The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-12-21
WEATHER HANDICAP
CUTS PRODUCTION
IN IRON INDUSTRY
NEW YORK. Dec. oO.-Thc Iron Az

NEW YORK. Dec o0--Thc Iron Ago
snyS:
The handicaps on pig Iron and steel
production have boon increased in tho
past week by heavy SHOWS in tho east
and central west. causing fresh short
output In the Youngstown district has
hocn only nbout half of the capacity:
ut Cleveland tho American Steel & Wire
cnmpany's plants were closed down 70,
nine days; in eastnrli Pennsylvania five
furnaces wcro banked 20 were banked
early this week Mt Pittsburgh and In the
two valleys: and throughout the country
tho coal situation OF iron and steer
works has heen either worse OF unim-
proved.
At Chicago tho shortage Of coal and
coke is cutting down the production of
some companies. white all are worried
by the smalncss Of tho margin OF Fafe-
ty Six blast furnaces OF tho Illinois
steel company arc banked and ono fur
mace and one mill m tho Wisconsin
j. Steel company arc idle One now south
Chicago stack Of tho Mark Mfg. COM
! pany Will go In bias! carly in 1913.
Following tho Federal Trade Com
missions cost conference with iron anu
steel companies ut Washington on FRI
| day, NJ which tho October increases in
production cost were emphasized. tho
impression has gained strength that no
lmportan. revision Of existing price
schedules will he msdc on Jan. ]. Tho
steel manufacturers committee met In
Now York Wcdr tsdny. Dec. 10, and a
meeting with thu War Industries Board
ut Washington Is expected 10 he held
next week.
: Government requirements arc growing
! and in the heavier lines seem all-ab-
sorhing, with steel output SO much re-
duccd Large lois of plates nrc given
out each week. IN the west an army
inquiry for 4o.0nn0O7 bolts has come up
and in addition To 75nG tons of rivcts
bought by the Emergency Fleet Corpora
| ton Gn0n IL Shn0 tons for Eastern ship
| yards is about TO hc placed. or III"
| 100. 900 tons Of shell steel on which
the government wants delivery hcrorn
June Is I.hout 100000 has now been
allotted tn the mills.
The go"ernnrut is about IL buy more
cnrs for France and friIn soon N HhNO
fuur-whccI cars Rr" wanted for Italy.
Work mas stopped on Russian loComn-
.tivcs and many &c those already built
hut not shipped may Yet hc converted
for us" at home. \ large program OF
locomotives and car building for d"mes-
It's roads. unarr government auspices. is
being worked out.
General export business is a low
cbb. Harassod hy priority interference
Ut mills. by tic scarcity Of ocean yes
sci spec ny delays and rrfusals of cnrS
and by frequent changes in regulations.
exporters are under pressure from hMy-
CTS nhrond who try for the agreed price
scales. Tho outlook until after tho war
or until government demand Is NOR" ac-
curately mcaSurahl" Is for thin picking
. IN exports. one successful rclcaS" or
plates covers I"nn tons for France done
at I75c \ French railroad IL willing
To pay 80. ut mill for some %hn tons.
The vnlun" Of structural steel bust
ness for shinbuildinE and ether govern
:rcnt needs Is surprising in view Of The
almost tSlal absence If private building
work. rhr hriig" builders and strurtu-
raj s."i"ty r"purts l%S.500 tons of shop
capacity pui under contract III Novrm-
her NOR" than in amy other month this
year. The avcraE" for the preceding
, ton months WAS 94."5(i tons. The MONTH
IS acreage Of hridg" and building work
! for lniI and ;?l6 however. was l24,0 0U
tons.