The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-06
$4,000 RAILROAD
CARS TO Be BUILT
Negotiations for New Work
Going ~On-COmpanics
Now Less Urgent.
NOT ENOUGH CRUDE STEEL

The most interesting development In the
steel trade last weet came, on SATURDAY..
when the Pennsylvania Railroad quietly
distributed contracts for 1000 cars among
the Pullman, Haskell & Barker and the
American Car and Foundry Company
shops II Is understood that Ahe car
builders have already secured options on
about 5000 tons of steel required In tli.
building of these cars, mainly from Chi
cago mills, as most Of the cars will I've
built In that section. 1t Is also signiti-
amt that contracts for fully 10000 cars
are still under negotiation, although the
impression has gone abroad that tho
transportation companies are less ur-
gent for motive power and rolling stock.
which belief was fortified by the with
drawal of the Pennsylvania Railroad
OF Inquiries for abou 1900 cars and
tho smaller car orders that have been
placed with the merchant builders dur
ing the last two weeks. The steel mills
would welcome any signs of less heavy
buying. but with specifications against
contracts still overwhelming small relief
Ia In sight. Some of the INDEPENDENT
steel companies have reported the re-
coipt OF smaller orders during tho last
Two weeks, but this seems to he due
10 the fact that capacity Is sold through
che first five to sin months OF next year.
O0S 10 bCk OF utfnand
That the supply Of crude steel IL
much more inadequate to meet the de-
uAnd Is indicated by the higher prices
Icing peid for semi finished steel avail
able sor delivery inside of six months.
There IS also a very wide range In
pvicee. which follows as a natura cor
sequenc OF the peculiar conditions that
ariBe In such times rs the present.
Forgtnss b,ilets continue TO range from
sS6 to $50. and rolling biilets from $40
70 as q ton IN the central West, Some
Of the Eastern mills are obtaining
higher prices IN special analyses. Among
the signs OF continued activity last week
were advances of 81 TO 81 a ton In the
prices Of steel bars. plates and shapes.
boiler tubes: 8: a ton on wire products
n 81 to Sc a Ton In the prices of pig
iron.
The fabricating shops reported con
tracts for buildings and bridges and
manufacturing plants calling for about
10000 tons of steel shapes. and bids
were submitted on about so 900 tons
additional. The two largest contracts
closed were 5000 tons for bridge work
On he Chicago and Northwestern and
5000 tons for an extension to the
Lukens Iron and Stee, Company plant.
The contract for a power house to be
constructed on Wards Island calling
for 700 tons Of steel has been awarded
20 M'liken Bros. Inc. and the contract
for 900 o n Of steel for the Ajax-Grieb
Rubber Company plant at Trenton. N.
j.. has gone to another Independent fab
rcator. One feature Of the structural
situation is the pressing demand for
0utck deliveries OF small lots Of fab
Heated shapes. either from mill or ware
house.
The Georgia Southern and Florida
Railroad has placed orders for 373 steel
underframe boxcars and 1870 gondola
cars With the Lenoir Car Company. also
for two combination passenger and bag
49, cars with the Pressed Steel Car
Company. h Rutland Railroad is ask
in6 prices Of from I 900 to 5 600 freight
cafs. The Utah Copper Company has
placed an order for seventy-fve more
oee can with the Pressed Steel Car
Company. The Delaware and Hudson
- asking for prices OH 1000 under
frames for hopper coal cars. The Lee
high Valley Is still in the market for
. automobile cars. and the Missouri.
Kansas n Texas for 1000 stock cars
n twenty-one cars for passenger SER
vice.
Contracts for pig iron placed last week
aggregated $50. 900 tons In all distribut-
ing districts. Of which about 80. 900 tons
were placed in the Eastern territory.
$4,000 tons IN the South for Northern
and Western shipment. and about $4,000
tons Al Buffalo. In the Pittsburg dis
trlct sales OF foundry and steel making
grades aggregated between 5000 ard
10000 tons Prices were advanced
about 30 cents IA ton Ia the South. 81
n ton In Virginia. 81 a ton at Buffalo
on coke iron and 81 a ton on charcoal
iron.