The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-15
FRANCE NOW INQUIRING
FOR 100000 SHELLS
Great November Sales Of Struc.
tural Steel-May Be
Record Month.

largely for the manufacture of war mum.
tons. but the inquiries also include a
large tonnage Of wire and structural
shapes. and for round steel bars. II is
understood that most Of this tonnage 10
wanted for the British Government. Ar
inquiry vas also put out for 5000, 600
shells. rs millimeters in diameter, for the
French Government.
The orders placed for fabricated struc-
tural steel In November-ls1. 900 tona, az
already noted-were the largest reported
since April. 1909. The actual sales were
very much heavier and were probably
the largest monthly sales In the history
OF the Industry. but for various reasons
II was not expedient to make official re-
turns to the full extent OF the transac-
lions. Specifications. OF course, on some
Of this work will not be re- lived for
many months. Another point OF interest
Is that while the sales last month were
equivalent to 100 per cent. Of total shop
capacity. the sales q year ago-that II.
In November. l914-were only 20 per
cen of total capacity. equivalent TO
about $4,000 tons. The month Of De-
cember Is likely to show between IS and
100 per cent. but ward the holidays
business nearly always falls of.
The American Bridge Company is now
operating Its Eastern plants at close TO
full capacity. Operations during the
month will probably average about rs
per cent Of total capacity. II Is esti-
mated that the Eastern plants have a
capacity OF 10000 tons per month. but
under favorable conditions as much as
10000 tons a month could be produced.
The Pencoyd Works. the largest In the
Eastern division. under ordinary cond.-
lions can turn out about 1900 tons per
month, but under exceptional conditions
have actually produced from 10. 900 to
12,O00 tons per month. The American
Bridge Company. as a whole, IL esti-
mated to have a capacity OF from 60, 900
to 10000 tons "A month. depending upon
plant conditions and the character Of
specifications furnished.
The Pennsylvania Steel Company has
been awarded a contract for 65. 900 tons
OF section rails by the French
Cove rnment American mills are still
negotiating. and IL seems probable that
the balance OF the 100. 600 tons upon
which tenders were submitted will come
to this couptry. Other heavy inquiries
are In the market for steel from the
French Government.
The Drigys-Seabury Steel and Ord
nance Company Is understood TO have
secured IA contract from the British
Government. through J. l.. Morgan 4
Co. to manufacture 10000 ~aeruplane
guns and 900 cannon. AZ well as ap-
proximately 1000. 900 q Inch shells Con.
tracts for the steel bars to cover the
manufacture Of the high explosive shells.
1t Is understood, were placed with steel
mills for shipment over the hrst quarter
OF next year..
Domestic consumers Of wire products
have placed some additional contracts
for shipment over the first quarter OF
1915. This has been made possible by
Some OF the largest companies accepting
orders. although oveisold, In the ex-
pectation of being able to adjust con-
tracts previously placed to permit the
rolling OF these new pressing require
ments. Export contracts taken by the
largest interests in November were but
little over AZ. 900 tons. or more than 30
per cent less than during the preceding
month The foreign inquiries, however
We're -four or FIVE times the tonnage &C.
copied. Contracts placed by domestic
manufacturers last month were about
Is per cent larger than during the pre-
cedlng month. The demand for special
ties is overwhelming. In some lines
sales during the last sixty days have ex-
ceeded sales of the same material previ-
ously made In an entire year. AL
though the wire mills are crowded to-
day 1t Is predicted that the rush will be
even greater In the early spring months.
The Canadian Shell Commission. after
canvasslng the situation In the Dom!n-
-. a .A "a .A...
additional contracts with American mills
for she'll forgings to be used In the
manufacture OF s to 10 inch shells In
the last few days these orders have
called for about $4,000 tons Of steel
Some OF the shipments, II 10 understood,
will ~ mad speedily, while others will
run over the frst quarter of next year.
Premiums have been paid to secure the
preferred delivery.
Domestic railroads havs placed add.
t.onal contracts for rails. cars and loco
motives, but temporarily there Is a dis
position to withhold detailed Information
for various reasons. The Inland Steel
Company Is in the market for five
switching locomotives. TIL Tem!skam!nG
and Northern Ontario is taking bids on
four consolidated engines, The Pullman
Railway Is about to order one switching
engine and the Fairchild and Northeast
ern one Pacific type locomotive. The
Ray Consolidated Copper Company Is In
the market for twenty dump cars, the
New Jersey Zinc Company for forty hop.
per cars and the United States Depart
ment Of the Interior for fifty dump cars
The Great Western Railway has ordered
one postal car from the American Car
and Foundry Company.
The great. broad market for pig iron
continues TO attract attention. although
specific sales did not cover large lon
nages yesterday. Some very large con-
tracts are under negotiations for both
foundry and steel making iron. The one
interesting new phase, however, Is the IN.
creasing demand for spot iron. Pre-
mlums are being paid for quick ship.
meut and much higher prices are to- be
expected. IT Is the first time In eight or
nine years hat the blast furnace inter.
ests have confronted an active spot mar
ke,. The outcome Is being watched with
unusual interest.
An active demand has also developed
for coal fr quick shipment Sales OF
high grade steam coal have been made
at 81 80 per ton. while gas coal has sold
at Sl,S5, and even slack has oom-
manded $3.50 per ton. One Eastern
railroad has placed u contract for 900
cars OF steam coal for prompt ship
ment. Less Is being done in export be-
cause Of the high freight rates. Ship
ping interests now demand So shillings
per ION on coal hound for Mediterranean