New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-10-17
Steel and Pig
Iron Markets
The Iron Age says today:

What would come to the steel in
dustry from a sudden ending of the
war has been a large factor in the
trade comment Of the week, yet not a
disturbing one. Generally the view is
taken that apart from shell steel, in
which an early peace would cause
some cancellations, the materials now
I most in demand would show no great
falling off in government shipbuilding
would go on and rail and railroad
equipment contracts would keep many
mills busy for months.
Under cancellation clauses, govern
ment munition contracts could be cut
down and the manufacturers reirn-
bursed; yet it is pointed out that in
good many cases manufacturers
made plant extensions for war
ing plans for the transition period
There is no abatement of the gov
cept the SIS concession On steel bars.
would not keep workers employed
and it is conceded that in some lines
an early peace would cause unsettle-
ment and a process Of readjustment
With the whole metal working in
dustry so largely serving the govern
ment, the bid for peace has had no
effect on production, though unde-
niably it has caused many manufac-
turers to think more sharply concern
ing plans for the transision period.
The existence of government price
fixing machinery is counted on to sta
Billie the market when war demand
falls off; but there has been some evil
dence this week, particularly in pig
iron and in old material, that buyers
recognize the entrance of new posi-
bilities into the situation.
At the same time the dominant note
in the entire industry is the continual
concentration of all effort on increased
production of pig iron and steel, the
belief being general that there will be
a war demand for some months to
come for all the steel that can be
shipped to France.
Steel ingot production in September
made a much greater gain than was
shown in pig iron, companies repre-
senting IS per cent. of the countrys
capacity producing 100000 TONS
which is at the rate, for the whole in
dustry, of nearly 100000 tons a
year. On that basis the shortage so
long advertised from Washington is
materially diminished.
Influenza has further cut down
operations in eastern Pennsylvania
plants, TWO plate mills having IOSC
several turns in the week. In the
Pittsburgh district the epidemic has
been felt to a less extent, the leading
interest suffering a loss of about Z
per cent. of its working force. Indi-
cations are that the production
records usual in October will suffer.
There is no abatemen of the gov
eminent demand for shipments to
France. A new order calls for 10000
to 5000 tons of portable track for
France, or double the amount taken
in the previous week for the same
purpose.
A few Central Western implem ent
manufacturers are not disposed to ac
cept thee SIS concession on steel bars,
since it involves an agreement not to
raise the price of their product for
next year, and this they are not will
ing to give.
The iron ore movement from Lake
Superior will be nearly over by Nov.
/, according to present plans, or
month earlier than usual, and the
total will probably fall 100000 tons
short of last years, With pig iron
production increasing, stocks on Lake
Erie docks and in furnace yards are
likely to be considerably less next
spring than in several years.