The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-02
Iron REVIEW

NEW YORK, May Tho Iron Age
says:
Business in several finished steel
lines has taken start in the past week.
but 1t would be easy TO exaSgerate the
amount Of il. the comparison being
with several weeks in which buyers
simply looked on and waited for Wash
ington to show the way. Producers gee
little indication uf good business in the
next two months. and III some quarters
no considerable Improvement is, expect
cd short nt the fall months.
Further note writing between the in
dustrial board and the railroad admin
istration has ended in the latter's ac-
.cptance of The boards suggestion that
the railroad administration and the
steel producers comtuitteC confer on
prices for railroad catcrial. The steel
committee considered the matter Tues
day, but its action was not made public
1t is a fair presumption that if tho
railroad admin Stratlon asks the steel
committee 10 meet I in conference at
Washington the steel men will go.
In the trade at large the feeling is
one OF disappointment that the country
is not told in some decisive way that
the government has taken It's hands on
the steel business. Concerning railroad
buying. tho railroad administration an
nounces that it is not delaying pur-
chaseS 10 force down steel prices. 0u,
Is using a surplus of material piled up
during the war. This confirms the be-
lief of steel producers Ihat only mod
rate buying is 20 b. expected in any
event Tho slight Improvement in de-
mand has not meant Immediately bot
ter employment at mills On the con-
trary. the scale OF operations is some
what less than in the preceding week.
In the Chicago district the average is
about SD per cent. at Pittsburgh and
Youngstown - 10 50 per cont and in
eastern Pennsylvania about 80 per cent.
There is more disposition 20 believe
that the readjustme0ts in tho industry
will extend TO wages.
While finished materials are generally
sold at the prices announced on March
90. there arc more Indications Of slight
concessions in pig iron. The furnace
basis of S26.15 for foundry iron is not
maintained in the south. and there arc
variations her" and there in other dis
trictS. The largest sale reported is Of
5000 tons of foundry and mallcable in
the Cleveland district. Cincinnati re-
ports 1,nh0 ton transaction in MALE
able and 1000 tons OF foundry iron is
spending thcre-;onnages thar in an or
binary market would not call for men,
ton.
\ new export freight rate OF 55c per
100 pounds nn pit, iron rom Pittsburgh
to the Pacific coas. has been made by
the railroad administration. The re-
cent rate was sc. hu. il IS still possible
TO ship to tho far cas-: by way OF east
ern ports a. about Sc per ton less than
by Pittsburgh and san Francisco. The
new export rate on finished material
from Pittsburgh TO the Pacific coast is
soc per 100 pounds. a reduction OF CSC
Increased activity in structural steel
is indicated in awards of 1900 tons
for two buildings in Chicago: Of 5000
tons for the Mare island navy yard: OF
about $500 tons OF plates and shapes
for Mexico: OF $500 tons for a Hart
ford otrir~- building and 1.500 tons for
transportation lines in Philadelphia.
Fanricators on some OF this work have
been guaranteed 4 reduction in price
should such occur prior to the shipment
OF the material.
Japan IS inQuirinC for 10000 tons OF
20 pound rails. For shipment 70 France
orders have been placed for 200 tank
and zoo fat cars.
Pipe business has accumulated until
on lapweld sizes the mills arc filled up
for sixty days or more. Several siZ"ahle
pipe lines arc now under negotiation.
and a volume OF Inquiries for oil tanks
IS expected.