The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-02
STEEL PLANTS CAN'T
KEEP Up WITH RUSH
Furnace and Mill Capacity
Filled-Export Demand
Shows No Abatement.

An interesting development In the
steel trade yesterday was the placing
of n contract for upward OF 100. 600
kegs Of galvanized wire nails for eN-
port, valued at SlS5.O00 The demand
for wire rods and barbed wire for
the Allies continued active aud urgent,
including one inquiry for $4,000 tons OF
wire rods for conversion into barbed
wire IN this country shipments are
wanted At the rate Of 1000 tons per
month for over q period of eight months.
Thus far the order has not been placed.
simply because OF the inability OF the
mills to meet the terms of the contract.
Some domestic and foreign manufac-
turers Of war material unable TO get
steel bars for this years shipment Of
fered Yesterday to take IN. 900 TO $4,000
tons of blooms FOR conversion, but semi
finished steel was even more difficult to
obtain han were bars.
4 railroad equipment manufacturer
who has taken another contract for
1000. 400 high explosive shells. valued at
SlS, GOA. 900, Is now actively in the mar
kct for IL, 900 to $4,000 tons of steel
bars for shipment in 1915, or earlier
If possible. The steel alone will cost
about $500, 900.
The sudden upward turn in the price
Of spelter in the last few days has
caused g~alvaniZers throughout the coun-
try to advance prices OF galvanized
extras. which were reduced from 81
to $40 per ton about ten days ago,
The American Steel and Wire Company
has advanced galvanized nails 81 per
ton and galvanized wire 81 per ton.
Similar action is expected by manufac-
turers OF galvanized pipe and sheets.
Blue annealcd sheets have been ad-
vauCed another 81 per ton 10 $3.50 base
Pittsburg.
! Pressure upon the steel plants to-day
Is unprecedented. This fact is o fully
| appreciated even in the steel trade it,
self. Last November scarcely one
quarter Of furnace and Mill capacity
was IN commission and current orders
were even less. while to-day practically
full capacity Is active and new business
far in excess of capacity is being Of
fered. Theoretically the steel works
: are equipped TO operate at the rate Of
, ~, 900 600 tons OF ingots or 30. O0O, 900
tons of finished rolled products an
nually. Actual performance would re-
duce this impressive total somewhat be-
cause OF the overbalanCed or underbal-
anced conditions of various plants.
The effect of this lack of balance is
shown to-day in the almost unpre-
ccdented shipment OF steel from Chicago
to Pittsburg and Birmingham. Ala.
Some plants in other sections need open
! hearth steel and have bcssemer steel to
spare. Hence there is active swapping
Of One kind OF steel for another at "A loss
OF 81 TO 81 a ton, measured in freight
rates. So great Is the need and so high
the prices paid that such mannuvring
is not only c-ountenanccd but justified.
Another interesting factor Is tina the
railroads now benefting largely from
the heavy traffic in steel and iron are at
last preparing important specifications
for railroad equipment for 1916 deliv-
cry, II is realized that early action
must he taken IL. the transportation
companies are 10 secure reasonable de
l~iveries on rails. cars and motive power
next yea The New York Central
Railroad Company has placed a supple,
meHtary order for 1000 tons of stand
ard section rails for lines west OF Buf.
fdlo with the Illinois steel Company
for this years shipment.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has placed contracts for structural work
calling for about 1000 tons Of structural
steel. estimated cost ~S42O,0 900. including
1000 tons Of bridge work, to he fur,
nishod by the Pennsylvania steel com.
pany, 1900 tons for bridge spans to be-
furnished 10y the Fort Pitt Bridge Com.
nany, 1000 tons Of steel for the Green.
willie Pier, New Jersey. awarded TO Nc,
Clintic-Marshall Construction Company
200 tons for Pier 80, North River
to he furnished by the Ritter.
Comfy Manufacturing Company, anC
several small bridges to he fur,
nished by the Cambria Steel Com.
pany and McClintiC-M Marshall Construc,
tion Company. The Pennsylvania Rail
road also put out new inquiries yester
day for l,5O0 tons of bridge work ano
for 800 tons for a passenger station al
Johnstown, Pa,
The Cramp ship building and Engin,
Company has increased tho contracr
placed with the American Bridge Com
pany for a shop building and Gran,
runway to $500 tons of steel. Anon.
IN" other structural contracts placed
yesterday were $40 tons fabricate,
steel for "A foundry building at Sharps
willie, Pa, for the Valley Mould and Iron
Company, i00 tons for plant extension
by the Aluminium Company OF America IA
East st. Louis, awarded to l.ackawann,
Bridg" Company, and 300 tons fu
another addition to the Winchester Re
pcating Arms Company plant at New
Haven, which went tn lowering a
GarriglcS, Milliken Bros. are to fur
nish 600 tons of steel for the SCOUT
brooklyn pier. coo tons for the Nc
kean street pier ut Philadelphia, whiCI
went to the American Bridge tompHuN
and $50 tons for warehouse at Pascal
for Freshman & Hoffman, awarded 4
lowering " GarriRu"s. The value q
the fabricated steel In the above con