The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-04
THE BUYING MOVEMENT IN
PIC-IRON HAS EXTENDED
indications Are That There Will Be
Considerable Activity in Finished
Steel Trade, With Greatest Tonnage
in Final Quarter

New York, Dee. 4.--"The Iron Age" +"
says the buying movement in pig iron
which started with large contracts sat
Buffalo, as reported last week, has ex
tended to other districts. Cleveland.
Pittsburgh. Cincinnati, Chicago and st.
Louis In particular have participated.
At the same time there are signs in the
hnished steel trade pointing to consid-
cradle activity in December, making
that the best month in the final quar-
ter in point of tonnage.
Pittsburgh sentiment is more hone
ful, IN the face of better buying of bars
ana indications that in several other
ilnes consumers are willing TO take hold
at the low prices reported in connection
with some contracts for the first quar-
Ter. The next fortnight is expected to
ueVelop whether to a considerable ex-
tent .Ooc, Pittsburgh, will become the
basis for business in plates, shapes and
bars in that period
Operation of mills in December is not
likely to be at much greater rate
than i'll November, but the opinion is
general that this month will Law the
foundation for fuller running sehed-
ules in January.
The steady improvement in the
money and security markets has given
the steel trade ground for hopefulness
regarding projects that mean tonnage
for the mills Early decisions are like
ly, for example. in some good-sized
business on which eastern shapvards
have been figuring and at Pittsburgh a
pipe line, which the war put aside. is
now looked on as a good possibility.
Fifty thousand tons of plates are in
volved.
Foreign inquiry for barb wire is
again of large proportions, after lull
1t comes from a variety of sources and
lots are talked of running up to 10000
tons. Competition on previous pur-
chases by the governments at war
brought variations of $4 to So ton
in the bidding Wire rod sales for ex-
port include $500 tons by one inter
est and 10000 tons more are wanted.
The Standard OIL Company is about
to build another 500foot tank steam
err, taking 5000 tons of plates and
shapes, and there is sharp bidding by
estern yards, some of which are get
ting near the end of large contracts
| for Panama steamers
The prominence given to the 10000
| tons of rails bought BIZ the Santa Fe
indicates the extremity of the mills
that are waiting for railroad orders
Beyond q 5,OO0-ton inquiry from Aus.
tralia and a 6,000ton sale to Tasmania
made by an English mill at $29.S0, in,
ternational rail buying has halted. Sew
eIal hundred cars are hanging over the
market, including 500 for the Union
| Tank Line
Pig iron prices were sacrificed both
! by northern and southern sellers tC
bring about the large movement report
| ed from the Central West. Southern
No. 2 was sold freely at 1915 Bir
mingham. while some business in st
Louis territory went at $3.50.
Lake Superior iron ore shipments
ended this weel, with a total of 92,021 :,
/ 900 tons, against water shipments OF
49.070.00O tons in 1913. Mining op
erations in the coming winter will be
further restricted and wage reductions
have been made at many mines.