The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-15
Steel WORKS SLIGHTLY
Increasing OPERATIONS
A Number Of the Large Companies Arc
Running This Week at From Forty
to Fifty Per Cent of Their Ca
pacity

New York, Jan. 15.---s'The Iron
Age says the steel works are increas.
ing slightly their rate of operations
and for this week number of large
companies are running at 40 to so per
cent. of capacity The Steel Corpora.
tion's percentage is 45. and it may be
able to increase this shortly to so, as
specifications are rather better.
Taking the trade through, the first
half of January has brought no new
turn. The railroads naturally require
some time to canvass and finance their
needs and have so indicated in re-
sponse to intimations that early and
very considerable buying was now ex
pected from them.
Wage readjustments, affecting prin,
cipally the highest paid men, are being
made by number of steel companies
and are an inevitable result of the long
depression and the low-priced business
on which mills will be working for
three months aud probably longer.
Rail buying thus far and that in
prospect gives no assurance of more
than partial employment for rail mills
through the winter. One large system,
In fact, aims to avoid January and
February rollings because of suspected
effects of extremely low temperatures.
1t is not decided how much of the
10000 tons the Pennsylvania rail
road has definitely decided to buy will
be>given out this month. A conference
with tho rail comma nj as tb;s rvoaL 10
taking up variations from the last spec
ifioations. The New York Central has
placed part of the 10000 tons on
which it asked prices on January 4.
The New Haven is to buy $4,000 tons
and the Boston & Maine $4,000 tons.
This week the Nashville, Chattanooga
& st. Louis has placed 5000 tons at
Ensley. Western roads have given lit
tie sign of their probable wants.
Thus far the Canadian rail mill at
the Sault has booked 1900 tons for
shipment to this side-S,000 tons for
the Pere Marquette, 5000 tons for the
Grand Trunk for Michigan delivery,
LOO tons for the Big Four and 1000
tons additional fer the New York Cen
trail. All are open-hearth rails, sold
for the most part at $3.50 at MILL
Further amounts are under negotiation
Meantime this invasion has caused no
small commotion in the rail trade.
Foreign rail business natures slow
ly-20,000 tons talked of for Russia
and $4,000 tons for Portugal. Ger
man mills have Gu. deeply to get neu-
tral business. After taking $4,000
tons in Norway at $25.79, they have
now captured 5000 tons in Denmark
at S2616 delivered. Queensland has
bought 10000 tons from Great Brit
ain and the new mill in New South
Wales has been given a small order.
The B. & o. order for 1000 cars was
really the reinstating of business placed
months ago. Pending ear inquiries are
for about $500.
A vessel placed with an eastern
shipyard last week makes fetal of
nine ordered in the East within a
month, requiring 10000 to $4,000
tons of steel, and more are in prospect.
High freights and the British govern
ment s use of so many vessels are paw
ing the way for great activity at Brit
ish yards. y
Wire manufacturers, following the
lead of plate, shape and bar mills, made
an advance of 81 ton effective Janu.
ary II, bringing nails to $1.55 and
fence wire to $1.35.