The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1914-01-22
STEEL MILLS START
indications Of Prosperity Extend to
All Lines Of Iron Industry.
New Lines Resume Work--Tin Mills
Run Full Capacity-New Ma
chinery Being Ordered.

Cleveland, O.-The steel industry is
reviving to a marked extent. The
quiet it experienced through Novem-
Der and December appears to have
been only a breathing spell that has
resulted in renewed vigor.
Ever since January scattering re-
ports from iron and steel producing
centers have been made to the effect
that men who had been laid off were
being set to work, that plants running
part time had increased to full time
and that those which had been idle
were reopening or rushing necessary
repairs, that they might reopen to take
care of the orders being put on their
books.
Special reports from the most i'm
portant iron and steel districts show
that these scattering bits of informa-
ton have given fair indication of
what is going on. Business long has
looked on iron and steel as the baro-
meter of trade. AS it looks today it
sees the barometer rising. There is
little to indicate boom times, but
there is evidenced healthy growth, a
return to normal.
| In the Pittsburg district, where late
in 1918 few plants were running any
where near capacity and some of those
usually making large products, fell as
low as 10 per cent, there is a general
revival. For the week ended January
10 the steel output of the district is
estimated at 1000 tons, whereas fol
the last three or four months of 1915
the average weekly production was
/ so, 900 to IS, 900 TONS
youngstown, o., considered apart
from the Pittsburg district, reports
mills working normally for this sea-
son and each day has brought an
nouncement of resumption in all lines
of iron and steel making.
The Mahoning Valleys industrial
payroll for 1918, as announced by
Youngstown banks, was $33, 533, 815,
against s21, 787, 096 for 1912, and
SIT, 046, 800 for 1911. The December
payroll was almost up to the average
monthly figure for 1918, which shows
there could have been little materia
decrease in operations
Newcastle, Pa, has three of its fv,
blast furnaces in operation, the She
mango valley steel plant is running t.
rs per cent of capacity and three o
four Carnegie furnaces are making
full production.
The tin mills at Newcastle, one o
them the largest in the world, hav
been at capacity since January l, al
ter going on two-thirds time for tn
| last six weeks of 1913.
Lorain, o., which takes its cue di
rectIy from Pittsburg, is running ful
blast in every department. The shap
: mill of the National Tube company re
opened last Wednesday. This put tn
last of the 1900 employees of the plan
back at work after shutdown tina
began just before Christmas and last
ed in all departments about tw
weeks.
Eastern Pennsylvania operation
: show varying conditions. In some in
stances plants are running to capacity
in others business is only moderate
but nowhere are orders coming 8
slowly as to promise decrease in al
, tivity. The Bethlehem Steel compan
: is proceeding at full speed, with il
0 stallation of equipment begun las
+ year to take care of what 1914 is e.
pected to bring forth.
The big plants at Phoenixville, Pa
are running at practically boom tim
speed and preparing for more business
The Phoenix Iron company is rusl
ing to completion huge furnace
expects to set in operation in a fe'
weeks. The Phoenix Bridge compan,
! already busy, has obtained contra'
for elevated railroad construction
! Brooklyn that alone will keep its shoI
busy six months
, The Fairfield. Alabama, plant {
: the American Steel & Wire compar
is expected to open within few day
giving employment to 5000 men, tt
rail mill at Ensley, the Tenness'
company's largest plant, which Wi
shut down through the holidays, hi
resumed on double time and the ne
. pipe plant of the National Castro
|. Pipe company, at Bayles, will ope
this month