New Britain herald., 1918-01-25
Steel and Pig
 Iron Markets

With so large a part of their pro- duet, particularly in heavy lines, go- ing to the government or it's allies, or to plants having government con- tracts. the iron and steel industries felt less than others the closing down order of the fuel administration. Fresh snows and intense cold com blned to aggravate the freight block ades, as the order went into effect, and made more difficult any measure of it's effects
 It is estimated that the five days ending Tuesday brought a curtailment or 10 to per cent from the already restricted rate of recent weeks. Probably 70 per cent of the blast furnace open-hearth steel and coke oven capacity was kept in operation, but all Bessemer plants were down, the government not buying converter product, and only such rolling mills were run as had been engaged in pro- ducing for ships and shells, including plate mills and some structural and boiler tube mills.
 Not only is there great perplexity owing to the new priorities in fuel, but some observers see the steel trade drifting into state of helplessneSs that bodes no good even for some work considered important to the war. Exemptions from the closing order do not meet the case if fuel needed to keep iron and steel works going has been diverted to uses higher up on the preferred list.
 There has been prompt and gener- ally strict compliance with the Gar field order not only by producers but manufacturer consumers of iron and steel. Blast furnaces were consid- cred exempt, and open hearth fur naces in many cases produced much more steel than would take care of exempted rolled product the re- mainder going into stock ingots. Rolling mill operation was much cur tailed.
 The steel trade sees the bearing of the weeks events on the effort at Washington to have steel production and prices put under the same execu- tive control that now exists in food and fuel opinion being that the chances of the Pomerene bill have not been helped by the results of central ized power over fuel.
 As a result of the country's engross- ment with the throwing of millions of workers into idleneSS the steel market has had fewer transactions than in months
 A large amount of structural steel for Government work is under inquiry. Government needs in France are still unsatisfed. Inquiries on behalf of the Signal corps call for 800 buildings. December bookings of fabricatins, works were apparently more than in November when the high record of the year, v per cent. of capacity was made.
 Some agricultural implement manu- facturers have come into the market for early requirement. in both soft and hard steel bars, on a scale pointing to large production in the coming sea- son. In the auton obiIe trade a rather more hopeful view is taken, some makers looking for about 50 per cent of their normal output.
 Government awards are being made on 4,400 cars for use in France, 400 being of narrow gage.
 Some buyers of finishe steel for commercial uses have found it easier to place contracts for plates shapes, sheets and bars and mills have been rather more inclined to accept export business on which permits have been obtainable.
 Comment has been passed on the ac- tion of the Navy department in seek ing bids on various products included in the official price schedule, but not among the few on which prices were specifically announced by the president It does not appear, however that bid ders are actually naming competitive prices in such cases
 Selling of pig iron for second half delivery is of larger proportions. One interest sold 10000 tons in eastern Pennsylvania for such delivery and other considerable sales have been made in New York. The average furnace however, prefers to know more about the prices that will apply after April 1. At St. Louis a 10000 ton sale of basic iron for the last half was made by a local furnace. Tn the Central West the pig iron scarcity is more marked and output in the Pittsburgh district has been scarcely more than 60 per cent.
 Government continuance of the cap per price of 23.5 is announced at last, though for some time foreseen in the trade The extension is to June 1.