New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-25
Steel and Pig
Iron Markets

naces and steel works have improved
steadily. The leading producer in the
Pittsburgh district had SO per cent? of
its rated blast furnace capacity active
last week and SO per cent of it's Bes~
semer and open-hearth steel capacity.
lille all companies did not do SO we'll,
it is probable that April production of
both pig iron and steel will exceed the
excellent showing made in March.
These results will attract more than
usual attention now that the govern
ment is calling for an increasing pro-
portion of the output. The Carnegie
Steel Co. is now giving war REQUIRE
ments practically 100 per cent. of it's
rolled products and at other Central
Western plants IS to 80 per cent. OF
the shipments are on government ac~
count
Surprisingly little is heard of hard
ship to any metal working industry
because steel mills are paying small
attention to ordinary trade. Stocks
are playing a part now that will be
missed later. But there is no doubt
of the gradual shrinkage of consump-
ton in less essential lines. Pleasure
autom bibles are conspicuous eN-
ample.
When the railroad administration is
satisfied IS to the margin of profit it
can safely allow, the railroad car
orders will probably come out. It is
not unlikely that Canadian car build
ers will participate and help make UP
the loss of several weeks of car pro-
duction due to Nashington's delays.
Were conditions normal, this sharing
of government business with Canadian
makers protected against American
cars by q, high tariff wall would call
for more than passing notice.
The barb Wire needs of the Allies
have svelled to 10000 tons, of which
10000 tons go to italy, While 10000
tons are now being distributed for
France. AS yet the United States has
not entered the market For the next
four or five months more steel will
have to be diverted to the wire mills
than has lately been the case, and the
general demand for wire products will
be harder to satisfy.
Bolt and nut manufacturers have
been much in conference lately. Of
129, 900, 900 bolts wanted by the gov
eminent to send abroad, IS per cent.
will be shipped promptly from stock
and the remainder will be put in pro-
cess soon. About IS per cent. of bolt
and nut and rivet capacity is just now
on war work.
The sheet bar shortage has grown
worse and because of the large amount
Of sheet output going to the govern
ment fully 80 per cent. of the capacity
is out of the market. A large order
for galvanized sheets is pending and
one for painted corrugated sheets may
run to $4,000 tons.
The American Shipbuilding Co. has
taken contract to build 6 vessels of
Welland Canal size for delivery from
May to August, 1919. They will re-
quire 100000 tons of plates and struc-
tural shapes.
AS an example Of shifting from work
for the Allies, a plant at Cleveland has
just finished a large contract for shells
for France begun in 1915, and is now
turning to a similar contract for the
governme at Washington
Car scarcity is still pronounced, par
ticularly in the South, where tens Of
thousands of tons of pig iron which
the buyers need accumulates at fur
naces. Merchant stocks in Alabama
were fully 100000 tons on April t.
The Ordnance Departn ent is inqllir-
ing for 10000 tons Of Besserner pig
iron for France, deliveries from June
to Septembe Der. Basic iron is being
sought high and low, with little sue
cess. A Central Western steel foun-
dry is in the market for 5000 tons and
an Erie (Pa.) forge will only get the
5000 tons it needs for early use by
government intervention.
More and more pig iron is being
moved on definite governm ent iTstruc-
tons and ordinary consumers are less
and less certain of getting what they
have bought
The prohibition of ferromanganese
imports effective May 3 suggests that
along with the curtailment of the
manganese ore movement from Brazil
there is danger that the margin Of
safety may be cut too fine.