Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-10
INCREASED ACTIVITY
IN THE STEEL TRADE
Notable Gain in Structural Mar
ket, Where Some Fair-Sized
Orders Have Been Placed
NEW YORK. Nov. 10.


SLIGHT increase in activity in some
branches of the steel trade is reported by
several leading steel interests. This is
notably true Of the structural m lrlet, where
some fai~-si7od "rders have been placed
during the past week.
In ali approximately 10000 tons of struc-
turaI material has been purchased within
'Hn last three or four davs, with the bulk
OF the business going to the leading inter-
est the Americ m Bridge Company. IL is
true that amoog the orders which have
come out there are no large individual con-
tracts 10 attract attention, but the fact
that business has become 'arger is taken
In the trade to mean that regular consumers
are showing more interest in market affairs
since prices have been fixed
Pig iron also shows signs Of revival of
buying a large contract for export having
been placed few days ago with one conf
pany while some good inquiries have been
going the rounds, the largest being from
the Pennsylvania Railroad for approximate
ly 1900 tons of foundry. charcoal and
other grades
There is a larger demand for plates from
sources aside from the Government, but
mainly for export. One order Is said TO
have been placed for shipment to France.
but the total involved has not been di-
yulged, nor has the price been obtainable
In some quarters it is reported that ap-
proxmately five cents per pound was paid
but this cannot be confirmed.
In spite of the inactivity In the market
for old material In most quarters, due II
is said, to the waiting attitude being dis
played by buyers because of the expecta-
tion that prices will be fixed shortly, it is
noted that advances have taken place, es.
pecially in the West
This is the first time in some weeks that
| there has been change in the scrap mar
| ket for the better, although in the last
| two weeks the market has been steadier
| than previously. There have been upturns
| Of from 81 to $3.50 per ton In various scrap
| products in the Chicago district, while in
| Pittsburgh heavy steel scrap has been put
| up SO to $40 per gross ton.
The fixed prices announced on wire ana
| tubular products this week have confirmed
| the statements made in this column in the
| past 1t will he recalled that the advances
| made by the American Steel and Wire Com
| pany and the National Tube Company, the
two leaders In their branches, were COM
| mented upon as foreshadowing the action
| To be taken In Washington. and the prices
announced from Washington are Identical
| with those named by the two concerns re-
| ferred to,
So far as the output of steel mills Is
| concerned, operations are still affected by
| the scarcity of railroad ears to move prod
| ucts, the difficulty of many companies to
| obtain sufficient coal for capacity work
| and the general shortage of labor, which,
| IL anything. is increaslnC.
Some of the smaller Independent compa-
| nies have been forced 10, ,curtall operations
| because Of these factors, especially the
| coal problem, while the largest organiza-
| tions have been feeling the influence of the
| scarcity of cars and the drifting away of
workmen. either to Join the colors or TO
| take UP work in other industries.
II is the optnion In the most influential
quarters that prices on all articles will
| be finally fixed shortly. The questions in
volved viii be handled. according to the
general impression. by the general commit
| tee Of steel men. who are expected to rush
their work to successful cepclusion soon-