New Britain herald., 1918-05-09
Steel and Pig
Iron Markets
The Iron Age says:

The steel trade is coming quickly
into the new stride on war work. Even
those of it's leaders who were in the
best position to gage the Govern
ment's demands in the remainder OF
the year were surprised at the SIZE or
the job cut out for them by the ar
Industries Board. There was almost
equal surprise at Washington At the
final showing after four months eff
forts to get estimates from Allies, the
Army, the Navy, Railroad Admins
tration and all essential industries.
Buying of iron and steel for gen
eral use has stopped short. NO con-
Stunning industry is reported closed,
but some are plainly marked for re-
striction. The pleasure automobile
output will be cut down greatly. Pig
iron shipments to stove and sanitary
euuipment foundries are likely to be
curtailed.
There is still the belief that 60
days concentration OH war needs ana
the appeal this may make to work
men 20 increase output will relieve
the situation in no small degree by
July /. An important steel company
is passing the pledge for full CO.
operation with the Government down
the line through it's operating de-
partments as we'll as its sales organ
ization, to be individually signed.
On the other hand some items In
the government schedule are growing.
The steel that must be sent to Great
Britain and France on General Perish
ing's pledges is now put at 1,250,Ooo
tons, an increase of 500, 900 tons over
the estimate Of four weeks ago In
the past week General Pershlng has
cabled for 100000 tons of rails, and
of these $4,000 tons will be supplied
from the 67h -lb rails rolled for
Russia and still stored in this coun-
try. A Pennsylvania mill will roll
the remaining $4,000 tons in SO-lb.
sections.
The April pig-iron statistics bear
favorably on the war steel situation,
showing the largest months output
since May, 1917. At S,2SS,211 tons
in the 80 days of last month, produc-
ton was at the rate Of 109, 607 tons
a day, against 3.213,9o1 tons in March
or 1o3,s4s tons a day. The gain was
thus nearly 5000 tons day.
On May !, with 354 furnaces in
blast, an increase of 10 in the month,
production was at the rate of 113, 440
tons a day, which would mean A.
400. 600 tons; Of coke iron in year
In 1917 the production Of coke iron
was 3S,270.0o0 tons. Such gain
over last years rate Is highly signifl-
cant.
Though the figures are not yet COM
piled, it is known that the steel ingot
production in April made good in
crease over the record in March.
Two steel companies have labor
disputes on hand involving several
thousand men and inquiry will be
made by the National War Labor
loard at Washington this week. Adj
.iustment is expected, though in one
case, the S-hour day comes up as a
new issue.
Of 100000 tons Of shell steel al
ready allocatcd for 1918, shipments
ih1s, far amount to 100000 tons.
This shell steel total is likely to
leave as a by-product upward of L.
10000 tons Of relatively high-car-
bon material---the discard made arbi
trarily as we'll as otherwise under the
specifications. 1t is suggested that
this should be utilized in some war
products, as barb wire angle stakes,
in spite of more difficult fabrication
than with soft steel. Part of the dis
card accommodations at mills may be
moved. though only now and then. in
concrete reinforcing bars and in light
rails under the subordinated classes
of business.
Pig-iron producers at a meeting in
Cleveland, May 3: mapped out a plan
which will put that industry under
rs close direction as now exists i'll
steel making. A survey Of all blast
furnace order books already started
will be completed. A similar inquiry
into the uses consumers Of pig iron
are making Of the metal shipped will
follow. Some adaptation of the zone
system Of coke shipments may be
made to save long hauls but there is
pig, iron and pig iron and this method
has, it's limitations