New Britain herald., 1916-08-31
NAVAL PROGRAM A
 STRAIN ON MILLS
Will Make Far Greater Demand
 for Steel Than Thought
The Iron Age says today:

!
 The difficulties of the steel mills are 1 again increasing, as the delivery of 1 six months output and more now nar- rows down for many of them to the l four months that remain of 1916. Pro- 1 duction in August was about equal to l that of July, in spite of trying condi- l tions, but new business was larger and l the steel corporation expects to end the month with an increase in un- l filled orders. Domestic buying of finished steel for the first half of next year has not been conspicuous, though a good many implement makers have contracted for steel bars at 2.50c, the sales of the leading producer on this account being reported at 16O,OoO tons.
 While mills are not disposed to put up prices on contract material, the
 market is stronger and premiums for early delivery are more in evidence,
 particularly on bars, plates and shapes. The steel corporation now
 
 Pittsburgh, for bars, 27Oc for shapes and Sc for plates
 The 1916 naval program will make far greater demand on steel works than had been calculated. It is now figured that for hulls and armament
 215,000 to 22O,O0O tons will be needed ir, cruisers, 4 scout cruisers, 20 destroy CTS, 20 submarines 1 fuel ship, 1 am- intuition ship and 1 hospital ship. In the case of two steel comjanies, at least, some of the government work must be taken on to the exclusion of more remunerative foreign orders.
 New vessel orders include three on the Pacific coast. two at Philadelphia for American owners, and two at Bal timore for Norwegian interests. Steel placed for these is mainly for the third quarter of 1917. An eastern yard has just placed 1000 tons of shipbuilding steel, chiefly plates. Japan is still a buyer for it's shipyards, and it wants make up the bulk of a 10000 ton in quiry pending in the Chicago district.
 Railroad wants have been more of a factor in the past week. The Southern Railway has ordered 10000 tons of rails for next summer and 5000 tons has been bought for Cuba. The Cana dian Northern is inquiring for 10000 tons, of which it is likely only 1O,- 900 tons can be supplied in this coun- try. The Grand Trunk is in the mar ket for 20,O0O tons. Tn tie plates the is a feature.
 France has just closed for 15,oOO tons of rails making it's total orders in the past year about 100. 900 tons. Great Britain, it now develops, has bought 56.000 tons of rails here, or much more than has been estimated.
 The placing of a large tonnage of 1 1-2 inch and inch angles for France is attracting attention. One steel company has taken 5000 tons and much more is pending. Mills have asked 3.1Oc. to 3.25c. onj this material.
 Foreign buyers for other than war needs are more active as signs point to the continuance of high prices instead of. the reductions indicated two months ago Wire products, structural shapes and plates are being extensively fig ured on. From Italy there is a 10000 ton inquiry for sheet piling.
 The broadening of the pig iron buy ing movement IS eV1uenI put there IS considerable irregularity in prices. Tn view of the dip of the market in all districts in putting through the large transa ctions with which the August movement started, few sellers are now getting more than they were quoting through the lull. Close to s175O at Chicago district furnace was done on 25 silicon iron in the latest competi- lion between Northern and Southern sellers. In northern Ohio it is now difficult to get SIS No. iron and s1s.5O is commonly the market.
 Thus far large buyers have taken 1 the bulk of the iron sold for first half of next year. Buffalo reports sales of 100000 tons of all grades in the week, most of it in good-sized lots. Some foundries will buy more iron for this wear, but the large majority will carry over 1916 iron two or three months into 1917. Machine shop and foundry strikes have done much to keep pig iron from sharing in the advances in | steel.
 At Pittsburg the long predicted ad- vance in basic pig iron is still delayed. 1 A sale of 10000 tons was made there, 1 and inquiry covers 10000 to 25,OO0 | tons. An Indiana buyer has closed for | 25.OOO tons with Detroit furnaces. In l eastern Pennsylvania the basic market is higher: how much, will be shown by a new inquiry for IS, 900 tons.