The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-09
SHELL ORDERS DELAYED
BY STEEL PROBLEM
British Government Plans One
New Contract for 10000
Projectiles.


American agents Of the British ,iov-
eminent have placed another contract
for 10000 large size high explosive
shells. calling for about 2O.0 goo tons Of
steel forgings. which will he made by
an eastern Pennsylvania mill. Several
other similar contracts are on the point
OF being closed, but more or less diff
Guilty is encountered. as the steel plants
viii make contracts only with regular
customers. for whom they have reserved
space, for delivery over the nrst quar-
ter OF 1916.
Since September 1 merchant car build
ers have taken contracts for s5.812 cars
II Is estimated that more thar a million
tons of steel will be required for the
building Of these cars. Practically all
OF this tonnage has either been definitely
contracted or Is under option for vari-
Gus deliveries extending over the first
and second quarters of next year.
1t Is pointed out that railroad p~ractioe
to-day differs radically from what II was
even ten years ago. as the heavier loco
motives and the cars OF great capacity
being built to-day make It possible to
carry much heavier loads and give bet
ter service; rains are longer and are
moved much more expeditiously. Not
so very many years 8 car capacity
was estimated at from is to 90 tons
to-day many OF the cars being used
carry from 80 to SO tons, and the mini
mum carload to-day Is about $1,000
pounds. II Is said ut some OF the steel
mills tina, ten years ago It was con-
sidered fair time II freight was received
In " weeks at New York after Il had
been shipped from Pittsburg. Now
freight comes through In our or five
DAYS. and under favorable conditions
shipments Of steel have come through
tc tidewatcr In thirty-six hours
Under the circumstances the life OF
the modern a Is longer thar that OF
ten to twenty years ago. and conse-
q%uenti> renewals have not been required
as frequently az during the PERIOD when
railroad equipment shops felt hurt when
they did not receive contracts for Is. 900
TO 10000 cars a month. However, there
are many Old type cars stlll IN service
and, under the present pressure OF
traff1c, these are being repaired az
rapidly as possible 10 meet exigencies
Of the situation.
The Crane Company OF Bridgeport.
Conn, that came into the market last
Saturday tor $500 tons OF foundry grades,
Is now actively negotiating and is ex-
pected to close contracts IN a Jew days
for this amount OF iron for shipment
over the balance OF This year. The Nc
Nab & Harlin Company h understood 10
have closed for probably $500 tons in
the aggregate, supplementary purchases
having been made TO the contracts closed
last week. There was much speculation
regarding the prices obtained on the
1900 tons purchased or saturday The
prices on the low silicon are said 10 have
been S6.Si delivered and on the high
silicon 1888. However. there Is reason
to believe that practically sl7 delivered
was paid for the low silicon md slightly
above this price for the high silicon
The ESSEX Foundry IL reported
to be In the market for 5000 tom. of
foundry grades for shipment over the
first quarter of next year. Several other
miscellaneous foundry orders were placed
yesterday for shipment from eastern
Pennsylvania and Buffalo furnaces The
New Jersey Z!nc Company has pur-
chased 600 tom OF foundry grades for
shipment over the rrS, half Of 1916.
Basic iron Is relatively stronger than
foundry iron in the Buffalo district. and
even In eastern Pennsylvania there f. A
stronger tone tor stccl making han for
foundry GRADES In the Pittsburg dts
trict another contract Cor 10000 tons OF
basic iron mas been closed for shipment
over the first quarter of next year.
There Is considerable irreEularity IN the
prices Of foundry grades In The Buffalo
territory. Although in exceptional In
stances sale. OF gray iron have been
made for shipment over the first quarter
OF next year al sl7 ~ the furnace. sales
are still being made AZ sl6 to $3.50
furnace and some iron II sim available
for this years delivery al prices ranging
from So 30 to sl65O for No IN ~
the same time some OF the largest meters
have sold 70 per cent. OF their total
capacity for the first half of 1915 One
sale OF basic iron OF considerable ton
mage IS reported sold by Buffalo furnace
Interests at SIS delivered tidevater. tor
prompt shipment.
Late In the day +, VAS learned that
the ESSEX Foundry had purchased hber-
ally of foundry grades for shipment over
the first half OF 1916 some time since.
II has no specific inquiries now IN the
market for such delivery. although
these foundries of course are ready to
entertain offers at lower prices than
are generally being asked by furnaces
in tho Lehigh and Schuylkill Valley,
Coke operators reported an inquiry
yesterday for 1000 tons of smelter coke
for export TO South America There
were also additional inquiries In the
market for shipment to Mediterranean
ports Inquiries for gas coal for export
also continued. hut less business was
lone and slightly higher prices wero de-
manded.
The town Of Olean, y. T.. Is under
stood TO have placed a small contract
for cast iron pipe, for early next year
delivery. with the United States Cast
Iron Pipe n Foundry Company Sew
eral private gas and water companies
have put out specifications for their
1916 requirements OF cast iron pipe.
Inquiries In the last few days include