The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-04
COST OF CARS HALTS
RAILROADS. BUYING
Some Lines Temporarily With
draw From Market-Prices
Too High.

pidCen py fdIIrouuS IN the Eastern terTi-
tory include An additional $4,000 tons
for the Erie. 5000 tons supplementary
for the Philadelphia and Reading AMI
numerous small orders aggregating 81.
900 tons. IN the South the Norfolk and
Western his taken $4,000 tons. The
Tennessee Cal. Iron and Railroad Com
pany has taken additional orders sggre-
eating about $4,000 tons In the central
West the Bcssemer and lake Erie has
ordered 10000 tons moro and the C,..
c%innati. Hamilton and Dayton 5000
tons. The bulk OF the orders went TO
the United States Steel Corporation.
The New York. New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad has reserved rolling space
for about $4,000 tons Of rails, divide
between two independent mills. Half of
the order. II 10 understood. will 20 to
Buffalo. Specifications will not be is
sued. however, for about two weeks. as
there Is some controversy in regard to
the weight Of the sections to be ordered.
The marlborough tonnage. which has
been divided between the Buffalo mill
and an Eastern company, amounts to
ll.40o tons. including contact rails.
Canadian railroads are reported to he
negotiating for about 10000 tons. In
the last week numerous small orders
from trolley and electrical lines were
placed with Eastern mills, especially
during the last two days Of April.
II II dinlcult to determine the exact
tonnage taken by the rail mills in the
last two months because OF duplication.
of a number OF sales reported. A con-
sentative estimate Is not far short OF
| =. 900 non topg Sipra Iapuaru tha
bookings have not been much under
100000 tons, which IL equivalent TO
about 40 per cent. of the total capacity
OF the rail- mills. A number OF contracts
placed last year will also be rolled dur
ing 1915. Most of the rail mills report
their capacity sold to July. 1917. which
would indicate sales of 9.ooo.o 900 tons.
hut or course this must not be taken
literally. az there Is not enough ingot
capacity to meet the requirements of all
the finishing mills. Probably about
100000 tons OF rails were snld last
year and this year for delivery during
1916 and the first half Of 1917.
Tho high prices demanded by car
manufacturers have caused several
Other domestic roads to retire from the
market. at least temporarily. TIT Mis-
souri, Pacific has withdrawn an inquiry
ai AfFN' tais iHo 'Ntdn STOI6 lNAll-
road. about TO place an order for f,fty
cars. has retired from the market. The
Imperial Oil Company. which recently
asked for prizes on $50 tank cars, has
decided not TO place orders at this time.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad,
however. has distributed orders for $50
steel car underframes, which will re-
auire about $3.50 tons OF steel. OF these
underframes $50 will be built nv the
B~ettendorf Axle Company. 200 Will he
furnished by tho American Car and
Foundry Company. and 100 will ne bu!lt
by the Mount Vernon Car Company.
The French Government, has placed an
additional order for 500 box cars with
American builders. The order is said
10 have gone TO the Pressed gel ca.
Company. French Go,ernmen, &c &
are also on the point Of clio & for
$500 additional four wheel cars. II Is
estimated that about $4,000 tons of
steel bars. plates and shape, viii Re
required in this construction.
Word comes from the Pacific coas,
Of an important revival In business for
been made, especially Of wire products
and structural steel. TAere - also soma
Indication that more foreign orders are
being placed on the coast.
The johnson and Summers-t Railroad
has placed a contract for a viaduct. re-
quiring $500 tons Of fabricated struc-
tura, steel with the Phoenix Bridge
Company. Several other small inquiries
] for bridge work ave corne from rail-
roads IN the central West. and some
L. t.-
but the work is coming out slowly.
The Italian Governmen. has como into
the market for large ,onnages Of sheet
bars. billets. blooms and slabs and other
semi-hnished steel. Inquiries are also
asked on 1000 cars and for a number Of
locomotives for the Italian State rail-
ways. The previous inquiries for pig
iron for Italy have not been satisfied.
and there Is small prospect that these
orders will be closed In tho near future.
The McCiintic Marshall Construction
Company submitted the lowest tender
on the construction OF TWO bridges COR
IN Boston Elevated and tho city q
Boston. These are 70 he built over the
Mystic River and will require 1850
tons ot structural steel. The company
will probably be awarded the contracts.
The contract for an audit orium for the
Illinois state Normal University al Car
honyille, Ill, calls for 80 tons Of fabri-
j Gated structural steel and viii he fur
nished by the Decatur Bridge and Iron
Works. A cold storage harding to he
constructed AT chicago for the Beatrice
Crane Company. according 10 the speci-
| iications put out. required $50 tons Of
structural steel. " has been decided.
A~