New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-11
Steel Mills Now
Working Under
Heavy Pressure
Striving to Make Up for
Losses Earlier in Year
Untitled Orders Drop

Developments in the iron and steel
Industry, as reported by "Thc Iron
Age, indicate a speeding up of de-
livcrlcs on orders in hand, the definite
shaping Of government plans for the
immediate building Of larger gun works
and a corresponding increase in the
manufacture Of big shells at the new
plants. Pressure Of the government
needs for steel is steadily increasing
at all points and production of steel
ngots increased last month 80 per cent
over the average for the months of
January and February, when railroad
congestion disrupted the industry.
The United States Steel Corporation
reported yesterday that untitled orders
on hand on March 81 amounted to 8,
O56.404 tons, a decrease of 292, 049 tons
compared with the total at the end of
February.
Shipments Larger
The decrease occasioncd little sur
prise, inasmuch as shipments of fin
shed steel in March showed heavy
increase over February. Shipments
last month were between SO and IS
per cent capacity, against 65 per cent
iii February: According to figures given
out by r. II. Gary, chairman of the
board of the United States Steel Cor
poration, production from its pig iron
furnaces is now running at about 80
per cent capacity, ingot output at 90
per cent and finishing mills at IS per
cent
The vast enlargement of the nation
offensive preparations that has come
in the fortnight has already stirred the
machine tool trade, it is stated. Great
activity is looked for also from the
doubling Of the output Of various shell
plants, by government order, and the
to be sent at once to France.
"Stecl mills have been under pres
sure from Washington in the last
week. says "Thc Iron Age" Gin an
effort to have January and February
shortages made up, particularly those
in plates. The mills have had the help
of a better car supply. which in the
Pittsburgh district has been especially
fortunate in view Of the large proper
ton of output required by the govern
ment. The leading producer there has
turned nearly so per cent of it's recent
production into government and war
contract channels. and several plants
in the same district that lately have
given GO to IS per cent of their pro-
ductlon to such business are now con-
s'dcrably exceeding these figures.
Ship Steel for Britain
Great Rritain's call for 100000 tons
Of ship steel is growing more urgent,
and for part Of this special considera-
ton has been ordered. A large order
of shell steel for the Allies is also
awaiting distribution. Meantime an
arrangement has been made under
which the inquiries of Canadian roads
for 2S5,000 tons of rails will be with
drawn from the market. Much of this
will be placed in Canada and mills here
will relieve those in Canada Of a large
quantity of shell steel.
Steel ingot production is estimated
at ",525.O00 tons on the basis of re-
turns from twenty-ninc companies,
making SIS to 90 per cent of the total.
The chief item of interest in the mar
ket for ship plates is the agreement
under which 100000 tons will 70 to
Japan in exchange for ships Half of
this, it is asserted, is to be covered by
existing contracts, with much of the
material now in storage on the Pacific
Coast ready for immediate shipment,
and half is to be put through under
new contracts"