Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-09
Iron Industry in
First Half of 1917

Aphormal conditions prevailed in tho
IRON industry during the first half oe
1911 mainly on account of the war IN
Europe At the beginning of the wear
when pig iron was being made a, tho
average rate of about 102. 900 gross tons
daily. the blast furnaces were operated
at slightly reduced capacity, according
TO +. F. Burchard. of the United States
Geological SUI vey, Department of the
INTERIOR This rate dropped to less
than $4,000 tons daily in February, but
IN March the rate rose 20 1GJ, COO tons
daily. and in April and May it stood ar
more than 10000 tons. compared with
the maximum rate of 113 900 tons in Oc-
tohcr 1916
The prospective blast furnace capac-
it, seems to have kept pace with the
demand, however. as is indicated by
the enormous increases in price. es-
pecially since the United States entered
the war.
The total OUTPUT Of coke and anthra-
cite pig iron in the first five months of
1917 was about 15,S010C0 gross tons
compared with about 16,175.000 tons
during the corresponding period Of
1916, decrease Of about . per cent.
The quantity of iron ore from mines
in the Lake Superior region shipped
TO June l. 1911, was about 6,500,001
gross tons, compared with slightly
from upper Lake ports from January
more than 100000 tons for the cor
responding five months of 1916,
decrease of about 100000 tons.
or more than So per cent. This appar-
emily large decrease in ore shipments
from the principal producing region
was not due to inability to mine ore
but largely to the belated opening OF
Lake traffic because of ice blockades
and to many ore carrying boats hav-
ing been put out Of commission
through accidents.
Plans are being made by committees
Of the Council Of National Defense to
increase shipments Of iron ore, coal,
and coke during the remainder of the
season through cooperative methods.
and possibly the June shipments VIII
nearly equal those Of June. 1918. IN
the meantime the blast furnaces nave
been drawing on large stocks or ore az
lower Lake ports in order to OFFSET 'A@
deficiency in upper Lake shipments
Deferred shipments Of coke and DINER
causes Of traffic congestion have also
retarded operations at some furnaces
Prices Of pig iron AT western Penn
svlvania furnaces have advanced since
January !. 1911, 81 to - per cent ana
since A wear go 164 to 200 per cent. On
July 8. 1917, basic iron was quoted az
Valley furnaces at $50 a ton. Bessemer
iron at Pittsburgh at s57.e5. and NO.
foundry iron at $50. while at Birming-
ham. Ala. foundry iron. which one
wear ago sold at s14 brought s47 a ton
Low PHOSPHORUS iron has been quoted
at so to $50 a ton. Feverish buying OF
pig iron by private consumers VINO
were endeavoring to provide for their
rresent needs. as we'll as for thelf
needs far into 1915, has caused much OF
the recent increase in price. The eT-
tent Of the Governments war needs for
steel Is not vet defined, but increasing.
Orders are being placed slowly. how
ever. and thew should not interfere ser
io,,slv with deliveries Of steel TO PRIV
ate consumers AS the Government Is
not competing in price it would seem
that there may be at least some war
rant for belief that prices may eventu-
ally. adjust themselves without need
for further great imitation.