The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-27
LACK or COKE CAUSES SEVERAL
MILLS TO BANK THEIR
FURNACES
Fig Iron Prices Advance Owing TO
shortage which VIII Soon
Reach the Steel 1clls.

PITTSBURGH. Dec. 26-Delays in
steel production are now caused by the
freight congestion among Eastern rail
for lack OF coke and in several
instances have. had TO be banked. The
s suS5'G mills IN 4Rh 1s o tr3n VII of Di so from rs Sish
every available furnace in blast is not
sunieient to maintain operations at the
steel mills, f~oundries, and other plants
depending on pig iron as a raw material.
Owing to 1he scarcity OF pig iron
prices are gradually advancing. Pro-
ducers are also refusing TO accept con-
tracts for delivery during the latter haIf
81 1915. ftg iron has been advanced TO
w a ton where II can be had. and by
be the accepted quotation. Valley fur
naces have little or no pig iron for sale.
10y Una furnaces accepted orders for
the nrst halr OF 1915. Some Of This
brought as high as s2O.T5 a ton. south
frn ghd No. ? has advanced to SIS.
Interest centres on delivery for the
AFTER half OF next year. Furnaces are
railroad has raised its embargo, thus
sialng New England ,smelters. which
erations FOundrymen In the East are
borrowing among one another TO tide
over until the embargo is raised.
european belngerents are ~endeavor-
ing 70 contract for almost the whole
available tonnage OF large rounds and
other forms OF steel for the MAKING ~
more than 500. 1000 tons OF steel 81 this
grade Tor delivery during the last half
100000 tons from France alone. RUSSIA
ltaly and Great Britain are also making
tenders OF contracts. Besides a number
OF neutral European countries have
been heavy bidders for steel OF this
As every available machine IN this
country r. busy turning out shells. most
~ the steel required Is for export TO be
finished in Europe. Domestic holders OF
European munitiOn -manufacturers Tor
steel Is reported one contract taken
~ az Eastern Pe~nnsylvania steel mill
Another quantity went as high as 3.6Oc.
some time ago u was thought contracts
could be placed at ESQ 70 275c.
A. domestic users OF steel bars ran
NOT outbtd buyers for export they have
I1rned 10 the use Of wrought iron,
mills are several months behind IN de-
hveries or steel bars OF large Sizes.
Billets are scarcer than bars. and
many mills will have TO close shortly fOr
a lack OF billets. The steel Corporstion
ana all the large concerns rolling biIlets
finished IN their own bills. steel biiieis
are selling a. high a. $40 "a ton in the
East and. are quoted at $50 in Pits
western mills have been shipping bnIets
ast and getting the maximum price al
have been bought 20 beroIled to be role
These are bringing almost a. srEn
prices a. Bullets. Sheet bars. too. are eN-
trcmcly scare and are quoted at t87.
Pittsburgh.
Cold rolled EhaftinE has been advanc-
ID - . ton. Hoops and bands have been
and other accessories will Drobabiv -
nut up In price the FIRST Of the wear
OWNS 10 The iEh cost Of steel cars'
owing 90 the scarcity Of ocean frafrhf-
erq exports have fallen on. and the em-
largo on Eastern freiEhts have ci.er
domestic buyers an opportunity 10 have
some attention paid 70 their ens.i0r.
.tlOue.
Wire products are up - n ton. Wire
nalls hre Iu2te9 ~ t1io keg Wire