The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-25
Big Pig IRON INQUIRIES
PROVE SPUR TO BUYING
France Not Yet Ready to Place
Orders for Great Ton
mage.

French Government through J. ?. Nor
gan q Co. wa9 OF q tentative charac-
ter. The Government agents wanted
to know how much pig iron could be
bought and how soon deliveries could
be made II great purchases OF metal
were necessary. The inquiry was put
out broadcast TO nearly every manu-
facturer OF steel making iron In this
country as we'll as to numerous agents.
II caused unusual excitement, as II gave
the impression that a much heavier ION
mage was required than will probably
be bought In any event. A cable In
quiry for moro definite information
brought out the response that pur-
chases would not exceed 5000 to 10000
tons a month over the balance OF this
al with a possibility that no pur-
chases at all would be made. Thu i'm
preston prevails here. however. that
the French Government will eventually
purchase from $4,000 to 100000 ons
Of special bessemer and low phospho-
rus iron In this country. but the de-
liveries may he much further extended
than was at hrst int,mated.
other inquiries for steel making iron
have come from large steel companies
in France as we'll as from Italy n
will probably aggregate as much as
100000 tons. There are other inQui-
ries also from Spain and from England.
These In closest touch with the situa-
ton are inclined to believe that few
Of these Inquiries will result In bust
ness at the moment because Of the ex-
orbitant freight rates demanded rather
thar any lack OF metal To meet the
foreign needs. Under present condi-
tons. however. the market is In a criti-
cal state and the situation may change
radically over night. II will be recalled
that Great Britain last year produced
S.793.659 tons Of pig iron, all kinds.
In 1914 the British output was n little
more than 5000. 900 tons. while In 1913.
before the Influence OF the war was
felt. the production was 1o.4IS.oo0 tons.
Belgium In no longer a factor as far
a. the allied Governments are con
cerned. The output in france has also
been heavily reduced because the iron
producing districts are In the hands Of
the Germans. Under. the circumstance
II is believed that Europe must sooner
or later secure large pig iron supplies
In this country and where II IL a case
Of necessity even the cNorbitant freight
rates will he paid by the consuming
interests.
italy has purchased quite liberal sup
plies OF pig iron and scrap In this coun-
try already. but for yarlou reasons
shipments were withheld until there
was a severe congestion In the north
Atlantic. More recently the 1talia,
Government took n n In the moving
Of pig iron from this country To Medi-
,erranean ports and some liberal sup
plies nave thus been secured to the
Italian steel works IN the last month,
. In this connection n Is interesting II
note that the output OF pig ron In Ger
many too has been heavily reduced
nearly so per cent. since 1913. Last
| year the German production OF all kinds
= ~ pig metal was a little more thar
!. II, 500. 900 tons. In 1914 more thar
/ 1900. 900 tons were produced. while II
{ 1913 the German output was IN excess
; OF 20. 200. 900 tons. Industrial require
/, ments In all Of the European countries
outside Of the manufactur" Of war mu
n%itions. however were greatly reduced
+; The principal effect Of the large for
!, eign inquiries for pig iron In the last
week has been to cause large domes'
. tic consumers to place larger contracts
1 for basic and besecner metal. deltverie.
!, of which will extend over the balance
. Of this year and the first quarter o'
o 1917. ono large steel interest in thu
4. central West has Just closed for $4,000
tons pig metal for shipment runrinf
. over the FIRST quarter or next year
and the Bethlehem steel Company, II
an snor' 10 nNfpdiu It's pWh oulPu'
has purchased 10000 tons OF basil
ron from "A Lchigh Valley furnace Il
lie applied on a contract entered int
some time since with the I.ukeus Iroi
II and Steel Company. This sale wa
;; made at sco.jo a ton delivered
II 4. estimated that domestic stce
companies In the last ten days nav
purchased between 10000 and 200 ,oo'
,,,. 80 haste, hesSernar and low nhpx-
phorous pig iron Several small lots run
ming from 1000 to 1000 tons were soil
= hy Buffalo furnaces In tn" last few
\ DAYS for 1917 shipment. Several larg
contracts for foundry iron also are pend
!. ing and are likely to he developed int
sales In the next few days
A new inquiry for 5000. 900 thrc
inch shrapnel shells was put out ycstci
n day and the prospective manufacture
N il in the market for 10000 tons OF roun
steel bars. some Of which. II II reported
can be delivered at once, There are Sc,
eraI other inquiries for hich explosiv
shells. but nearly all are said to be SUI
contracts.
The Warren Foundry and Nachin
Company has been awarded a contrs'
for Sill tons OF 10 inch cast iron pig
for lower Massachusetts AT s29.iO p'
ton delivered. The United states Ca
Iron Pipe and Foundry Company sui
mitted the lowest bid on 300 tons of
"A \ and 10 inch cast iron pipe for Sout
X Orange. y. j.. the price being $3.50 fo
y u and s inch and s2s.50 for 10 inch PHI
III delivered. There was another bid q
:, universal joint pipe. which was Doc. pc
foot for i inch. 7oi2c. for s inch mn
SO $l.lO per foot for 10 inch pipe. On Apr
30 nc lslu ,.tll ta fabian nm hO0 inns nf