New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Many Troubles
Beset Iron and
Steel Industry
Seizure of Coke Ovens to
Stop Profteering Is
Threatened

Steel ingot production in the United
States this year will total 42,60o,OOo
gross tons, compared with 4o,40l,el7 in
1916, according to estimates OF the
American Iron and Steel Institute. Fig
ures compiled for the ten months ended
November show a total production OF
31,2S7,346 gross tons. These figures
are of interest because it is certain
that pig iron production for the year
will fall. The decrease is estimated at
3,0OO,0 900 tons. Steel mills have ex-
ceeded last years production partly by
the large use of steel scrap. A larger
proportion OF the total output Of pig
iron has gone into steel making, with a
corresponding reduction in the output
Of foundry iron.
Despite this apparent good showing
the steel trade is being carried on to-
day under the most trying conditions
ever known. Shortage of labor. cars, 7
coal and coke is making the situation
as regards output and shipments as bad
as il possibly could be. Rolling mills
are particularly affected, and notwith-
standing the large output OF ingots,
production of plates, shapes, bars and
other rolled products will show a loss
during the last quarter of the year.
Coke Situation a Drawback /
The coke situation is not improved,
and several blast furnaces have been
obliged to bank in the last week for
lack of supply. Output Of the Con- /
neilsville coke ovens has been running
II per cent below that of last year,
equivalent 70 a decrease OF 3,6OO,OOO
tons in a year, or more than enough 70
make 100000 tons of pig iron. Orders
from Washington giving priority TO
shipments of coke have had little effect
as yet. The coke shortage promises
seriously to retard blast furnace OPP
erations throughout the winter. As
illustrating the troubles caused by this
shortage, a subsidiary of the United
States Steel Corporation came into the
market few days ago for 10000 tons
Of steel-making iron, the first time It
has had occasion 10 DO so in many
years, as its own furnaces generally
furnish a sufficient supply. The fuel
coke plants to stop the profteering, in
which a number of the producers are
declared to have engaged since the
price was fixed at So per ton under the
Lever bill.
Price Fixing Not Completed
Steel manufacturers, through a COM
mittee of the American Iron and Steel
L,
fixing schedules. With the approval of
the President and the War Industries
Board, another lot Of figures was an
nounced this week affecting iron bars,
wire products, boat spikes, automobile
and electrical sheets, forging steel,
lapweld and charcoal steel boiler tubes
and standard commercial seamless
boiler tubes, special skelp for boiler
tubes, round billets for seamless steel
tubes. bolts, nuts and riyets. Prices
for the jobbing trade were also fixed,
being 81 a 100 pounds, plus freight
from Pittsburgh, above the govern
ment mill prices on iron and steel
bars. structural shapes, blue annealed
sheets and billets. One-pass cold
cold-rolled shafting take sl25 a 100
pOAuus aODFc H444l IltNcsi p4No AASA5AS
from Pitt burgh. Maximum prices were
also recommended for standard COM
mercial wire rope. Differentials on
tinplate and sheets. as well as base
prices on rails, track supplies, screws
and other products, will soon be an
nounced.
Many Manufacturers Hit
From the consumers viewpoint the
NEST serious factor in the present
trend Of the steel trade is whether they
will be able TO get raw materials and
keep their plants running on work that
is not. strictly speaking, essential TOR
the war Fortunately for the steel
trade itself, there are few plants which
are not in some way engaged in making
equipment or supplies for the war, but
the large number of manufacturers OF
uon-essential products who use iron and
steel wholly or in part in manutactur-
ing will undoubtedly find It difficult 70
keep their plants running through the
winter. If they were able 20 place con-
tracts for their usual quota OF iron or
steel they would have no positive as
surance Of getting IL until government
are first satisfied.
Shipments Are Restricted
Moreover, present transportation
troubles are working rapidly toward
condition where few, If any, except
those furnishing government priority
certificates vii. be able TO get unre-
stricted shipments. The automobile
industry, which was 70 have been cut
off from its supply of alloy steels, has
saved the situation by agreeing to turn
over its plants partly 70 the manu-
facture of munitions. and II Is re-
ported that about Sl00,000,000 worth
of war equipment contracts will shortly
be distributed among motor factories
able 10 handle the work.
Expansion Of the shipbullding pro-
gramme from 100000 to 100000
tons Of shipping will require the full
plate rolling mill capacity Of the coun-
try. and probably none but relatively
small quantities of universal plates
will be available for commercial trade.
Very little finished steel Is being sold
except for government work, and all
steel companies are working down the
orders or their books, which accounts
for the decline in untitled tonnage OF
the Steel Corporation during the last
few months, which on November | was
S23,S02 tons below the figure Of
month previous.