The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-08
MANY INQUIRIES FOR
RAILROAD SUPPLIES
Frogs and Switches Badly
Needed, as Orders Have Been
Small for Two Years.
EXPORTS SATISFACTORY

TOT frogs ana swItcheS. several large
Orders are pending. including q large list
issued by the New York Central Rail
road Company. Since the frst Of January
orders OF this kind received from domes-
factory.
One Of the largest manufacturers In
the East reports that total orders taken
during the frst nve months Of the cur
rent year have exceeded the contracts
booked during the entire twelve months
of 1918. They also exceeded by a liberal
amount the total orders taken In 1914.
Business during these two years. how
ever. was unusually small, due 10 the
light revenues OF most OF the railroad
companies.
Necessities were less urgent than they
are to-day. but the maintenance depart
ments of most Of the Eastern roads cut
| down the 1919 and 1914 acquisitions most
numerically. according TO the views of
the engineering departments. The pros
pect Is that with the buying now in sight
orders for frogs and switches during the
frst half II this year will exceed the
large frog and switch contracts taken
in 1915.
Export business in rolled steel products
Is developing satisfactorily. although
there are a number OF inquiries OF which
the steel mills are sceptical. 1t is pointed
out that while large domestic consumers
Of steel have purchased heavily for de-
livery during the first half and even for
shipment during the second half OF 1917
the heavy export buving has been con-
fined TO 1916 deliveries. The exceptions
hasa hnAp nrIa,a TO- .t.at yata. a.A
marine shapes and a few specialties
which nave been purchased in large tom
nagee for delivery during the second half
OF 1917. Few. IL any. Of the contracts
for billets and rounds to be used In the
manufacture OF war munitions abroad
| have been placed for delivery after 1916.
All OF the orders closed by !. r. Morgan
4 Co. are said to cut on shipments
sharply with the end OF 1915.
Representatives OF the allied Govern
Tents. however, are now on the point Of
asking for quotations on very large ton
RACES Of steel for delivery In 1917. One
inquiry for $780, 900 tons of 8 inch rounds
for export 20 France came TO the surface
yesterday, but neither J. !. Morgan x
CO. nor the American representative OF
the Creusot Works Of France are re-
sponsible for this prospective business.
Numerous other inquiries, large and
small, have also coine out In the last few
days. including forging and rolling bill
lets in lots Of from 800 to 10000 tons
each.
on some OF the inquiries the sizes
mentioned and the steel specifications dc
not agree with American practice and
consequently the mills are Inclined 10 be
conservative IN making quotations In
fact there seems 10 be AN element o:
speculation ~ some 81 tho recent in
quiries. suggesting the fever.sh days
early in the war. when many unauthOr.
!zeG and irresponsible foreign brokers
were e~ndeavoring to secure prices here
on heavy t%onnages Of steel rounds.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has received bids on six small bridges re,
guiring 32O tons of steel and has an.
other inquiry IN the market for bridge
work which will require 800 tons oi
structural shapes. The Erie Railroad
has received tenders on 315 tons for
a bridge over the barge canal and IN,
New York Central IS taking bids or
bridge repair work calling for $50 tons
The New Haven railroad yesterday M,
out another small inquiry for bridge
which Will take $50 tons - steel shapes
and the Central Railroad Of New Jersey
gave 20 the American BridC. Company
an order for small bridges requiring 200
tons OF shapes.
The Southern Railroad put out an in,
quiry for "A bridge to be constructed al
Richmond. Va. which will require 800
tons OF steel. TIE I.ehigh Valley Rail
road also has come into the market f.,
three bridges to span Cauguta Creek
about $50 tons Of steel will be needed,
Steel building work In the Interior a.
well as in the Eastern section is un-
usually light. but several new inquiries
came into the market yesterday. includ-
Ing An apartment house at New Haven
for the Connecticut Realty Company
calling for 400 tons Of fabricated
shapes; a building at Elm!ra. y, Y.
calling for $50 tons and AT OF house
and stock house at Springfield. Mass.
for the United Electric Light Company
requiring $50 tons. The Brooklyn Ed
son Electric Company asks prices OF
235 tons OF structural shapes for
building to no constructed on Gold
street, Brooklyn. Bids have been sub.
mitted on 800 tons Of structural shapes
for the Kings County Court House.
Several new export inquiries for pig
iron were put out Yesterday. including
two lots OF lo.0O0 each Of hessemer iron
n one Of 1900 tonH of low phosphorus
iron for Italy. The Italian Govern
ment has already secured $4,000 tons
OF bessemer iron in this country In
the past few days. including 5000 tons
previously reported as basic which will
come from Pottsto~n, Pa,
There seems to be small prospect OF
any bessemer iron being purchased here
for France. II is now definitely known
that the British Government has agreed