Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-06
Pipe Situation Serious.

The following is from the market
letter sent out by Captain Lucey oI
the Lucev Manufacturing company
who Is very active in WashlhBtoh
and therefore is in close touch WI"
the situation: o
THE inevitable shortage OF steer,
which we referred to in our FORMER
trade letters, has developed even
more acutely than was anticipated
and the government has notiileu
steel makers that its requirements
must be met, even to the exciusion
of all other business. with the result
that many Of the larger mllls aIe
now devoting their entire proauc-
ton TO government orders. Inc
steel tonnage required FOR war puI-
poses is enormous, and ORDERS arr
being continuously placed in greater
volume daily. That these require
ments must be flied, and promptly,
is obvious and it Is equally clea,
that less essential demands must
suffer H..
bar mills for some time past
have been unable TO furnish large
sizes, especially rounds, Tor orul-
nary commercial purposes. due "
the fact that their equipment SUIT
able for making these sizes was pc
ing onsrated exclusively on GOV erh-
ment orders for shells, etc. They
have been, however, able to supply
with reasonable promptness, the
smaller sizes of. bars. Today the
situation is different, as 1t Is not
question OF mill equipment but or
shortage, OF steel, and consequently
the effect is being felt In an
branches OF steel manufacture. Mills
that have been accustomed 10 quo'e
on our inquiries have WITHIN the
last few days advised us that they
had withdrawn from the market ana
were unable to accept further busl-
ness due to government oruers, anu
while this is particularly true with
the larger companies. We flnd that
the smaller mills are also pelhS
similarly affected.
1T is practically impossible 10
place orders for sheets, and at the
present time several OF the Dig roll
ing mills are operating 100 per cent
on orders for war material, whiie
about rs per cent OF all mil pro-
duction is being turned over TO the
government. Furthermore. nearly
every rolling mill in the country mas
Deen DOOhcu llOHlhS HhNNN ~
some time, and their schedules have
been further advanced on account
of the railroad embargoes and fuel
conditions, so even though the steel
situation was not so alarming there
still would be an extreme shortage
OF sheets of all kinds.
''It is apparent that unless some
preference is given to the steel re-
quirement.s of the oil industry that
we will face a most serious aitua-
ton. as the tube mills will be unable
to obtain sufficient steel to make
tubular goods. The f-contained
mills will be unable to roll in the
skelp steel they produce as they will
be compelled to divert this into max
ing plates for shipbuilding or some
other recognized essential industry,
and the pipe mills that depend on
outside sour ces for the skelp will
find themselves unable to secure 1t.
As an illustration OF the present
the La Belle iron works
have had 10 close down 20 per cent
of their pipe finishing mills for the
reason that they have been instruct
ed to use their steel in making ship
plates In preference to pipe. If,
however, we are successful in hav-
ing instructions issued by Washing