The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-11
BETTER FEELING ON LABOR CONDITIONS Westinghouse Strike Over.
 COnnellsviIle Settled IRON MARKET IS DULL Attributed to Fact That All Consum- CTS Are Covered for Year-Senti-
 ment Against Increasing
 Prices Is Growing
IRON MARKET IS DULL

Cleveland, O., May -(Special.) )-The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will say:
 The collapse of the Westinghouse strike at Pittsburg and granting of higher wages in the Connelsville coke region and by numerous employers throughout the country have caused distinctly improved feeling as to labor conditions. In the Lake Superior iron region, particularly on the Mesabi, there is surplus of labor
 During the past week considerable number of worlmen were thrown out of employment on account of mills being compelled to curtail or cease operations on account of inability to obtain mate rial. On the whole, however. there is plenty of work and some plants are suf- fering from scarcity of labor
 Sentiment in opposition to further ad- vanees in prices in finished material is growing stronger. This is clear in spite of the fact that many customers are buying freely at present high quo tations. SlacSening in demand in some quarters doubtless is due to the inability of mills to give prompt deliveries, fully as much as to high level of prices.
 There is pronounced dullness in pig iron. The southern market is rather weak and at Buffalo quotations of s1S.oO furnace for No. foundry have been made for shipment through all of next year, but for most part prices are being firmly adhered to and the dull period is attrib- uted to the fact that nearly all buyers are covered for this years requirements and see no necessity for contracting for delivery into next year. One Cleveland firm has sold 10000 tons of various grades during the past 10 days. The American Rolling Mill company has bought 20,000 tons of southern basic for delivery the latter part of this year and the first half of next year and the Cambria Steel com pany has taken 5000 tons of Bessemer at s21 valley,
 A controversy which may assume large importance has arisen in regard to pres- ent government specifications for marine boiler steel. Manufacturers declare that these specifications are unreasonably se- were and are demanding their modifica- ton. It is stated that at some plants as many as 20 plates have been rolled before one which would meet government requirements could be obtained Pending notifications of specifications new busi- ness is being declined
 The Bethlehem Steel company closed for very large order of shell steel for this years delivery, which, it is understood unofficially, amounts to from 100000 to 150,000 tons. All of this is to be delivered this year, for if any goes over into next year it will be cancelled automatically Numerous large tonnages, including SC. 900 tons shell rounds recently placed with an Ohio producer have been entered and important inquiries are still pending
 Great activity in movement of lake ore during the past year is shown by sta- tistics just compiled indicating that ton mage remaining on Lake Erie docks May l, was only 3,34S. 405 the smallest tonnage at that oate since May 1, 1907 Total ship ments to furnaces for year ending May 1 was 4o,T635S tons, or more than a mil iions tons in excess of shipments made in any preceding year.
 ore shipments on lakes for April made new record, aggregating 1,65S, All tons.