The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-05
ALLIED VICTORIES
STIR STEEL MEN
They Stimulate Production. but
Greater Quantities Needed
for War and Trade.
RUSH ORDER FOR SHELLS
-
Labor Situation Still a Prob.
lem to Be Solved-Reviews
Of Trade Papers.
RUSH ORDER FOR SHELLS

The forward movement Of the Allies
on the western front Is stimulating the
production Of war steel. according to the
weekly trade reviews. but big problems
OF production and operation remain on
the horizon. with the labor factor pc
culiarly important. In fact the labor
question is uppermost at every gather
Ing of iron and steel manufacturers
The Iron Trade Revteto will say to-day:
AS the allied line moves forward in
France redoubled efforts aGe being made
to speed UP the production OF war steel
The continued shifting OF finishing mill
operations is providing more raw steel
for shell forms. ship plates and other
primary needs Big problems of pro-
duct,on and operation. however. remain
on the horizon. The labor factor has
become peculiarly important. Any lim!-
taton OF the workday. II Is declared
would be disastrous to maximum pro-
duction and to the vigorous conduct of
the war.
plans continue to be developed 10
impress the foundries of the country
into making cast shells on a gigantic
scale For the Government 100000
2 inch and 100000 6 inch cart shells
are wanted as quickly as possible. and
an equal number of similar sizes for
more extended delivery for the Allies.
Pig iron output last month was $780,
SIS tons. against 3.40S,5Si tons IN July.
The record breaking number Of active
furnaces In blast continues to grow.
The total in August was $40. compared
with 1854 in July"
Labor Problems Bob Up.
THE August 2s meeting OF iron and
steel manufacturers in New York" says
the Iron Age. was occupied solely with
the labor question. and the matter OF
possible price changes for the last quar-
ter Of the year was not touched. Lead
ers in the industry realize that even tho
present insufficient rate Of production
cannot be maintained unless special
measures are taken In connection with
the new draft. More important still Is
the maintenance OF existing hours and
the safeguarding Of the industry for the
period of the war against such restric-
lions OF output as have commonly &C
companied union control. Some OF the
recent Washington decisions of labor is-
sues have evidently not taken into ac-
count the grave consequences to the war
programme which would result from
wide enforcement Of such findings in the
steel and metal working trades.
THE conference on iron and steel
pflCcS Det"ecH tH0 BeHerdi bteel CO.ll-
mittee and tho War Industries Board Is
appointed for september IS at Washing
ton. An all day meeting Of the COM
mittee in New York will be followed BY
others at which the requests Of various
groups of manufacturers for higher
prices will be considered.
Ore ships Now Hauling Grain.
THE Lake Superior ore movement in
August fell 934. 900 tons below that OF
July. owing to the diversion of vessels
from ore to grain. Yet With 8,725,0oO
tons moved last month. against 1859
900 tons in July. tho total for the sea son
UP to September I was the greatest on
record-39. 1874. 900 tons. against 3S.2l5,-
600 tons to September 1 in the previous
high year. 1916. The fact that some pig
iron producers have not bought ore
enough TO carry them to next May.
when 1919 ore comes down, indicates the
beginning Of calculations based on a
| marked change in the war situa tion.
Representatives Of the mallea BILE cast
ings industry at a meeting In New York
August 80 adopted prices. making a
number of revisions In the existing
schedule. and these will be recommen ded
to the War Industries Board.
THE threatened inventory of the coun-
try's stocks of finished steel has been
ordered by the War Industries Board
Manufacturing consumers of rolled iron
down to the smallest holdings Com
Wandering of surplus stocks for war
purposes Is probable next step"