solution Of this problem.
G. l. 3.
NEW BUILDING PLANS.