The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-11-15
Iron REVIEW
Special Dispatch to The Trtcl!iEcn""r.

Special LISnntrh 10 Inc inl'l''E"H'FE.
NEW YORK. Nov. 14.---Thc Iron Ago
will Sar tOmnrrnw:--Thc Steel trnd" 20
now confronted with problems NJ r''h~
fu"tm"nt Of prices and uses OF steel
greater than any with which II h"
ever dealt For tho first tim" IL it's
history il cntcrs on n transition period
with government agencies in practical
control Of production and Distribution.
Washington has already announced
tho martial or entire removal OF tho
cstrictiona on certain lines OF stool c''n-
sumption. following tho actual or tho
scheduled cancellation or large quaint
ties OF war steel"
Shell steel and hrrhnd wire contracts
have boon first to feet IN" wni'nG "f
ncocc Other hundreds Of thousands Or
tons Of tho former WIFI he Cancelled and
tho mills should soon hr almost "ntiT"iv
through with that product. som" Sh"ii
steel In tho hands nf the forErrS may
have rn he diverted to other uses. II thi*
is possible.
On the invitation OF the War indus
tries board tho general steel committee
Of the American Iron and steel tnS''thte
is in washington today to confer on me
steps TO bc taken in getting the lhnNS' r?
from practically 100 percent war haS!a
needs will figure largely
Tho question Of prices is having SOY
ious considerations That they viii como
down is generally expected. anu th"r" ~
a strong sentiment in tho industry Tor n
continuance Of conference relations h"-
twcnn the War Industries Eoa-'l ard IN"
mnnn n ctururS. Whether gradual re-
auctions vii! stimulate buying is cues
tion, but IA thor" is no diS7"Sl'irn
either To huy or sell On large scale
that issue Is not pressing.
Otncial Washington. il is known M"
no, been friendly to the present Jewel nt
maintained prices. hut they wcro con-
scented 70 because It was imp"nitivc 7"
hiring every ton OF productive capac'ty
into action. II they arc cut materially
certain high cost plants might hc tnrcrd
out OF operation and thrfr labor thrown
idle tust az thousands Of mcn are h"nE
, released from War service. On the oth'r
hand intcsrntGd producers could stand
considerably lower prices. Under pres
emf conditions the labor adjustment ia
not liable tn como until tho liuuidnti"n
OF product has proceeded some distance.
A call from many quarters has c'ne
to Washington for the ilIing Of mini
mum prices for the period OF transition,
but IL Is pointed out that no legal nm
chiner,- exists to enforce such stahaiiz'
Z
ing.
The fact that thc country Is barn OF
merchant stocke while those nr manu-
ferturrrs arc nlso In many caH.S MT low
Dniot will aid IN thr start from now
nricc level. In 1907 when 'h" steel
trade co-op"ratcd through the Cary d'n-
ncrs. warehouses and manufacturers
floors were lnadcd with rrrrr form "F
finished irnn and steel hdnEht NJ t"7
prices.
In sopne limos buyers have alrcndy ,p-
prarrd Stocks Of rivcts scrcwH nuts
and bolts and kindred supplies need re-
plcnishmcnt and manufa ctur'rs in such
| lines have willingly paid current rrt""H
TO gct material long denied them under
! thu priority regime.
| The wire trade haS seen some fnNn"
Of this sort Now that The need divert
ing their ingots and -hillGts 10 Elun'ti"n"
uses Is past wire mills will be- III posi-
! ton to supply their ordinary trnd" Ntrp
| considerable vacancies on order hn"!S
! being caused by barbcd wire canc"llA~
lions.
| The cancellation Of orders dntiCC hack
many months Is q question with num-
Der ~ mills Some uf these NJ" H."und
&c for bars. for example. aud III" mills
! cannot ,,rt out whole on prcson! costs.
7
would like 10 cancel. SO far as those
latter contracts were for export. some
mills are disposed 10 insist on their
carrying out.
Tho promise from WaShinr'"n thai
DISPLACED labor ~ munitions plants VIII
be nut IN work rn shys Is discounted by
the known shortage uF housing fnr ship
ward workers. In other rc"p""t9. nlsn
! Washington ASSURANCE. nr" very 'nd"H-
mite and cannot +" otherwise.
That accumulated export orders would
quickly replace war w"r'; NJ III" %'"'"l
! mills has boon IN" h"l": al along. and
there Is. 4 Enrd sized tnnnaC" waf'HE.
hut much ~ u is business on which the
mills could not turn a"tund quickly.
Jaran il expected Ia h" promptly IN IL"
market.
1t IS interest ling in IN" c"nnr"tinn ~
know that London has aIr'HIiy r"r"i!"d
injuries from Belgium fnr $'"ct rr".