The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-14
THE STEEL MARKET.
All Lines Have shown Increase
since First ot the Year.

M .iHca % .t"c! business hay" shown
an Increase since the first Of the year,
but I'm many Instances the Improvement
has not been large, and there has been
40 haste on the part Of consumers Of any
lines to place orders Railroads have been
steadily placing orders for rails and
spikes. bu. II Is not believed that steel
rail capacity OF the mill, will be kept
busy ON present orders. the Sl.10 price
OF bars, plates and shapes has been firmly
maintained at all points, and better prices
are looked for Ia some lines in few
weeks. Pig iron buying picked up some
what and there are fairly large inquiries
now before the Eastern markets,
The Iron Age says steel works are
increasing slightly their rate Of operations
and FOR this week a number OF large COM
pauits are running at 40 TO 80 per cent.
of capacity. The steel Corporations per-
centuge * - and 1t may he able to in
crease this shortly 10 50, as specifications
are rather better.
"Eal buying thus far and that in pros
poet give no assurance of more than
partial employment for rail mills through
tho winter one large system, in fact,
aims 10 avoid January and February
ro.liugs because OF suspected effects of
extremely low temperatures.
1T is not decided how much Of the
10000 tons the Pennsylvania railroad
has definitely decided To buy will be given
'Nl TINS llplk4ls NC .NtW 10TH AtnlIdl
has placed a part Of the 10000 tons on
which II asked prices on January T. The
New Haven is to buy $1,000 tons and
the Boston and Maine 5000 tons. This
week the Nashville Chattanooga and St.
Louis has placed 5000 tons at Ensley.
Western roads have given little sign Of
their probable wants.
Thus far the Canadian rail mill at
the Sault has booked 1900 tons for ship
meut 20 this side: 5000 tons for the
Ptre Marquette, 5000 tons for the Grand
Trunk for Michigan delivery, 100 tons
for the Big -Four and 1000 tons additional
for the New York Central. All are open
hearth rails sold for the most part at
$3.50 az mill.
Foreign rail business natures slowly
10000 tons talked Of for Russia and
$1,000 tons for Portugal. German mills
have cut deeply to get neutral business
After taking $4,000 tons in Norway at
S2J.19, they have now captured 1000 tons
IN Denmark at S26t6 delivered Queens
land has bought 20 900 tons from Grea,
britain and tho new mill in New South
Wales has been given a small order.
THE Baltimore and Ohio order for ., 0OO
cars was really the reins,ating OF business
placed months ago. Pending car inquiries
are for about $500.
- vessel placed with an Eastern ship.
yard last week makes total OF nine
ordered I'm the East within a month. re.
pulfiHH $4,000 70 $4,000 tons OF steel
and more are In prospect.
Wire manufacturers following the
lead of plate shape and bar mills, made
. an advance Of 81 q ton effective January
II, bringing nails to SL55 and fence
wire TO $l.3J.'
The Iron TRADE ReUicto says: East
erT bookings OF pig iron have expanded
considerably. one Cleveland agency
reports the sale OF about 1000 tons dur
ing the past ten days. There has also
been moderate buying at Chicago. but
throughout the country there IL not much
activity in pig iron.
In finished lines railroad business IS
developing slowly. The unusually severe
requirements as to specifications put out
by the PENNSYLVANIA will delay placing
OF rails for nat system
The recent advance in prices of
shapes plates and bars Is being we'll
maintained Prices of wire products
have been advanced 81. and prices OF cast
iron pipe are somewhat higher"