The sun., 1918-08-08
STEEL DISTRIBUTION
NOW BIG PROBLEM
Labor Handling Looms Up as
a Bothersome Question
to Solve. ....
NAY SHAKE UP SYSTEM
Government Places Orders for
100000 Tons Steel Rails
Reviews of Week.

That grave consequences are involved
:, the handling OF the labor question as
r.,ated 10 the steel industry is now more
.,,dsrt than ever will be asserted to-day
nv the Iron Age, which describes as the
mae, important event Of the week In the
stsel trade the award OF the War Labor
BOARD to the machinists of the Bethle-
ham Steel Company. This award. the
trade review says, involves an eight hour
a,v. collective bargaining and the re-
vision or discontinuance Of the bonus
system. 1t brings Up the whole ques-
ton OF the use OF war exigencies, ac-
eordlns to this authority. to unionize
open shope. and OF the extent to which
the carrying out of the plans Of militant
unionism is to be put before united ef-
fort 10 hasten the ending OF the war
The United States Government, It was
harmed Yesterday. has distributed orders
for 200, 900 tons Of steel rails among va
,,ous makers. The United States Steel
Corporation obtained $4,000 tons. The
bethlehem Steel Corporation received
$4,000 tons and the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company. Cambria Steel and Lack
awanna Steel companies got 10000 tons
each.
.In respect to steel supply and de-
nand," the Iron Age says, 1.-The outcome
OF the week has been, first, a decision by
the War Industries Board averse to Gre
atng the additional reservoir Of ship
steel asked for by Director-General
Schwab; second. the gathering Of data
that nj
ished rolled steel which has been taken
az tho present annual capacity of the
country is considerably too low. In one
stretch Of five weeks chiefly in May. 1t
Is shown that the rate was close to 49,
100000 tons of finished products per
year.
Million Tons of ship Steel.
st appears that the ship steel in
process or in stock at shipyards and fab
ricating plants amounts to about 1,000.-
900 tons While the War Industries
Board did not consent to increase the
present shipment of $4,000 tons week
Of ship plates by 10000 tons a week
through the next quarter, or even by the
10000 tons week later asked for. It's
members are confident there will be no
break In the shipbuilding programme for
lack OF steel
THE deciding influence in the matter
was the fear OF members OF the board
that the impounding Of additional def
mite tonnage for ship purposes might
mean the suspension OF small but in the
aggregate important private industries.
Ways and means of increasing steel
production have been carefully studied.
But coal and coke labor are still the key
rather than extensions Of rolling mill
capacity. So far as the latter Is con-
oerned probably 100000 tons more will
be ready by January l. chiefly In plates,
but partly In large rounds. the Steel
Corporation now having $750,0o0 mill
for this purpose under construction in
the Pittsburg district.
Work Is now under way also on
10000 tons OF structural steel for the
first sections Of the Neville Island gun
plant, which will take probably three
years to build and equip In its entirety.
Foreign Demands for Steel.
france wants $4,000 tons OF shell
steel, part in December. but most OF 1t
in the first quarter OF 1919. For Jap
anese Government railroads the call Is
for $4,000 steel tires. The additional
cars for the American expeditionary
forces have been allocated.
THE distribution OF 100000 tons OF
rails for the Pershing operations in
France has just been made. the leading
interest receiving $4,000 tons and the
remainder going to four independent
mills. The plan to turn at once to rails
several mills that have been rolling
large rounds has just been changed to
take care OF $4,000 tons Of shell steel
that must be turned out in August.
July tin plate production, estimated
at 5000, 900 boxes. held up remarkably
we'll The annual rate is now not far
from 100000 net tons"
Pig Iron Turnout q Record.
The Iron Trade Reuteto tomorrow
will say:
Distribution more than production is
the present steel problem. Washington
now points out. This version of the sit
uAtion comedies with the opinions re-
peatedly expressed by leading producers.
1t was emphasized effectively this week
when Ship Director Schwab, seeking
100000 tons to be added during the next
three months to his precautionary sup
ply, was compelled to content himself
with $4,000 tons. The War Industries
Board considered the 100000 tons al
ready In the shipping Boards reservoir
III a'ilple insuIdHCe against WlHtcT CoH-
tngencies. incidentally the tonnage in
reserve is sufficient to build 100000
tons of steel ships. The striking fact
was brought out that the present dellv-
cries of plates and shapes for army,
navy and commercial needs represents
only per cent of the tonnage going
10 the ship programme. The remainder
Is being absorbed by the railroads, Al
lies and neutrals Production Is. max
ing fine record.
The restricting effect Of the intense
neat has been less than usual. owing TO
the loyalty Of employees in sticking TO
their tasks. The blast furnaces in July
turned out more pig iron than In any
similar month In history. The output
was 2,4ll,59S tons, gain Of 95.54O
IONS over June. The number OF fur
haces now in blast, 1854. IL the largest
ever known under conditions of modern
production. The lake feet moved TO-