New Britain herald., 1918-05-04
6teel and Pig
Iron Markets

fhe iron Age says:
rhe pledge of all the leading steel
Inufacture.s of the country given
New York last week to the direct
[of steel purchases, to operate on
Eernment orders to the exclusion
! commercial business is the most
mentous development of the war
AFFECTING the industry. -. --
IS with price fixing the action is in
form Of an agreement, but back
Is degree of pressure that has
appeared previously in any of
governments dealing with the
trade. The War Industries
erd,, having tolerated for some time
losing opinions on the question
Pther there has been a scarcity of
tes and some other forms Of steel
4ded by the government, has now
ed for an actual demonstration. by
concentration of blast furnaces,
works and rolling mills upon
work. To every members of the
Lbrican Iron and Steel Institute a
2ge form has been sent which is
mise to subordinate all CONNER
demands to government require
is, and a practically unanimous
onse is expected.
he estimate of the War Industries
lrd that recent mill deliveries on
ernment oders have been at the
of 100000 tons a year or
~ O
es as war work all railroad re-
ements and those for agricultural
ement plants, mines, oil wells and
" other essential operation. This
Id construction makes the new
by less drastic than some sensa-
IL statements have indicated.
B closing down of metal
rs has resulted as yet, but it is
table that stoppings in non-es-
al lines will come soon. Jobbers
flair Shipments from some finish
mills in April and their stocks
help to postpone shutdowns.
BIT only will plate output, which is
special object of government
srn, be kept to the high rate of
but pig iron and steel from
Is in other lines will be shipped
hate mill operations to swell
output Thus steel makers
e product may not at a given
be 100 per cent. for the govern
will not be allowed to turn to
nercial business.
1cia1 stress is put upon the
int of stell this country must de-
to it's Allies, including 100000
of plates to Great Britain, 900
1ons ito Japan, $4,000 tons to
and considera BILE to Canada. In
on is half million tons in other
owed to Great Britain and
20. ..-
bre is the opinion among pro-
that q 60-day concentration
overnment orders will make it
lie to resume general business to
tent. The War Industries Board
not encourage that view, even
biting that summer operations
provide against the chances al
looming up of a fuel and car
.ge next winter.
plan is to hold the steel men
Nv to their pledge and a close
will be kept on all deliveries
1diyidual account. 1t is not
oked at the same time that al
Ice must be made for the wants
hsI1mers who make stock prod
which are constantly drawn upon
bnufacturers directly or indirect
rking for the government.
cars already given out at
rgton or offered to the build
the basis of per cent. profit
n $4,000 to 10000 and the full
o in the original program will
cited. but car companies are
Enthusiastic over the bargain
by the government.
sthe rate at which rail mills
Bbeen able to deliver rails they
llv booked for all of 1919.
Sng with the concentration on
ment work in finished lines Is
move in pig iron. Production
ahead of shipments and stocks
Increase. In some districts 50
mt. of the movement is on Gov
Mt account and this promises TO