The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-23
THE IRON INDUSTRY.
Have Not Kept Pace with
the Demand.

the Demand
Abnormal conditions prevailed in tn,
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 capacity, according
to E. f. Burchard of the United States
geological survey, department of the in
terror. 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
maximum rate of $4,000 tons in Octo-
Der, 1915.
The prospective blast-furnace capacity
seems not to have kept pace with the
demand, however, as is indicated by the
enormous increases in price, especially
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 l5,so0,000 gross tons,
compared with about l6,l75,000 tons
during the corresponding period of 1915,
a decrease of about two per cent.
The quantity of iron ore from mines in
the Lake Superior region shipped from
upper lake ports from Jan. to June ],
1917, was about 6.5o0,000 gross tons,
with slightly more than TO-
100000 tons for the corresponding five
8 1900, 900 tons, or more than IS per cent.
This apparently 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 having
been put out of commission through ac- |
,idents.
Plans are being made by committees of |
he council of national defense to in |
,rease shipments of iron ore, coal, and
'oke during the remainder of the season |
through cooperative methods, and posi-
,ly the June shipments will nearly equal
hose of June, 1918. In the meantime
he blast furnaces have been drawing on
arge stocks of ore at lower lake ports in
rider to offset the deficiency in upper
axe shipments. Deferred shipments of
oke and other causes of traffic conges-
ion have also retarded operations at
ONE furnaces.
Prices of pig iron at western Pennsyl-
ania furnaces have advanced since Jan. Il
1917, 81 to II per cent. and since a
ear ago 1874 to 200 per cent. On July 8,
9l7, basic iron was quoted at valley '
lrnaces at S52 ton, Bessemer iron at 4:
ittsburg at 1915, and No. foundry 4
on at $50. while at Birmingham, Ala, !
oundry iron, which one year ago sold at I
IL brought SAT a ton. Low phosphorus I
on has been quoted at $40 to $50 a ton. i
everish buying of pig iron by private
,nsumers who were endeavoring to pro- {
de for their present needs, as well as !
n their needs far into 1918, has caused I
UGH of the recent increase in price The e
ltent of the governments war needs for p
eel is not yet defined, but Increasing. n
rders are being placed slowly, however,
I'd they should not interfere seriously "
it'll deliveries of steel to private con- e
Imers. As the government is not com
ting in price, it would seem that there b
ay be at least some warrant for belief &
at prices eventually may adjust them {,
Ives without need for further great in
Ition