The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
OUIETNESS RULES
IN STEEL MARKET
Labor Unrest Has Been Most
Influential Factor i'm Caus-
ing Dulness.
CONSTRUCTION HELD BACK
Many Producers Withdraw, as
They Do Not Wish to Be
Too Much Sold Up.
speciai pespatch TO TEE srN.

PrTTsBuRa, Aug. 30.-Quietness has
ruled in all branches OF the iron and
steel trade this week, the labor unrest
being the most important influence in
that condition. Many producers have
withdrawn as sellers, realizing that II
they sold to 100 per cent. or to rs per
cent of normal they could not be certain
OF being able to deliver additional ton
nages IL bought. There has been on the
part of old customers some entering of
new tonnages with the condition that
delivery would be according to the pro-
ducer's ability to ship. Some buyers
have been in the market during the last
few days pleading with producers to ac-
cept their orders, but without avail,
which means considerable delay in con-
structlon work planned and in which
several large buildings are represented
Prices are not being discussed, and there
Is consequently no thought of declines.
Iron and steel men say that price adj
Vances are not to be thought of. as they
would encourage unreasonable labor de-
msnds and bring little IL any additional
revenue, as producers generally are fair
ly well sold up for long time.
Taking the country as a whole steel
production is between rs and 80 per
cent of full capacity. but the
resent between IS and 30 per cent
OF the total. Through the influences
OF weather and productive efficiency of
many men below par the productive
units in operation are not showing full
tonnage in all cases. One in a while a
steel interest Is disposed to regulate its
production of pig iron at this time ac-
cording to ore supply. having doubts as
to whether or not they will get down the
lakes as much ore as they had counted
on, and prefering to have steady pro-
duction to the opening OF navigation next
year rather than heavy production now
and lighter production next spring. That
condition is not general. AS n rule the
furnaces entered the season with large
stocks of ore. With the mills COM
fortably sold up in several lines, de-
mand for other products in the last few
weeks has been such as to produce a
much more even distribution of orders,
whereby large interests making a
variety of products have more uniform
operation through different departments
and can use ingots nearly to the full
extent of their ingot producing capacity.
Sold Up In Lap Weld.
In tubular goods orders for lap weld
pipe are practically going begging. un
deliveries during next year. The mills
as a rule are sold up in lap weld for
the remainder of this year and some OF
them into next year. In butt weld pipe
the situation is not as tight as in lap
weld, but mills find themselves we'll sold
up in butt weld. at least for time.
as their customers are taking larger
tonnages than has been expected. In
spite of the very reserved selling policy.
many pipe mills have booked thus far
this month greater tonnases than they
have shipped.
While the demand for boiler tubes is
not heavy it is steadily increasing. Some
producers who make welded and seam
less tubes are urging customers to take
seamless as substitute for welded
when 1t IL feasible to make the substi-
tuition. Generally speaking the pipe
market is quotable at the regular or
the recognized level. There is no shad-
ing and in some cases a premium may
be asked for delivery. but the pipe mills
in general are selling at list If they
sell at all.
Between 90 and 95 per cent. OF the
tin mills are in operation. the number
being substantially the same as for
several weeks past. Outputs a mill are
hardly up TO average for avera &c
weather. but are reported TO be fully