The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-28
Steel MILLS NOW alarmed
over italy GOING TO WAR
Possibility Of Shortage Of Common La
Dor Causes Much Concern-Iron
Production in Nearby Districts,
Slightly Increasing

New York, May 2S.-''The Iron
Age" says the rate of production at
the largest steel plants has been main
tanned, and in some eases, particularly
in the Pittsburgh and nearby valley dis
tricts, slightly increased. On the SELL
ing side some of the heavier lines
show more activity, while lighter prod.
uets are quiet. Buying for domestic
use is marked by caution, in view of
the issues raised with Germany, but
there is no uneasiness.
The exodus of Italian workers to 60
to war is causing some concern, and
there is more than possibility of an
actual shortage of common labor in
some parts of the iron industry. The
Connellsville coke region will be af-
feeted and already short supply of
labor is reported in the West Virginia
coal fields.
After some weeks of small business
in rails, several orders have come out
together-25,0OO tons for the South,
ern Pacific placed at Ensley, $500
tons for the Lake Shore, 5000 tons for
the Chicago 4 Alton and 1000 tons
for the Chesapeake district. The Chesa-
peake & Ohio's total purchases are
about $4,000 tons If the Pennsylva.
mia order comes as expected, the week
VIII be the largest in months for rails.
The developments in the bar market
are interesting. The mills are getting
behiru i'll deliveries, due to the filling
up of capacity by shrapnel bar orders,
particularly 2-ineh rounds and larger.
In the Central West new inquiry is
for $4,000 tons of l 1-16-ineh rounds
for rifle barrels and at Pittsburgh a
company that has large contract for
rifle barrels is negotiating for bars.
At the same time the large agricul-
tural implement makers are slow to con-
tract for their bar supply, seemingly
awaiting further assurance concerning
crops and foreign situation. No issue
is being made of the 1.20c price on
such contracts, as the bar market has
been gradually stiffening with the plae
ing of so much war tonnage. Iron bars
are frmer, but in hard bars for rein.
forcing there is irregularity, sales be-
ing made at Lose, Pittsburgh.
The ascent of spelter above Is cents,
or TO more than twice the highest price
reached in any previous year, has
caused a fresh furry in galvanized
sheets. Some makers have advanced
their price to 4c for No. 2S and. while
the largest interest still quotes 3.60c,
this price is only for prompt delivery
and to regular customers. The soaring
of spelter has set users of brass as well
as of galvanized sheets on the hunt for
substitutes.
Mill which are not quoting on gall
vanized sheets are going more vigor-
ously after business in black sheets and
1.7Oe, Pittsburgh, for No. 2S sheets can
still be done. In special sheets for au-
tomobiles no such weakness has ap-
peared.
Plate mills have Jared better in ton
mage, due to the good ear contracts of
the past two weeks, but the car CON-
panies were able to buy at 1.10c, Pitts
burgh. Recent buying for three addi-
tional vessels placed with eastern ship
yards also brought out low prices. Boi-
Ter plate demand has increased in the
Central West.
Plate manufacturers are keenly in
terested in ,he inquiries from foreign
countries with a view to plaicng mer-
chant vessel work here. Foreign yards
are full of naval work and the outlook
is for full employment of American
shipbuilders for the pext three years.