Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-12-19
STEEL MILLS BEING RE.oPENED.
More Than 1000, 900 Tons of Pig Iron
Purchased by Mills the Past
Three Weeks.

Operations at thesteel plants con-
tinue to afford grounds for encour-
agement in the iron and steel in
dustry. During the past three weeks
orders for not less than 100000
tons of pig iron have been placed.
This activity indicates that buyers
have faith in the future. Since the
first of the month the United States
Steel corporations reported to have
taken a greater number of new
orders than in the same period
for the last several months. Both
the inquiry and demand for
steel continues to show a crafty
ing increase.
Increased operations are report
ed at some of the mills in the Shar-
on, Pa, district, and leading man
ufaCturers there expect a turn for
the better soon. There are said to
be indications of steady improve
ment in the tin plate business.
Last week, for example, the Ameri-
can Sheet & Tinplate Co. start
ed twelve additional hot mills at
Sharon and New Castle. The
Petroleum Iron Works company at
Sharon has started its plant at night
turn, and the Pennsylvania Tank
Car company, an allied concern
has also started operating the full
twenty-four hours. The Valley Mold
& Iron company, which closeddown
two weeks ago, has resumed in full.
The nail mill of the American Steel
& Wire company has also started
up on full time after having work
ed at only half-turn for several
weeks. 1t is estimated that as
result of betterment in the steel
business, more than l 800 men have
returned to work in the Sharon
district alone during the last week.
Equipment orders from the rail
roads are broadening out, and con-
siderable business in that line is
expected to be placed after the be
ginning of the new year. Coming
on top of the Northern Pacific or
der for passenger train equipment
reported last week, theGreat North
ern has bought twenty-one steel
passenger cars from Barney &
Smith. The Westmoreland Coal
company is in the market for 400
steel cars, and the Pennsylvania is
said to be asking for bids on steel
cars. The latter road has directed
its Altoona, Pa, shops to build
1000 sall-steel box cars to be turn
ed out at the rate of 400 a month,
beginning next February or March.
Export orders for various steel
products contine heavy, but except
in the case of the United States
Steel corporation, which owns or
controls numerous boats, shipments
are being blocked by the scarcity
of ocean steamers and high freight
rates.
James A. Farrel, president of the
United States Steel corporation, IS
optimistic as to the future of both
steel and iron. In the course OF a
recent interview in The Wall Street
Journal, he expressed himself as
being we'll pleased with the indus
trial outlook. He thinks that the
mills now idle will gradually be
started up after the first of the year,
giving employment to thousands Of
additional workmen.
Industrial conditions are fast
improving, and the marketing OF
Americana made products in the
Latin American countries willboost
trade greatly, " he said. He pre-
dicted that industrial conditions
would improve soon and that the
end of the industrial depression IS
in sight. He expressed regret
over the European conflict, but
says it means a greater export bust
ness for the United States. He in
timated that Europe would hold
for a time.