The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-08
RUSH OF RAIL ORDERS
AT STEEL MILLS AGAIN
More Buying, Too, Of Track
Accessories and Cars
Building Active.

Building Active.
Rail orders In large and small ton.
nages are rolling into the steel mills at n
rapid rate. The contracts placed since
the FIRST OF April are impressive. In the
last day or two additional orders run
ming from q few thousand TO $4,000 tons
each have been closed for 1917 ship
ment. In a few instances some supple
mentary orders have been placed for
this years delivery. Industrial and
trolley lines AZ we'll a. steam roads arc
either actively preparing specifications
to cover contracts that will be placed
before the end Of the month or have
already placed orders for both girder
and T rails with eastern and western
Pennsylvania mills. The Grand Trunk
has ordered $500 tons from the I.acka-
wanna Steel Company. while the Bethic-
hem mill will roll 1000 tons for the
Isehssh Of New England. The Florida
and East Coast. the Southern and the
New Haven are among the railroads
that are on tho point OF closing rail con-
tracts. The Aigoma Corporation IL re-
ported 10 have taken an order for 10000
tons OF standard section rails for the
South African railwaye.
Following. and In some cases accom-
panying rail orders. nave been additional
large contracts for track accessories.
Chicago mills have taken contracts for
tie plates aGgrcgating about 10000 tons
for 1917 delivery n some OF the manu-
f~acturers have advanced prices IS a ton.
The Louisville And Nashville has placed
an order for 400 tie plates with the
Pennsylvania Steel Company.
The car shops report additional orders
for 2i5 cars ( o he constructed for In
duetrial companies calling for about
1000 tons OF steel. Other contracts from
the railroads include $50 hopper cars for
which will he built by the American Car
and Foundry Company. Industrial lines
have also put out inquiries for about 500
freight cars. which will require abou;
5000 tons OF steel. More car inquiries
have been withdrawn. however. including
those designed for both freight and pas
seneer service. The Chicago and North
western. the Burlington. the Great
Northern and the Illinois Central are
among the roads tina, have cancelled In
quir!es. The Illinois Central. however. Is
wooden cars.
The Philadelphia and Reading Rail
road has given an order for twenty-five
Mikado type and SIX Male: locomotives
70 the Baldwin works. The same manu-
.acturers have received miscellaneous or
ders for seven locomotives, and the
American Locomotive shops will build
four locomotives in addition TO those
previously reported.
The Bethlehem steel Company has
been awarded q contract for 1000 tons
Of structural steel TO he used in the build.
Ing OF the Body House at Toledo. II was
previously retcrtsd that only 5000 tons
Of shapes would be used. M!lliken Bros,
Inc. aas been awarded a contract FOR
c16 tons Of fabricated shapes by the
George A. Fuller Construction Company
for the building NJ 400 Fifth avenue. Tn
Forest City Engineering Company, hav
Ing the general contract for building tAc
Masonic Temple at Cleveland. has placed
an order for tho 1900 tons Of fabricated
steel required with the Van Dorm Iron,
Works.
The Central Railroad Of New Jersey
has given a small order for ~bridgeworS
TO Mil.!ken Eros, Inc. and the Mime
apoils and ~. Louis has ordered :?c
tons for eight neck g,rder spans from the
Pennsylvania steel Company.
The Wilcox Motor Car Company has
placed an order for ass tons OF steel for
wheels with French 4 Heck. Bids went
in yesterday on 1000 tons OF fabricated
steel required In the construction OF
LHotel des Artistes at . West sixty
seventh street.
Tin plate manufacturer are expert
encing some difficulty In securing an am
ple tonnage OF tin plate bars 10 keep the
mills running. According TO ffttsours
adv!ces. the American Sheet and TIL
Plate Company in some OF It's mills
has reduced the number Of turns. Some
Of the independent mills are also suf-
fering from a lack Of steel. Production
OF tin plate during the fNt quarter OF
the year, however. Was heavy. be!EE
estimated at $500. 900 boxes. Proiuc-
ton during the second quarter IL likely
10 be much heavier. as a number OF new
| mills will soon he in commission. Early
In June the McKeesport Tin Plate Com
pany will have twenty new mills active,
and the standard Tin Plate Company
will probably Ia twelve new mills
In operation in the near future.
stocks OF pig iron In western Penn
sylyania and eastern Ohio or April |
are understood TO have aggregated ABBOT
$4,000 tons. There Is an increase OF
about 1000 tons compared with the
stocks carried on January I. There was
an increase in basic. but a decrease In
bessemer. This total OF curse does
not include the iron carried on the banks
OF furnaces Of the United States Steel
CORPORATION. II Is estimated that total
stock OF pig iron In all districts on April
I was approximately 100000 tons
This is a very small tonnage. however
In relation TO the output, which IL nov
at the rate OF about 10000, 900 tons
annually.
The city Of Philadelphia, in connec-
ton with SOM OF the local railroads
Is reported to be preparing specifications
for structural work which will require
about 5000 tons OF steel shapes. Among
the structural contracts pending Is a
Y. W. G.. A.. building at Troy. y. v
which will require 500 tons OF steel
shapes; a building at Miami, Fla. CALI
ing for 800 tons. and a warehouse in the
West requiring about 1000 tons ~ OK.
panded bars.
IRON AND STEEL MARKET.