New Britain herald., 1915-12-23
IS BLESSING FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMER
Embargo By Railroads on Ship
 mentS Of Iron and Steel

New York, Dec 23.-The Iron Age says today:
 The embargo laid by all railroads on shipments of iron and steel prod ucts to New York for export, while it throws some serious problems on the mills, is a blessing to domestic con- sumers. While exports of steel have been declining since August, largely because of transportation difficulties. they have amounted to enough to bring measureable relief if diverted into home channels.
 While billets, blooms, bars and wire products have figured prominently in exports, the easing up at home due to the embargo will extend to other forms of finished material, as in the release of steel for plate departments. for example, the soaring of plate mill prices finding a parallel in no other line. Yet the situation in respect to a number of finished products is so tense that too much should not be ex- pected from the holding up of ex- ports.
 Pressure From Consumers.
 There is more pressure from con- sumers to get places on the steel com panies' order books for deliveries aft CT July 1, 1916, and the amount ol such business taken is increaslns' though some mills still insist they are not ready to sell for the second halI. The calculations of important man. ufacturers who work up iron ano steel are more and more based on the pro- jection of record consumption ana high prices far into next year.
 The effect of high prices m dlscour- ginp new construction and otherwise limiting consumption is recognized throughout the trade, but only in theoretical way as long as producers feel that curtailment from some cause is desirable.
 Chicago, somewhat in contrast with Pittsburg, has had rather heavy new inquiry in the past week, With some reservations for the second half, and the formal opening of books for that delivery may not be long delayed by western mills
 Wire Products Advanced.
 Wire products were advanced S2 a ton Dec. 20, bringing nails to $2.1o, Pittsburgh, and plain wire to $1.95-- the highest prices in many years. In the boom of 19067 the highest con- tract price for wire nails was $2.o5. That jobhers have light stocks is in- dicated by the fact that few are now getting nail shipments at less than S1.9O, which was the market so lately as Nov. IS.
 Rail orders are coming forward m moderate volume. The Great North ern's recent contract was for 25, ,OOO -ons. distributed to five mills. The Clover Leaf has bought 5000 tons and he Chicago & Eastern Illinois 10000 ;ons, while the Southern railway is i'll he market for an additional 1S,ooo -ons The recent rail contract TOT France placed with an Eastern mlll amounted to S5,OOO tons, or 2o'ooo tons more than at first reported.
 Let Up in Pig Iron.
 Pig-iron buying has shown some let up in the east and central west, put at Chicago inquiry is heavy and l large Milwaukee foundry has taken 1 a round block. More important foun- l dry interests are providing in part for | their needs in the second half of next ] year. but producers are holding back l as to that period.
 A number of blast furnaces are get ] ting on narrow margins in their coke | supply because of the freight embar- goes and here and there stack has banked awaiting coke. The market l for prompt coke has advanced sharp | Iy and as high as $50 has been paid for considerable lots.