The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-08
RUSSIA TO SPEND HERE
$S5,000,000 ON CANNON
Wants to Place New War Ord0'
Steel Trade Not Excited
y. by Proposed Tax.

VI OTuTdflCo Wdut tUe OTueTS, MdTly
difficulties are In the way for speedy
Mosing Of contracts. Among them is
h shortage of skilled labor In the ma
chine shops Of the ordnance companies.
The Russian inquiry now In the market
- for 5000 three inch guns. Each gun
requires 1000 pounds of high grade
Nickel steel, and with the recoil mechan-
lsm. Jackets, trucks n wheels. each
piece Of ordnance will weigh from 5000
<o 1000 pounds. Delivery IL asked dur
ing 1915 as may be convenient for the
ordnance me nufacturers. II liz UNDER
stood that even II the order were ac-
cepted now It would be March or April
of next year before work could be
started in the foundrics and shops. II Is
estimated that each piece Of ordnance
would cost from 81 to $4,000. which
means the expenditure Of from $35. 000.-
900 to $40. O0O, 900. The inquiry comes
from the foreign interest that placed the
original contract for high explosive
shells for Russia with the Canadian
Car and Foundry Company. which con-
tract called for the expenditure Of $751;
600. 900. Previous reports that the Ca
madam Car n Foundry Company OBJ
Aained its contract direct from the Rus
sian Government were incorrect.
= Tho impression that European Govern
nents now al war have rome to the end
of their buying of munitions in this
country proves to have been far from
the truth. In the last ten days inquiries
for enormous ~tonnages OF steel have
come from the allied Governments. Yes
terday one inquiry alone was for ap-
p~roximately 10000 tons OF round steel
bars. About $4,000 tons are still pend
Ing on contracts for shells previously
placed. and last week a new Inquiry for
VO,0 OO tons Of bars for direct export
ywas received by American mills. most of
which. Il Is understood. Is for Italy.
The inquiry that came out yesterday Is
understood to be for the French Gov
eminent and Is also for direct export.
These inquiries seem to verify the re-
ports that French manufacturers OF
ordnance are now in better position to
turn out shells.
a. The Canadian Shell Commission. II Is
now understood. is still endeavoring to
place contracts for 15.000.0 900 high ex-
plosive shells for Great Britain and Rus
siA- In the last two weeks the commis-
zion has distributed orders for about
10, 900. 900 shells with Canadian manu-
facturers, according to reliable reports
IN circulation yesterday. Some OF these
Dominion manufacturers have placed
contracts for the necessary tonnage OF
steel IN Canada and the United States.
but similar contracts, as noted yesterday,
ARE held In allegiance for reasons pre-
t4ously assigned. 1t is evident. however.
that American manufacturer will be
able to secure all the business Of this
.Sort for which they have capacity dur
Ing the entire year OF 1915.
& Among the other contracts pending
for steel to he used In the manufacture
Of war munitions Is one lot OF $4,000
ions Of steel bars. twelve feet In length.
about two and fiv~e-eighths inches square
The Duluth plant OF the Minnesota
Steel Company Is now making steel.
The open hearth furnaces are reported
70 have cast their first ingots yester-
day. Tho plant has a capacity of $780,
900 tons Of steel annually, but will
winter conditions In that latitude full
output Is not expected at this time. II
will be recalled that the blast furnaces
At Duluth were blown In about a week
ago.
Feverish activity is reported in pig
iron In various distributing districts. al
though the actual volume OF business Is
not as heavy as the average daily trans
actions during the last sixty days. Sales
Of pig iron, however. are made in waves.
70 that a temporary lull means moth
,ns. Yesterday in this district one rom
Aract for 1000 tons OF foundry grades
was placed for export. 1t is understood
TO be for Mediterranean ports. New in
Inquiries for about 1000 tons OF foundry
grades came from domestic manufac-
turers for shipment over the first half
OF 1915. The eastern Pennsylvania mar
Afet Is excited. with furnaces asking
ISIS TO $50 per ton for No. "a, hut II is
difficult 10 secure apprccIable tonnages
under $40 per ton for first half OF 1915.
The railroads are again placing larger
contracts for equipment. The rail mills
sqlone have received orders for about
10000 tons of sta a and 5000 tons
or light sections In the last few days. 1t
Is expected hat upward Of 100. 900 tons
:!6f this total will be specifically reported
during the current week. The Missouri,
Hkaneas and Texas Is in the market for
about 1900 tons OF bridge work, and
South. as previously noted. Manufac-
turers of light section rails bave again
advanced prices So a ton. 10 1.55c. per
.pound for 25 to IS pound sections.
ss
Thu American Sheet and Tin Plate
Company is reported to AVE taken a
contract for 100. 900 boxes of tin plate
sTor export to the Far East. Some ad-
.dltional contracts were also reported 10
shave been placed by large domestic con
sumers. The break In the price of pig
lin, following a large increase in the
Ilslble supply, has impaired a slightly
leasier undercurrent to pig tin, and
vYreater concessions are likely to be made
80 large consuming interests. Much will
,depend, however. upon the price pre-
cvailing FOR sheet bars.
The Public Service Commission re.
lceived four bids yesterday on the con
sstruction of section 3, route 3. of the
subway system. which Includes the tun.
atel under the East River. Booth a
-I'lynn submitted the lowest t~ender-S6..
1871. 900. The next tenders in order were
sHolbrook. Cabot g. Rollins Corporation
5 100000 Degnon Construction Com
psny, s7,2S1, 600. and McMullen 4 Hon
.Ss,+67,ooo.
The steel rad was only slightly con
1cerned Yesterday about the recommenda
ton Of President Wilson to place &
tax Of 25 cents per ton upon fabricated
steel and pig iron. There may be man,
developments before such a proposal |.
acted upon by Congress. Fabricated
steel. as It Is technically known In thu
.steel industry. would cover only abou
2,000.0 900 tons. but the intent IL probabl,
must be fabricated before they pass int
ri -