The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-14
american Steel TRADE
NOT HURT BY EUROPEAN WAR
Foreign Business Figured Largely in In
dustry of Past Two Months-Rus
sian Rail and Car Requirements
Arouses Much Interest

New York. May IA" The Iron
Age says as yet the possibility of
war has not proved disturbing to the
steel trade. There are no cancellations
or any other of the features that might
be looked for in grave crisis. The sit
uation, in fact, holds the strength gain
ed in the past two months. War orders
and other foreign business have figured
so largely in the industry of late that
the chance of more war does not cause
alarm. A first effect would be an in
creased home demand in some lines, and
deliveries on foreign orders would suf-
fer.
Russian rail and car requirements
are of immediate interest. Contrary to
reports, rail contracts have not been
placed, but two steel companies expect
to roll $4,000 tons each for Russia, and
the total purchases will be around 100,-
600 tons. Still larger amounts are
talked of for the Trans-Siberian rail
road
Russian car orders have been def
nitely placed with two Canadian plants
1900 cars to each. At Chicago 81
600 more are credited to a local COM
pany and 1000 to Seattle car works.
The 10000 a leading steel ear com
pany is expected to get have not been
placed.
In domestic railroad business one
item is 10000 tons of rails placed by
the Rock Island; another is $500 tons
of tie plates by the Southern Pacific.
Among car inquiries are 5000 for the
Rock Island; but at Chicago no great
I On ant 10 laf lie -nf
found in car contracts. One such mill
was only kept from shutdown last
week by an oil tank order from a
Western line.
Tn the East interest is taken in the
buying of locomotive company this
week, of 9,400 tons of 3h in. rounds
for shrapnel and 1920 tons for high
explosive shells. In Southern Ohio an
inquiry has come up for 10000 tons of
bars for similar work. and another
maker is closing for 5000 tons.
Steel makers do not disguise their
dissatisfaction with the volume of pure
ly domestic business and the more or
less preearious character of the foreign
demand. At the same time it is pointed
out that if a real railroad demand de-
velops, the industry would soon be run
ming to capacity.
The efforts to advance prices have
met with varying success. Plate busi-
ness is insufficient and prices suffer. In
shapes there is still a lack of uniformity
and in recent structural lettings in the
East, involving prompt delivery, the
lowest prices of year were made. In
bars some uncertainty has come in, due
to the concession of 81 ton in the
offer of 120e basis for the second
half to the implement trade. Wrought
pipe prices have not been improved by
the recent announcements of advances.
feature in structural steel is the
contracts for quick erection of steel ad-
ditions to plants having large war or
ders. One for the Baldwin locomotive
works calls for 5000 tons of steel and
two large additions for like work have
just been let in the East
The National Tube Company has an
order for $4,000 tons or III miles of
12-in. pipe for Louisiana oil interests.
There have been closed also 2S miles
of 20-in. pipe for gas distribution in
the Pittsburgh district and Wheeling
district mill will furnish 55 miles of
Sin. screw pipe. Cast iron pipe foun-
dries are buster and have good run
of work ahead. Newark, N. j., has
bought 1900 tons and Philadelphia will
take bids on 10000 tons.
Inquiries for fair amounts of billets
have come from England to Eastern
mills, and a sale of Alabama blooms
has been made there. Larger demand has
developed at Pittsburgh for billets and
sheet bars.
Shipments are still larger than new
orders for most finished products. Some
independent companies made relative
ly larger inroad into untitled orders in
April than the steel corporation. Last
week the steel corporation ran at 75
per cent. of ingot capacity, and this
weeks schedule represents slight in
crease.