New Britain herald., 1918-12-05
Steel and Pig
 Iron Markets
The Iron Age says:

1ne Iron Age says:
 Another week of buying to satisfy unprecedented wants finds the steel trade still skeptical of the ability of such demand to cope with the situa- ton soon to be met. The fact is that with the armistice more than threa weeks old the steel mills of the coun- try are still engaged to a large extent on war work. Cancellations of or- der swhich would not have been reached by the mills for some weeks or months have naturally brought nd shock, and the real test is yet to come.
 Sentiment in favor of continuing government control of iron and steel prices after December 31 has steadi- ly diminished, and the conference be- tween the steel manufacturers com- n1ittee and the war industries board at Washington December Il promises to be the end of the chapter on price fixing. Preparatory to the finale, general meeting of iron and steel manufacturers is called for December 9 in New York.
 Actual export business put through is not what would be expected from the amount of inquiry. British ex- port prices announced last week are from s15 to $20 per ton above official prices here for heavy products, so that the basis of current export transactions in New York, while high CT than that fixed at Washington, is still below the European level. How ever, real international competition is not yet factor. British galvanized sheets for export have sold at about 6.50c., as against a fixed price of 6.25c. at Pittsburgh
 The run of replenishing orders in variols lines keeps up. particularly in bars. More plates are available for the general trade, and this supply promises to increase, as Shfpyards now have an accumulated supply that will last for four to six months. De- mand for structural steel is very light
 Pig and iron production again fell off in November, being 3,354, 074 tons or Ill, ,SO2 tons a day, against 3,486,- 941 tons in October, or 112,4S2 tons a day Coke shortage due to influ- enza caused several furnaces to bank last week. On Dec. 1 the 360 fur naces in blast had a daily capacity of 111,330 tons, against 113,500 tons day for 366 furnaces active one month previous.
 A good deal is heard of pig iron negotiations for export but little has been done as yet. There are reported sales by an Eastern steel company of 33,0O0 tons of Bessemcr iron to go abroad. Our London cable re- wives the report of plans to import 100000 tons of American basic iron to England next year.
 There is now little disposition on either side of the pig iron market certainly less on the buying than on the selling side-to make contracts stipulating that in the absence of a Government price at time of delivery the last official price shall apply. That contract now appears more one sided that it was regarded one month ago. The prospect of further Gov ornnent cancellations involving secondary contracts for steel and machinery points to some easing up after months of acute pig iron scarcity.
 The weakness in scrap is more in evidence, though on a restricted movement, and there is some unset" ting in the ferromanganese market. where 70 per cent. metal has sold below $40.
 Some activity in sheet bars is a feature II the Central West. Youngs- town mills have taken on considerable business to replace. shell steel.
 Lake Superior iron ore shipments for the season are over. The total movement by water is 61, ,156, TSP tons, or 1.342,169 tons less than in 1917. A greater falling off was looked for in view of this years decline in pig iron production.