The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-23
ACTIVITY SHOWN IN
STEEL RAIL MARKET
Midvalc Company Said to BE
Closing 5O,OOO,O 900 Con-
tract for Ordnance.

me peIaWare ana HUDSON Railroad
Company is understood to have placed
contracts for $4,000 tons OF standar I'd
section rails with the Bethlehem steel
Company. The Great Northern has
bought 10000 tons additional. The
Transit Development Company has an
Inquiry In the market for 1000 tons.
the marlborough liz closing n contract
Tor 1000 tons for contact rails and the
Southern Railway for $4,000 tons. The
French Government Is still negotiating
for 10000 tons OF 80 pound rails and
about 10000 tons OF ligh. sections. 1t
Is understood that the French state
Railways will make 10 further purchases
on their recent inquiry for 100. 900 tons
OF rails, which covered three different
We ghts.
One large domestic manufacturer OF
war munitions has succeeded In placing
a contract for 10000 tons of round steel
bars Tor shipment over the hrst half Of
next wear. II is possible thai some of this
steel may be obtained early IN the year,
but tie price thus far has not come to
the surface. Another inquiry was pu.
out yesterday for $1,000 tons of steel
forgings and castings TO be used In the
manufacture OF war material for almost
any shipment over the second and third
quarters OF next year. The steel pur-
'i'''.' n shA' W NC ~ " ~ u
British contract and the other inquiry
may he for France as well as for Great
Britain.
The Midvale Steel and Ordnance Com
pany Ia said to he closing u contract
with interests representing the French
Government Cor some heavy ordnance.
the contract price of which Is roughly
estimated at $500 900. The Russian
ordnance inquiry put out about ten days
ago. II Is understood. has no, yet been
satisfied. but additional contracts for
small arms are reported to have been
closed with New England manurac-
turers.
The American Steel and Wire Com
pany has advanced the price OF wire
fencing approximately 81 a ton by re-
ducing the discount from 6Si. to 81.
per cent. TO large buyers. This change
became effective last Morday or Tues
day. when other wire products were al
vanced 5: a ton as previously noted.
Tho demand for Gal and coke for
prompt shipment Is active and urgent
that Is. coal that IS already at the New
York terminals afoat. one lot OF I 00O
ton OF steam coal was sold at SO AZ
South AmDoy. Other sales OF low grade
coal in New York harbor ARE said 10
have netted nearly as much. Sales OF
spot furnace coke We're also made yes
terday as high as 1856 a ton. There
is still more or less inquiry for expor,
coal. but few ~ any contracts are re-
ported 20 have been closed. Fre.gh;
rates O. coal shipments TO Medi;er-
ranear ports are now 81 TO eos.
Domestic consumers Of wire products.
especially In the North and West. where
no railroad embargoes delay shipments
are beneicng largely from the tieup IN
eNpor contracts. As no foreign ship
ments OF Importance can be made. the
mills have temporarily ceased to manu-
facture 10 wa specifications and the
standard sizes can he readily diverted
to the interior. II Is interesting TO note
that prices ~ wire products to-day are
higher than NJ any time since January
%. 1901 A. that time wire nails were
selling at s. 35 a keg. To-dsy's price.
as will be recalled is s2.l0 base min.
Canadian wire wers arc understood
to have been able 70 obtain a few thou.
sand o n Of wire rods from American
mills at so a ton Z O. v. mill. shipment.
TO he maze over the first TWO months @,
next year. There Is no open price on
rods. however, a. the moment and an
actual variation 1t So 10 $40 q ton N
quotations. Stree December /. not.
w~ithstard'ng I'M urgent demand FOR
wire products 10 he exported 10 the wal
zone. il is understood that less thar
1000 tons have been sold and shipped
by American mills. In November suct
routracts did not exceed 80. 600 tons. bit
In October they were considerably In OK,
cess of 100 900 tons.
Steel mills have suddenly become very
anxious TO obtain supplies Of ferro man.
Rarese for shipment over the first quar-.
ter and frs, half OF next year. Several
additio: al contracts haN" been pla ced In
thu last few days vita British manu-.
factur-rs OF the basis Of tl0O ex ship
Baltimore. In the last 'cn DAYS or twr
weeks sales OF British ferro
have amounted - about 10000 tons in
this district alone. The demand 'oi
manganese For prompt shipment IL az.
tive and urgent, and sales have beer
made considerably over 500 In fact. re-.
sale lots are held at $40 a ton. Sons
sales OF domestic manganese are under.
stood 10 have been mads at close to tn.
outside price, that is, for immediate
shipment.
Malleable founders In the East who
came INTO the market some time sine
for u round tonnage OF metal. ant
afterward Withdrew from tn. market. ar,
understood to nave recently closed foI
l5.o00 to 10000 tons with Buffalo fur
naces. Several other larg, METERS al
foundry iron who we're sceptical OF tn,
extraordinary advance. and consequently
failed TO cover their requirements. ar,
now negotiating for round tonuages, bu'
actual Eastern sal . In the last daN
or two have been les heavy. \ mum
I Der Of small lots. however. agEregatinf