The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-17
STEEL MILLS TUNED
TO HIGHEST PITCH
Production This Month Is Ex-
pected to Establish New
Record.
ING0T OUTPUT GROWS
Trade Reviews Point to Big
After War Business
Coke Plants Lag.
INGOT OUTPUT GROWS

The steel mills are now being tuned
up to the highest possible pitch, accord
Ing to the weekly trade reviews, and are
not worrying much over business after
the war. even II there should be a
sudden cessation OF hoetilities. In ana
Tying the situation after the war the
Iron Age says the view Is that apart
from shell steel, in which an early peace
would cause some cancellations, the ma
terials now most In demand, with re-
spect to Industrial and equipment needs.
would show no great falling or. Con-
tinuing the publication says:
Under cancellation clauses Govern
ment munition contracts could be cut
down and the manufacturers reim-
bursed yet II is pointed out that in n
good many cases manufacturers made
plant extensions for war work without
any guarantee OF reimbursement. In
any event conpensating payments by
the Govefnmert would not keep workers
employed. and It Is conceded that in
some lines an early peace would cause
unsettlement and a process OF readjust-
ment.
with the whole metal working indus
try so largely serving the Government
the bid for peace has had no effect on
production, though undeniably It has
caused many manufacturers to think
more sharply concerning plans for the
transition period.
The existence Of Government price
fixing machinery Is counted on to sta
bilize 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 recog-
nize the entrance OF new possibilities
into the situation. At the same time
the dominant note in the entire indus
try Is the continued 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 represent
ing IS per cent. Of the countrys capacity
producing 100000 tons, which is at
the rate for the whole industry OF
nearly 100000 tons a year. On that
basis the shortage 90 long advertised
from Washington Is materially dimin-
ished."
The Iron Trade RepieU tomorrow will
say:
htbuIicu 70 tTcSiueHL " iEOHb uc-
mands for n peace based on a complete
military decision. production OF iron and
steel for war requirements is going for
ward at top speed. The output OF the
mills and furnaces now more clearly re-
fleets the intensive efforts put forth by
the Government and the manufacturers
to surmount the obstacles that had been
holding IL back. October bids fair to
uphold its traditional position as the
years banner month for operating re-
suits. Blast furnaces are running at a
pace which II sustained will give the
present month the largest tonnage of pig
iron in the history Of the country. Steel
works likewise have a good chance to. es-
tablish n new high record. September
ingot statistics just put out show rate
OF production equivalent to 45.500. 600
tons annually. Tho performances OF the
finishing mills are equally good
Coke still supplies the one unsatisfac-
tory side OF the picture, as the unstable
ity Of labor apparently remains an effec-
tive deterrent. New demands from Gen.
Pershing created BY the allied. advance
continue TO flow 20 the mills and are be-
ing rSshed ahead with all speed