The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-23
REDUCTIONS DO NOT
PLEASE STEEL MEN
Buyers In Pittsburg Section
Consider Small Interests
Were Disregarded.
BIG CORPORATIONS RULED
Prospective Purchasers VIII
Await More Favorable
Price Schedule.

FrrrsBuRo, March ss.-iron and steel
men connected with the smaller COM
panies in this district were very much
disappointed with the result Of the con-
ference between steel manufacturers and
the Industrial Board and the prizes re-
auctions. While reports coming from
the national capital say that general sat
isfaction was expressed by the delegates
and that q great revival Of business In
the iron and steel industry was bound
to follow, that view 10 not reflected By
steel buyers in tho Pittsburs district
The new prices were announced as
follows: Pig iron. s25.75 gross ton
four inch billets. $3.50 gross ton
two inch billets. s42.5o a gross ton mer-
chant bars. s2.35 a 100 pounds plates.
sass a 100 pounds: structural steel.
$2.4o 100 pounds The price on iron
ore (. o. b. Lake Erie was left unchanged,
except In the event OF a reduction Of
freight rates, In which case the prices
will be lowered accordingly.
Judge Gary says that prices will not
be any lower during 1919 and that
wages will not change except In cases of
ployees based on a sliding scale agree
ment. The consensus of opinion here
10 that the reductions were dominated
by the large organizations to the detri-
ment of the smaller interests, many of
which have been waiting for better con-
ditions and price adjustments for . re-
sumption of business. Prospective buy
ers have been waiting to place heavy
orders, which they say will be held back
still further In hopes OF better price
adjustments In the future.
Changing to Eight Hour shifts.
There has been a considerable amount
OF changing from twelve hour to eight
hour shifts In several mills and depart
ments. Although complete reports are
not obtainable. most changing has been
done quietly. Contrary to recent reports
tho Carnegie Steel Company has not
changed to the eight hour schedule, al
though 1t has altered somewhat its
working arrangements. Two considera-
ucns entered into the change, one to
give employment to a larger number. of
men when the same volume of business
shall be done and save in pay rolls by
elimination OF payment for extra time.
Taking AZ cents as the standard hourly
wage rate for day labor under the basic
eight hour day system the twelve hour
men would be paid for fourteen hours. or
S5.SS, receiving time and q half for the
hours worked more than eight Work
ing a straight eight hour turn the man
would receive 1886. Taking one con-
unuous Job, under the practice before
the basic eight hour day was estab-
1ished. every man would receive $500. or
5000 for the two men. Under the ba-
eic eight hour day the two men would
receive $11.76. Three men now are
given employment on work which two
men formerly did.
There has been a general decrease in
mill operations this week outside of
relatively few mills that pursue clear
cut policy of operating full. With very
light buying for several weeks past and
q decrease even In specifications against
contracts the supply of business to put
on rolling schedule necessarily Is de-
creasing, and as the mills were able to
make very prompt shipments the In
6uence Is felt quickly in decreasing mill
separations.
An Extreme situation.
An illustration OF an extreme case Is
g1yen of a sheet mill in Ohio which
closed on Thursday OF last week with
nothing on its books for Immediate
rolling but one order. which was for
twenty tons. It would not have been
feasible to operate the plant another
turn LOT the SAKE Oh tHt t"cHty toi
order The plant will be idle until suf-
acient orders accumulate to justify run
ming at least four days.
Reports from the Republic Iron and
Steel Company this week indicated a
better operating condition than did those
of the week Just previous. While there
are variations from week to week II is
probably safe to estimate that the ma
5ority OF Independents are operating at
rates between SO and IS per cent
There are exceptional cases Of opera
lions of more than 65 per cent and on
the other hand OF mills being closed en-
tirely. The United States Steel Cor
porat!on appears to be operating at more
than 80 per cent. of capacity.
A few mills have a definite policy OF
running full, even though their shipping
orders do not call for It, and they are
having the embarrassing experience of
unusually large tonnage outputs. AS an
illustration. one good sized steel plant
has been showing an output in the last
two weeks equal to more than per
cent in excess of its rated capacity. and
It was not supposed that its rating was
too low. On account of the nature of
the particular business being handled at
that mill the rolling schedules prove to
be particularly advantageous from the
tonnage standpoint. Orders are pieced
out to full runs, the extra tonnage pass
. sne~sS .sSsk ard thus, NJ tine NIX
there is no need for a 100 per cent. out
put, 1t exceeds that figure.