New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-19
Not Much Confusion

An officer of house which deals in
iron, steel and fuel says: 1--WE are
really somewhat surprised that such
radical change in the mode of doing
business in this industry is accom-
panied with as little confusion as has
been the case. One Of the particularly
good results has been to put the pur-
chasing agent in a more secure posi-
ton. The condition that is at present
causing the most confusion both to the
small mills and the small consumers is
what is the position of a warehouse. The
larger producers refuse TO quote on their
product for mill shipment, but do take
on business through their own ware
house or through closely allied ware
houses not at $50 cents, 9 cents and
1925 cents per pound, but at 4.50 cents,
8 cents and cents per pound. This
procedure is considered by the smaller
mills more or less Of subterfuge.
They feel that their interests have not
been particularly looked after or them
selves consulted in arriving at the
fixed prices, but face the penalty of
being considered slackers or at least
unpatriotic if they do not observe the
conditions laid out for them"
One Manufacturers Experience
A machine tool manufacturer speaks
of difficulties encountered in obtaining
deliveries on the basis of the govern
ment prices:
Take it on the matter of coke land
we had some fifteen cars ordered on a
contract at price prevailing at time of
shipmentO. When the government set
the price, the coke people refused to
bill at Sc, and therefore they are ship
ping us coke at SIS. For self-protec-
ton, for future use, we ordered some
fifteen cars of coke at price of SIS.
AS We understand matters, contracts
are to stand; therefore, we are out 50
a ton until we finish the contract.
THE only way that We can buy steel
is to pick it up of a jobber, and as the
government has not set the price with
the jobber, we have not found any diff
ference on the price of steel.
AS for pig iron, we had contracts
running up to say, SAC, and yet the
government put the stop price IN az
1913. Now We are having some iron
come at $50, therefore we are making
SO a ton. When we get TO using the
$40 iron we shall be losing 81 a ton.
or course, as far as the matter of
abrogation of contracts ia concerned.
the user will get the best of it in gem
eral, as most of the low price stuff is
already delivered. We think the pig
iron people are handling this matter
IN the most patriotic manner. and we
have had iron offered to US for deliv-
cry into next year at government
prices As for steel and coke, we can
not say as much.
1--WE might mention that a few days
ago we placed an order for some ma
chinery spindle steel and they held US
up TO some 10 cents pound. while
according to the new government price
il ought to be down TO 6 or cents a
pound at the most. This was an order
placed direct with the MILL and yet
we are not getting the advantage Of
the new price. We have not yet men
toned that we are making machine
tools for the government. but II mat
tiers do not adjust themselves shortly
we shall have to do so, and perhaps
resort to "A priority demand"
Domestic Purchases Increase
A maker Of bar iron says that in some
lines there has been an increase in buy
ing, but generally domestic purchases
Of finished materials have largely de-
creased, and this is likely to continue
until old contracts are cleaned up.
According TO n selling agent for vari-
Gus steel makers products the prices
are not such as TO warrant increased
production, and are distinct hardship
for many concerns.