New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-04
March Pig Iron
Output Shows a
Sharp Recover,
Government Demands fo,
Steel Make Ordinary Con.
sumption Incidental

An Unexpectedly rapid recovery from
the slump in pig iron production which
resulted early in tbs year from thu
! transportation tie-up, the fuel shortare
and wretched weather conditions is re-.
corded in the statistics regarding the
output during the month of March
The total output last month, according
to "The Iron Age Review" was 3.21s.
O91 tons. or 103,648 day, compared
with 2,411 1853, or 1879 tons a day. for
January, when the pig iron product ION
was the lowest since May, 1915.
Further Improvement is forecast for
April. "As the coke supply has in.
creased THE Iron Age Review'sn
summary of the week will saw
! to-day in explanation of the better.
ment, more furnaces have wheeled
into line, the net gain in the month
being "a. The "a coke iron fur.
naces in blast on April ! were produc.
ing at the rate of about 1906 800 tons
day. compared with an actual averare
production OF coke iron in the year lsl,
of l05,00o
Government Needs Predominant
"Thrce new modern blast furnaces
were put in operation last month, one
by the Lackawanna Steel COMPANY at
Buffalo; one by the Steel Corporation.
at Gary, Ind. and one by the Iroauos
Furnace Company, at South Chicago.
These additions emphasize the ten.
dcncy 20 give the larger furnaces full
supply of coke, while that OF smaller
stacks is more or loss irregular. Fur.
Their indication of the same policy is
the fact that the steel companies rate
of pig-iron output in March was 80 per
cent greater than in February. while
that of erchant furnaces was only u
per cent 81 eater
Government wants figure so largely
that ordinary consumption has become
quite incidental. The pending award
of 100 GOO cars, of which about half will
be box cars. is the immediate market
feature. A total of 100000 tons Of
plates and 100000 tons of shapes is
now the estimate on these orders, but
deliveries will be distributed over
many weeks
There is greater pressure from
Washington for ship plates, which
could have been produced fast enough
TO meet all needs had not plate mills
been compelled to close in January and
February while fuel went TO non essen
tial industries. Now plate mills are
notified that at least 10 per cent of
their output must go to government
work. AS TO the remaining % per cent
iull details mast 80 to Washington as
to shipments and consignees The long
delayed settlement with Japan involves
the shipment TO that country of 1905 900
tons of steel, mostly plates. Some of
THIS tonnage is already in storage on
the Pacific Coast, but the long-stand-
ing government embargo wiped off the
books many Japanese contracts at 9
cents and 10 cents for ship steel.
Non Essentials TO Suffer
"The new requirements section Of the
War Industries Board seems likely to
become coordinating factor Of first
Importance, eliminating by means Of
prlorltlcs the present competition in
purchases among government depart
ments. 1t still happens that mill gets
a percmptofy order TO ship in a few
weeks 2 KIND of product on which AL
orders are already booked for as many
months Of the plants capacity. Inde-
pendently of this, government an
nouncement has been made that fabr-
Gators are not to consider private build
ing projects having no war connection
or public buildings other than those for
the Fedora government, the broad in
tlmation being added that under prior.
ity rulings the steel would not be forth.
coming.
Express shipments Of tonnage pro-
ducts are still noted, not merely to
meet urgent demands, but TO secure
transportation which freight ombargoes
prohlblt. In some cases railroad pref
erence given to less than carload lots
has resulted in shipping full carloads
as made Of two OF three part loads and
OF course, at the higher freight rates"
AS II he Iron Trade Review" sees the
steel situation, "grimmer determine
'lon to fill promptly every demand
upon 1t is the answer of the iron and
s'eel industry 70 the supreme German
onslaught on the battlefield Of France.
ne government continues TO display
more vigorous attitude in following up
deliveries of steel and in eliminating
delays in the supplying of material
which may obstruct essential lines OF
manufacture. The extension Of Federal
price regulation 10 include railroad
supplies is expected in connection With
me governments large purchases OF
railroad equipment which are about to
be made. With the opening of lake
Navigation in sight, plans have been
crystalllzed TO smooth the way for
maximum ore movement during the
present season While March showed
q big gain in pig iron production, the
fgures tor the completed first quarter
strongly display the slump compared
with similar period last year. The
net loss is 1.133 DAB tons.