The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-15
DOMESTIC STEEL
 ORDERS INCREASE Railroads and Auto Com
 panies Buying BIG DEMAND FOR ORE Industries Not Catering to War
 Orders Show Much Improve ment-To Build New Furnaces

Cleveland, O., July 14-(special.) say:
 Thorough investigation in all import ant centers in the country has devel- oped positive evidence that demand for leading iron and steel products for uses not connected in any way with the war has steadily increased during the past month and especially during past week. Demand from automobile companies not catering to war busi- ness and from manufacturers of agri- cultural implements had added largo tonnages to orders for purely do- nestle consumption. Buying by Amer ican railroads has also improved
 One of the largest Independent com panies in Pittsburg district now oper- : ating at S5 per cent of capacity, be- lieves that fully 70 per cent of It's orders represent domestic consump- tion, although it is impossible in many cases to determine whether or not or ders are due indirectly to the war.
 In spite of heavy buying of wire for export, 1t Is thought that not over 20 per cent of output of wire mills is be- ing shipped to foreign countries. On the whole, improvement in domestic demand is most encouraging, but de- mand for large rounds and other ma terials for manufacture of shells is still. a highly important factor in pres ent conditions. Demand for steelmak ing pig iron in Pittsburg district has suddenly increased to large propor- tions. resulting in an advance of 25 cents per ton in quota tions on basic and Bessemer grades
 Big Basic Contract
 T,,I, is credited with buying from 25 0Oo to 30, coo tons basic, and it Is now known that the Republic Iron and Steel company about 10 days ago, made purchase of 10,00C tons of the same grade.
 An inquiry for 10000 tons steel making pig iron for export is pending, but high ocean freights at present interfere se- riously with shipment to foreign coun- tries
 Decision of the United Steel company at Canton. O.. to build a blast furnace is an event of unusual interest, as Is also the announcement that Packands. Mather & Co. of Cleveland, have become associated with the Canton enterprise. United States Steel corporation has advanced quotations on plates, shapes anc oars TOT current or third quarter delivery to sl3t Pittsburg an advance of $1 over usua quotation Cambrai Steel company has also advanced, and other independent companies are expected to do so at ar early date. There is very little con. tracting at present, but specifications are heavy, and mills are not anxious to sell for future delivery.
 Demand for lake ores has improved very much and some important transactions have taken place. including trading oi ore for coal There is much more ac- tivity in chartering of vessels for car. rying of ore.
 It is estimated that from 75,000 to 1O0,- GOO tons structural material will be re- quired for rapid transit extensions ir Philadelphia which are approaching the contra cting,
 Brooklyn elevated work will call foi about 5000 tons of plates. American Cal end Foundry company has purchased from SooOO to 40.000 tons steel largely plates, for use In making fl cars TOT rus. sia recently contracted for. Contracts fol structural material in June were heaviest of any month since April, 1914, and rep resent about so kper cent of capacity oi structural shops of country. Contract fol 24.0oo tons for St. Louis bridge has beer formally awarded to American Bridge company.