The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02
STEEL MILLS OUTPUT
MAKES new RECORD
Production and Shipments in
March Reach Highest
Figures.

new high records of output and ship
ments OF crude and finished steel and Of
pig iron. The performances Of the sub
sldlary companies Of the United States
Steel Corporation were especially nota-
bic. Returns will not be complete for
a week or ten days. hut the indication
Is that the corporation plants produced
steel ingots at the rate of $4,000 to
. 1000 tons daily. This will give q total
ingot production of approximately -
0O0. 1000 tons. Indicating ali output of
100000 tons of rolled steel products.
Upon this basis. making some allowance
for freight embargoes. shipments of
, rolled steel by the corporation subsidi-
aries last month were approximately
Loo. 900 tons. exceeding all previous
monthly distributions by nearly 100000
tons.
! Largely because OF the Extraordinary
activity in March the first quarter OF the
year also established a new high record
of production and of shipments. II
Is estimated that steel ingots were
produced by all interests a~ggrcgating
about 10000. 900 tons. rolled produces
S.0O0.0o0 tons and shipments about a.
100000 tons. The Steel Corporation sub
eidiaries alone Ere credited with an out
put OF 5,2j0.OW tons OF ingots, 4.ioO. 900
tons of rolled products and shipments OF
4,10o,o00 tons.
The contracts booked by all the Steel
companies last week were again In excess
or 100000 tons. The total orders for
the first quarter of 1916 are estimated
at 10000. 400 tons. which AT an average
price OF $50 per ton means a gross reye-
nue. OF $500. 600. 400. I, is thus evident
that. notwithstanding The extraordinary
bookings IN March, estimated at i.l0O. 900
tons. the total contracts placed during
the FIRST quarter of the year were some
what smaller than the contracts secured
during the last quarter of 1915. How
ever. official returns will be necessary
to determine the full tonnage taken. Ac-
corning TO some reports. the heavy
MarSi business may compensate for
some Of the smaller orders taken in
January and February. as compa,ed
with the average monthly bookings dur
IN! October, November and December
Of last year.
Railroad equipment orders ia March
included 100000 tons OF rails. lt.03I cars.
553 locomotives. 1000 tons for bridge
work and about 20, 600 tons for misccl-
laneous work. The building of this
equipment will call for I.252. 900 tons
The car shops will receive about s1o.-
h43,""". the locomotive builders s2a-
l.".oo" and the rail mills s2S. 500. 0o0
after this equipment is delivered TO the
railroads
Since January | thu railroads have
placed contracts for l.t7a.o0o tons ~
standard section rails. Little less than
three-fourths OF this tonnage was placed
in March The total for the quarter
was almost Identical with the tonnage
booked by the rail mills during the last,
quarter Of 1915. and the contract prices
Approximate $t4,l?0,0 600.
The railroads also placed orders dur
ing the first quarter of 1915 for SASS
ca:s, including those sold for export and
those that Will be manufactured at rail
road shops az well AS by merchant
builders. The construction calls for
100000 tons of steel in various forms.
The contract prices for the rolling stock.
based upon the charges of the merchant
builders, amount 10 $15.720.o0o. 1t is
evident that the March contracts were
curtatled hy the high prices prevailing
fog construction. but Inquiries are still
out for nearly 10000 cars. of which
from :5.0oo 10 $4,000 are FOR foreign
countries. Probably only a small part
OF these prospective contracts will be
placed in the near future. During the
fourth quarter of last year the car build
ers booked contracts for s3,+99 cars, bu,
the cost Of building was several hundred
dollars per car less han II IL to-day.
The enormous volume of traffic to he
moved III the last six months caused
the railroad companies to make pro-
vision fay ,nnfIN, nnunr ac ipNpt hp-
fore. Notwithstanding the high cost 1T
.conStruc;iun the railroad have ordered
i. $50 locomotives since January |, In
Guiding those 10 be built al railroad
shops. These engines will require about
$4,000 tons Of steel. The estimated
cost of building. passed upon the charges
Of the merchant builders, will DC about
$t6, 600, 600, These are the largest To-
conceive contracts placed since the frs;
quarter Of 1913, when orders for 1884,
locomotives were placed.
S,ee, building work las, week con.
tinucd active throughout the country,
fabricatin: shops taking orders for
about $4,000 ton of structural shapes
half Of which viii I've used in tho build
ing of the National Tube Company
plant al Gary, Ind. The railroads placed
only LOO tons OF bridGework. but abou;
$1,000 tons are still pondinc. During
March contracts taken by the fabricat-
ing shops aggregated about 10,o00 tons
or 10000 tons exclusive Of the Gary
tube plant. plans Of which may lie
changed. Including The cost OF erection
the March structural orders are valued
at sl3.soo.ooo Of which the railroads
are responsible for only 5000 tons
valued at $4,tSO,o 600.
Among the latest structural orders
placed is one for }. 100 tons for extension
TO the Akron, ohio, plant of th'
Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company
awarded to the Burger Iron Company
mother independent fabricator has
taken an order for 30 tons OF shapes
for sheridan Hall. to he constructed a
Fort Hays, Kan. II Is also reported
that the American Bridge Company has
been awarded a contract for 1000 tom
Of structural shapes To he used in tho
West Ninth Street Terminal Warehouse
to be constructed at Cleveland, Ohio,
Street railway interests at AlbanS
have placed contracts for frogs, switc're,
and other special track work. the esti
mated cost of which il $50. 600. TIL,
busi,s IS was distributed among foul
or five manufacturers, including the Lao
rain steel Company. the Pennsylvania
steel Company, the Whar,On-Taylol
Company. the New York switch All,
Crossing Company and the Rarboul
S,ockwcll Company.