The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-01
WAR STEEL ORDERS
GROWING GREATLY
U. s. Board Strives for Speedy
and Effective Distribu.
ton of Product.
BIG TONNAGE FOR SHIPS
Inevitable Reduction in the
Amount Available for Other
Uses, Says "Iron Age"
BIG TONNAGE FOR SHIPS

The main fact An the iron and steel
situation, according TO the weekly trads
reviews. Is the increasing demand ,or
steel and with II an indefinite but in.
evitable reduction in the amount avail.
able for other uses. The Iron A NJ SAYS
In part:
between Government leaders In shin.
building, the Director Of Steel SupnIy
and the steel manufacturers commit.
tee had to do with means of increasing
the allotment Of steel to shipyards. In
view OF the charging programme for
the Schwab drive. At meeting in
Washington later in the week, plans will
be made to insure shipyard work agans.
interruption In the coming year, also 70,
the prevention OF lost motion through
competing efforts of Washington depart.
ments. the commanding general IN
France and the Allies.
THE large schedules of steel for Al.
rect and indirect war needs give weight
to the claim still widely made that all
governmental agencies concerned have
pu. their requirements at top figures In
spite Of repeated requests for pruning
In short, II deliveries meet schedule
figures. 1t is believed the reservoir would
be an ever filling one, unless the talked
of railroad breakdown should be really
serious The half years demand for
shell steel has risen to 5000 900 tons,
requiring a shipment rate probably Is
per cent. above that now obtaining. and
the plate total is close to Theoretical
capacity and about IL per cent. more
than the recent record outputs.
Steel Corporation Earnings.
1.-THE Steel Corporations net earnings
of S62.500.000 in the second quarter
plus nearly $91,000,O00 set aside for
Federal taxes. make total 70 per cent
greater than a similar total for the first
quarter, with it's drastic shutdowns in
January and February. The exhibit
even with the lavish allowance for war
taxes. Is striking testimony to the earn.
ing power Of a great integrated producer
on the present scale of Government
made prices Evidently the quarter in
cluded some deliveries at the higher
prices ruling before steel control set In
last September.
THE 10 per cent. wage Increase an
nounced by the Steel Corporation was a
surprise to the independent companies
from which like action may be expected
as heretofore. Five other 10 per cent
advances in the past thirty months AMI
one of Is per cent. make the new wage
1903 per cent. higher than that paid on
January /, 1915. The Steel Corporation
pace OF wage increase adds to the prob
lem OF some small producers, who are
pinched by Government prices on which
the Corporation can make large profits
washington has come to the help ot
the jobbers, many of whom wer" Jet
with small stocks owing to poor de-
liveries in recent months. For August
the Director of Steel Supply permits
tp no ~
ments equal to their average in Tie
first six months Of the year. Beginning
with September. however, the War IN
dustries Boards plan becomes effective
permitting the replacement each month
OF the amount shipped by the johber
from stock for Government and essen.
tial purposes in the preceding mouth
Distribution of Steel.
additional steps have been taken
by the War Industries Board" says The
IRON Trade RerieU. ito insure speedy
and effective distribution OF existing
productions. To this end regulations
have been issued providing for auto
matte priority classfiCations of m
portant groups OF war steel orders, COW
ering many essential purposes. THIS
new system enables sworn Government
officials and manufacturers to CLASSIFY
their own business and is expected 10
speed up shipments
"Direct and indirect war orders grow
apace. The largest tonnage is for ship
steel, which Is being pushed to the limit
About 5000 tons OF steel will be re-
quired for 10000 small cars FOR light
railroads in France. The National Cash
Register Company has received a large
pistol contract.
1.-TWO middle Western concerns havs
received heavy orders for 155 m.!meter
shell forgings. The Ordnance Depart
ment will shortly be in the market for
500. 900 steel helmets. which will re-
quire 1900 tons of special Sheets"
Regarding the ferro- manganese sltua-
tion James A. Farrell, president Of tbs
United States Steel Corporation and
chairman of the sub committee Of ferro-
alloys of the American Iron and Steel
Institute. yesterday sent out the follow
ing letter to consumers
From time to time the shortage OF
ocean shipping threatens the steel indus
try OF the country with n serious cur
tailment OF the supply OF foreign high
grade manganese ore used for the pro-
| duction of ferro-manganese.
"In this crisis the American Iron and
Steel Institute has undertaken 10 secure
cooperation OF the trade with tho Cove
eminent, in an endeavor to save ocean
| tonnage by stimulating the production OF
domestic ores and making the changes
in practice necessitated by the Lowell
grades of ore available in this county
Domestic Ore supply.
"The makers of ferro-manga0ose Hr'