The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-21
STEEL MILLS READY
; FOR PEACE ORDERS
Cancellation Of Many War
Contracts Opens Market
to Civilians.
IN HASTE TO FILL GAP
Buyers Expected to Be Con-
sentative Until Prices Are
=. Readjusted.

Tho steel industry r. making haste TO
Ill the ssps created By Government can
cellations. ITS work In this respect has
been aided considerably by the abolish
ing OF a prioritles except those on ner-
chant ships, and thus a FREQ market has
practically been established While the
industry! u therefore prepared to deVote
itself to the fllftng Of peace orders
there stfn remains q. certain conserva-
tlsm on the part of buyers which must
be overcome before the final readjustS
fnert has been made. Peace orders. a6-
cording to the Iron Age, have not by
any means filled. the gap created by
Government cancellations, which in the
very nature OF things are coming with
increasing frequency. The Iron Age IN
It's weekly review says.
THE decision Of those in control Of
the steel industry at WASHINGTON to
sweep away the whole scheme Of prfori-
ties apart from those on merchant ship,
railroad and navy material brings back
AT a stroke a substantially free market
With as yet, no formulated policy as 70
the stopping OF war work cancellations
have como In plenty. The industry Is
hopeful on several grounds, but IL does
not know yet H,hether sufficient new
orders will come In the next month or
two to make good what the Govern
ment and its contractors have cut Of.
Shell steel. wire. rails and car ma
terfst represent the largest cancels.
tons. The allied Governments have no
heavy shell shipments coming through,
but the British policy IL 20 stop every
thing that is not more than 30 per cent.
finished, ordering all such product to be
realized on at scrap values.
NJ. n-a- -
The 10000 cars md 1900 ioeomo-
tfves placed hurriedly last month for
the 1919 American campalSn In France
have now been cancelled. There IL held
up also about 100000 tons Of rails for
the Pershing forces that will not now be
needed.
The steel manufacturers conference
at Washington With the War Industries
Board last week developed mutual SEN
iiment In favor OF continued coopera-
ton, but less encouraging was the stand
taken by the Railroad Administration
against buying further equipment until
iron and steel prices come down.
mot only manufacturers OF steel
but tobbers and manufacturing con-
sumers as well take the position that
the situation should be allowed to de-
velon In It's own way.
- iOi piOuuCSTb III NaTIDuH QlB-
tricts are strenuously' opposing can
cellatiops even where the Government
has suspended work on the castings for
which the pig iron was bought The
argument OF the founiries is that while
the mon might be used on ordinary work
they expect TO be able to buy fl az
lower than present Government prices.
The slogan throughout the pig iron trade
Is No cancellation without oompensa-
ton
''T'he effects Of the, stoppage Of Gov.
err1rnent work are not pronounced as yet
but some Ben are appearing every day
at steel works gates seeking employ
ment. There Is some noticeable change
also in the attitude OF workmen both as
to amount of output and compliance with
discipline.
AS 10 prices. buying Is with such care,
and so far for immediate needs that lit
tie change has developed except in scrap.
Here a yielding OF 81 to So . ton has
been seen on heavy melting steel and
the softenlng In old materials Is likely
to go further.
Automobile manufacturers seem TO
be making all haste to resume normal
activities and are Urging prompt ship
ments of sheets."