The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-10
TRADE TIES OF US.
AND CANADA BETTER
War Strengthened and In
creased Interdependence,
Says Report.

OTTAWA, June 9.--WAr served TO In
crease and to strengthen the interdepen-
dence of Canada and the United States,
It appears. according to the report OF
the War Trades Board for the period
of its existence from February y, 1918,
to March 81, 1919.
Canada imported from the United
States for the production OF munitions
and essential supplies large quantities
OF pig iron, iron ore, steel sheets, coal,
cotton and other commodities. while tho
United States was obliged to come 10
Canada for nickel matte, asbestos, pulp,
paper and other essential raw materials.
In spite OF this dependence the Can
adam steel production Increased from a
yearly production OF one million tons in
1894 to practically two million tons
when the armistice wac signed. This
increase was secured to large extent
by new acid and basic open hearth fur
naces and electric furnaces intended TO
furnish steel sluGs for projectlles by d.
rect casting processes. Pig iron pro-
duction did not increase in proportion.
owing to the considerably longer time
required for blast furnace construction ;
and for the first three years OF the war
supplies were readily obtainable in the
United States
Production in Canada Of basic steel
iron was confined mainly to six COM
panies-the Algoma Steel Company OF
Sault Ste. Marie producing for Its own
steel output intended for projectile steel;
the Steel Company OF Canada, at Ham
ilton. using the monthly production OF
2S, 900 TO $4,000 ingots for producing
steel sheets, sheet iron, rods, bars SC,
for cars, shipbuilding, locomotives and
other needs; the Nova Scotia Steel and
Coal Company OF New Glasgow, using
its entire production for its own needs
In producing sheet steel, shell steel, light
plates and bars for their own shops and
for shipbuilding: the Dominion Iron and
Steel Company OF Sydney, using also its
entire production for projectile steel,
rails and rods: the Canadian Furnace
Company OF Port Colborne, which pro-
duced from one stack. and the Standard
Iron Company OF Deseronpo, which also
produced from one small stack No steel
plates wider than four feet are rolled In
Canada.
AS the United States decided in the
sprlnH of 1918 10 allow steel making
only for war purposes, contracts were
made with the Midland Iron and Steel
Company OF Midland and with the Parry
Sound Iron Company OF Parry Sound to
reopen their dormant blast furnaces on
the promise indl lnelT output lot Two
wears woulu be taken. A contract with
the Atlkokan Company of Port Arthur
was never concluded. because It could
not get the necessary coal supplies.
The report shows tho efforts made by
the board TO get whatever supplies Ca
madam manufacturers were In need OF
during that year. Success attended the
operations OF the board. and it's admins
tration cost only Sl40,s62,s7. OF which
SSl,OS2.79 went for salaries and 49,
027S4 for travelling expenses. Sir
George Foster was chairman until he
went TO the Peace Conference. when the
Hon A. X Maclean acted The other
members OF the board were: Vlce-Chair-
man, f. p. Jones. Montreal; c. b. Nc
Naught, Toronto: J. w Mcconnell,
Montreal; ], II. Gundy. Toronto; Josiah
Gibbons. Toronto; Sir Hormlsdas La
porte, Montreal: c. A. Magrath, Ottawa /;
secretary, W. K Trowsr, and assistant
secretary. ]. II. Wilkie.