The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-04
FEVERISH CALL STILL
FOR WAR SHELL STEEL
Advance i'm Price for Billets-
Bars Bring Close to 81
Cents a Pound.

Fcyerish activity continues in the
market for war munitions. Sales OF bars.
billets and blooms reported yesterday.
to be manufactured into > and 6 inch
high explosive shells here and abroad,
amounted to 5000 tons. valued at APP
p~roximately So, 600. 600. One lot OF 49,
900 tons of round bars was sold by an
independent mill at Chicago to be rolled.
to the French Government specifca-
tons. exports TO be made over the third
quarter of this year, The contract;
was placed through New York agents.
The other sales. to France and Rus
STA. were in three lots, amounting to
$4,000 tons. including one lot OF forg-
ing billets. These orders were placed
by Eastern manufacturers of shells. for
shipment over the balance of this year.
There was an advance in price for the
billets and blooms. Forging billets are
now held at S45 to S4S at the mill.
The bars brought close to 2.75e. per
pound. and the manufacturers en-
deavored TO secure options on equal
tonnages at the same prices for ship
ment early next year but the mills
refused to entertain the proposition. Ac-
cording to reports yesterday zone OF
tho large Pittsburg mills are in po-
sition to accept additional contracts
for either bars or semi-fnishe steel for
this years shipment. Some of the Chi
cago and eastern Pennsylvania mills,
however, have some capacity to sell
for third quarter shipment, but 1t is
fast being taken.
The Italian Government. through
gents In this country, Is actively and
pressingly negotiating for steel ingots
for this years shipment. The inquiries
amount to 1000 tons and cover both
small and large sizes, from I to 10 inches
square at the bottom. Several weeks z
Italy could ave purchased steel at
from S35 to Si5 per ton, (. o, b. New
York for 10000 tons, but the would-be
purchasers demurred on account OF the
high prices. To-day IL Is difficult to
purchase ingots even at these prices
for this years shipment. In ordinary
times the Italian steel mills purchase
German ingots, as the capacity OF the
italian finishing mills IL in excess of
che output Of crude steel. TIL Italian
trade also ordinarily is dependent upon
Franc for an annual supply of l00,-
900 tons OF heavy steel melting scrap.
This material is now being purchased
In this country. About 80, 900 tons were
shipped In August.
The Lackawanna Steel Company is
understood to have closed "A contract
with a Buffalo furnace interest for co.
900 tons Of hot basic iron at SIS per
lbl " Tllllillltill v w ltAl hNt
weeks. This means a total outlay OF
5000, 900. The purchase Is an lndica-
ton of the great pressure for crude
steel.
The reports circulated In Wall Street
m Thursday that the Eastern Steel
Company had taken a contract for 49,
900 tons for round steel bars for wal
munitions was manifestly incorrect, as
the Eastern Steel Company has no ban
mills. nor does II manufacture plates
II has taken SOM liberal orders re.
Gently. however, for plain structural
steel. to be used In the extension OF
manufacturing plants engaged In flline
war contracts. The Pottsvllle plant IL
now working full capacity on crude stee
and has orders booked for $4,000 tons
OF plain structural material. which Il
equivalent to three months production
OF its structural mill. Tho fabricatlns
shops are booked for about two month!
ahead.
Milliken Bros, Inc. nave secured tn,
contract for 1000 tons of fabricated
structural steel to be used in the con
struction OF the Guarantee office build
ing at Fifth avenue and Forty-tliir,
street, New York city. Mllliken Bros
moved their general offices yesterda!
IN the plant on Staten Island. but viii
maintain Il general sales office at II
Broadway.
The American Car and Foundry Com
psny is reported TO have placed a con
tract for about 5000 tons OF plain struc
tursl steel for Its Eastern plant witt
The Eastern Steel Company.