The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-07-19
THE IRON INDUSTRY.

Abnormal conditions prevailed in
the iron industry during the first half
of 1917, mainly on account of the war
in Europe At the beginning of the
year, when pig iron was being made
at the average rate of about 100000
gross tons daily, the blast furnaces
were operated at slightly reduced ca
of the United States Geological Sur
vey, Department of the Interior. This
rate dropped to less than $4,000 tons
daily in February, but in March the
rate rose to 10000 tons daily, and in
April and May it stood at more than
10000 tons, compared with the max
imum rate of 10000 tons in October,
1916.
The prospective biastfurnace ca
pacity seems not to have kept pace
with the demand. however, as is in
Dictated by the enormous increases in
price, especially since the United
States entered the war.
The total output of coke and an
thraCite pig iron in the first five
months of 1917 was about 15,S00,000
gross tons, compared with about 49,
$4,000 tons during the corresponding
period in 1916, a decrease of about
2 per cent.
The quantity of iron ore from mines
in the Lake Superior region shipped
from upper Lake ports from January
to June l, 1917, was about 100000
gross tons, compared with slightly
more than 100000 tons for the
corresponding five months of 1916, a
decrease of about 100000 tons, or
more than IS 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 commit
tees of the Council of National De-
tense to increase shipments of iron
ore, coal, and coke during the remain
der of the season through cooperat-
i've methods, and possibly the June
will nearly equal those of
June, 1916. In the meantime the
blast furnaces have been drawing on
large stocks of ore at lower Lake
ports in order to Offset the deficiency
in upper Lake shipments. Deferred
of coke and other causes
of traffic congestion have also retard-
ed operations at some furnaces.
Prices of pig iron at western Penn
sylvania furnaces have advanced
since January /, 1917, 81 to n per1
cent and since a year ago 134 to 200
per cent. On July 3, 1917, basic iron
was quoted at Valley furnaces at $50
a ton, Bessemer iron at Pittsburgh at
1915, and No. 2 foundry iron at $55,
while at Birmingham, Ala, foundry
ron, which one year ago sold at $14
brought SAT a ton. phosphorus
ron has been quoted at $40 to $50 a I
on. Feverish buying of pig iron
~ private consumers who weres en-
70 provide for their pres
mt needs, as well as for their needs .
ar into 1918. has caused much OF the /
ecent increase in price. The ex-
ent of the Governments war needs
or steel is not yet defined, but in
reasing. Orders are being placed
lowly. however, and they should not
Interfere seriously with deliveries of
teel to private consumers. AS the
Government is not competing in
rice ii would seem that there may
e at least some warrant for belief
hat prices may eventually adjust
themselves without need for further
rcat imitation,