The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-23
Several BLAST FURNACES
IN west HAVE BLOWN OUT
Still Lower Rate ,of Operations Is in
Prospect Since Shipments on Con-
tracts Have Been for Some Time
in Excess of New Orders

New York, Oct. 23.--The Iron
Age" says that with mill operations
averaging so per cent. or less and with
no tangible evidence that better scale
OF buying is near at hand. sentiment IN
the steel trade is not improved. The
belief that October would show the low
point both in operations and new buy
ing was expressed in high quarters as
the month came in, but it is as now only
a hope. The small buying waves of
January February and June July
them nth came in, but it os now only
hope. Thes mall buying waves of
January February and Junne- July
seemed to indicate that the late fall
would bring another, but the war has
upset all such calculations.
Several blast furnaces in the Central
West have blown out in October, while
Others are scheduled to stop, and it is
| reported from Pittsburgh that large
steel plant in that district will close
down before the end of the month 1t
is true that in some lines the amount
of business booked has not shown
progressive falling off in October, but
shipments on contracts have been for
some time so much in excess of new or
ders that still lower rate of opera
tions is in prospect.
In contrast with the monotonous re-
iteration of depressed conditions in iron
and steel are the reports from the ma
chine tool trade. There the war has
brought large business from foreign
J governments and from manufacturers
at home who needed new equipment to
| get out foreign war orders on time
Accumulated stocks of tools have been
taken up in this movement, and makers
have felt warranted in number of
cases in increasing working forces.
which in August and September were
down to the smallest in months.
Thus far the foundry trade has felt
only slight effect from the improve
| ment in machine tools, as activity in
the latter industry would compensate in
but small degree for the slack demand
for railroad and agricultural castings.
chicago advices are that some better
ment in foundry operations in that dis
trict, from which reports for a number
of weeks have been particularly
gloomy, is indicated by increased in
quiry for coke.
/ i'NNS Aoi iouhtlN lIOh dIO lONCl
even without the strain of any consd-
cradle inquiry, $12,75 being currently
done ON No. foundry iron at Ohio
furnaces, while at Buffalo S12.25 is
reported. Very little consideration has
been given to buying for 1915 deliv-
cry. Indications are that good deal
of iron bought for 1914 will not be
melted before February.
Light is thrown on the ferro-manga
nese situation by British export statis-
tics, which show 1900 tons shipped
TO the United States in that month, or
considerably more than the average of
importatons from all countries in 1913.
Great Britain imported $4,000 tons of
manganese ores last month, against 81
0O0 tons in September, 1913 The EN-
barge laid by the Indian government
on manganese ore shipments to the
United States means that British pro
ducers of ferro- manganese will have
their needs fully supplied from India,
while. the, closing of the Dardanelles
cuts off s1Aents from the Caucasus.