The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-26
REPORTS OF STEEL MILLS
SHOW increase FOR MONTH
Large Industries Throughout the Coun-
try Operating From 65 to 100 Per
Cent. Capacity-Many Contracts
Make Future Prospects Good

Age says February is enjoying
heavier daily percentage of specifca-
tion on contracts than did January, a
condition reflected in the higher rate
of operations of the steel mills, and
March will be materially helped by tho
fruition of contracts of quite some vol
ume on which figuring has been going
on this month. There are numerous
negative influences which tend to chill
the enthusiasm for the immediate flu.
ture but confidence in continued steady,
if slight, Improvement persists. Nothing
has happened to shed light on how we'll
March advances for finished steel will
be held, but it is to be remembered that
the bulk of the normal consumption is
under contract and will not be pressing
the market.
The Carnegie Steel Company is op-
Grating at SO per cent. of capacity, the
American Sheet & Tin Plate Company
at 95 per cent. of capacity, with inde
pendent tinplate makers ranging from
rs to nearly 100 per cent. and the
plate mills of the United States Steel
Corporation at Homestead are turning
out over rs per cent. of their capacity,
largely for pipe work taken short
time ago by the National Tube Com
pany. The increased active operation
is further Indicated by the putting in
blast of three more stacks of the Cor
poration.
Spelter is again dominating factor.
Galvanized sheets are up SO a ton over
last week, or SIS advance in two weeks.
to the highest figure for years. To adj
to the uncertainties, the operation of
some of the unionized sheet and tin
plate mills is checked temporarily at
least until employer and employe come
to an understanding regarding the pro-
posed wage reduction. With spelter
more than 75 per cent. higher than it
averaged in 1913 and 1914 and de-
mand for galvanized sheets running re-
Gently 60 per cent. and over of mill ca
paeity, stocks are probably none too
large. 1t is not surprising that makers
refuse to sell at present prices for flu.
ture shipment.
While railroads are still slow in de-
Gliding on bridge work and car build
ers have inquiry now for not more than
2,400 ears, both freight and passenger,
to encourage them, some rail purchases
are to be noted, including 5000 tons
for the 500 Line, 5000 tons for the
Southern, placed with the Tennessee
Coal, Iron & Railroad Company, and
5000 tons for the Baltimore & Ohio
placed with the Illinois Steel Company.
1t is estimated that $4,000 tons of
girder rails have been sold in the last
two or three weeks. China is asking
for 5000 tons of rails.
High ocean insurance accentuated
by delays in English ports for unload
ing do not help an export situation
harassed by high freights, scarcity of
boats and blockadeZone uncertainties.
Fresh round lots of rails, wire rods,
skelp and barb wire have been sold
for shipment to belligerent countries
and inquiry is active for steel for shrap-
mel shells and wire, with sales of the
latter for deliveries up to July.
The beginning of work on the Mem
phis bridge, taking $4,000 tons, the
imminence of an award in the Indianap-
oils grade elimination work, involving
$4,000 tons, the probably early decis.
ion on 20,500 tons for widening ele-~
waited railroads in Brooklyn, together
active, including $500 tons for the
Portland, Ore, bridge, 9,400 for via
duet in Cleveland, 5000 tons for the
Pennsylvania Railroad, 5000 tons for
pier work at Savannah, Ca, total close
to 100000 tons, most of which ought
to count in March bookings.
Plates and structural shapes totaling
over 15.500 tons will be required for
the battleship California, on which bids
were taken last week. With additional
buying of merchant ships on the At
lantic seaboard and two sister ships to
the California to be built, not to men,
tion the provisions of the Navy appro-
priation bill now in Congress, Steel
consumption of the shipyards will be
high for months.
Steel hoops are up S ton and an
advance has been made in wire fencing,
although galvanized wire has not re-
sponded to the advance in cost of zine.
Domestic movements of pig iron are
without moment and the export bust
ness is largely without definite con
firmation. Such is the case of 10000
tons OF Southern iron for Italy and 25,-
600 tons of manganese ore from Cuba
also to Italy.
The new freight rates are mex
plicable except to traffic experts. Bosh
sellers and buyers are accepting the in.
creased figures, noting that the rates,
say, from Pittsburgh to New York are
over 8 1-2 per cent. higher than for
marlv On finiShad staal onl to Dh;1odoI