The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-30
THE STEEL MARKET.
Activity Continues In
Branches OF the Trade.

Activity continues In all branches of
the steel trade for both domestic and
foreign shipment. II ecomes increas-
lngly difficult. however. to place any inn
portant contracts for export. n In
fact. not "A few of the domestic inquiries
are meeting a similar fate. In tho last
day or two domestic consumers In need
of soft rounds and fiat steel In lots OF
1000 to 1900 tons have thus far been
unable to place contracts for any rea-
sonable shipment in 1916. 1t is not a
question Of price. but OF obtaining the
steel. As noted elsewhere. additional
contracts for 49, 900 tons Of standard Sec
ton rails have been placed with Eastern
and southern mills. and the ear shops
have placed additional orders for 10000
tons OF structural material. The rail-
roads are negotiating for As, 600 cars for
various deliver es IN 1916. Sales OF gal
vanized barbcd wire have been made
AS high as 3i.c. "A pound, and 10000
tons sold for eXpor to france. Struc-
'ural shapes, for delivery during the
third and fourth quarters OF next year.
have been sold at 1.9Oc. to 20. n Sea-
board Air Line has placed a contract for
1000 tons of rails Wit the Maryland
steel Company. Fabricated structural
steel continues active. with additional
contracts for about 1000 tons placed In
the interior. and the American Bridge
Company has obtained tho contract for
1000 tons OF structural shapes for the
Mckean street pier at Philadelphia
through the general contractor. The
Standard oil Company II said to have
placed "A contract for 11j 600 boxes Of
tin plate at 1915 per box with the
American Sheet and Tin Plate Company.
Pig iron 10 less active In tho Eastern terri
tory, but there are several inquiries s,ill un.
satisfied, including one lot OF 500, tons Of
basic for delivery AZ Perth Amboy. n. j.. and
1dDAu is Sill IN the market for 3 100 TONS of
low phosphorous iron. Among the recent
sales is one lot OF 5000 tons foundry grade for
the Central Foundry for delivery at Baltimore
and 5000 tons for delivery NJ Bristol, Conn,
Bids have been submitted on seven different
lots OF east iron pipe, amounting 10 b,g0 tons.
awards for which are expected within the
next few days Pit,sburs reports u sale OF
1000 tons Of standard bessemer pig iron for
export at so % valley furnace, Domestic
ierro manganese is now held al $40 TO Sis5 a
The Iron Age says: The British and French
Governments and their New York agents are
putting forth every effort to get vessels to
New York to help break the deadlock in steel
and munitions shipments, but the situation 10
full of uncertainty, Meanwhile the steel com
panies are turning some mills to home orders,
on which there has been great pressure for
hipmen
"Generally new buying Of finished steel for
domestic use has auieted down, and there il
satisfaction at this, as the feeling has been
growing that price advances have gone he.
yond safe bounds, Lakeside shipyards, for
NdUIIt W ~ nv Z - bli'l ~ ~
500. basis for plates. which means that an
ore carrier costs $50 900 more than when plates
are i05c.. as at the beginning of the year
min schedules have had q minimum OF
holiday interruption IN contrast with cond,
tions one year ago. The export embargo
| caused some holding up earlier. and this IL
| one factor in the considerable increase in un.
filled orders expected In the Steel Corpora
tons statement, Mills are carrying over into
January much low priced business booked for
| this year but beyond their power 10 roll.
THE railroad embarvoes on iron and steel
and coke have crippled a number OF New Jer.
sey and New England foundries. In Connect
cut several foundries have shut down for lack
of coke, In other eases foundries have been
forced to buy prompt pig iron AT high prices
from furnaces on railroads which are stn ac'
cepting pig iron.
Estimates OF ths scale on which war steel
will be bought next year grow, rather than
diminish. France has ordered from the Mid
vale Steel Company 1900 SIS TO il,s inch
shells.
'Canada In an order of December 81 has
prohibited the shipment OF steel scrap to this
country. In view of the large amount of
| steel sent from this side 70 Canadian mum
tons plants a mod hcation Of the order win
be asked for by shippers OF this steel who
have been importing Canadian scrap"