The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-18
Trade Reviews Declare Views
of Conservatives in Labor
World Will Prevail.
SOME BUSINESS INJURED
Buyers Are Anxious to Place
Orders, but Mills Are
Holding Back.

steel trade reviews In their articles this
week. One Of them, the Iron Age, de-
clarcs that it is probable that the con-
sentative influence In the labor world
will prevail" Nevertheless, whatever
the outcome of the present labor situa-
ton. the fact remains that business has
been injured to some extent by the pres
ent uncertainty. While buyers are
anxious to place their orders and insure
themselves against q shortage Of steel
products in the event Of a general steel
strike, manufacturers hesitate about
adding to their comnitments. the review
declares.
Although It is probable that the con-
sentative influence in the labor world
will prevail" says that periodical. land
that there will not be a general strike
Of iron and steel workers, the threat
ened suspension of work has been a dis
turblng factor in the market during the
last week and still causes apprehension.
A pleasing feature Is the announced de-
termination of uniono having contracts
with mills not to go on strike, and II Is
assured that even IL the radicals prevail
the operation of many plants win not
be seriously disturbed. 1t il possible
that IL the strike Is declared on work.
men at some points may quit work, re-
fusing to follow the advice Of the con-
sentative leaders.
The net result Of the agitation Is
that little buying has been done. The
desire of consumers and distributors to
secure material has been more pro-
noun:ed than In the earlier talks of
strike, but so has been the hesitancy
of the producers to add to their commit
ments. The demand for pig iron Is not
now active. and an Illinois foundry in
quiry for about 10000 tons for delivery
in the first half of next year thus gains
prominence. Persistent reports of weak
ness of basic continue and there is a
| limited demand for all steel making
irons. Stove manufacturers In the GEN.
| trail West are having difficulty in main
1 tanning full operation on account of
scarcity Of moulders. The demand for
| stoves in that part of the country is
greater than the supply.
Coke Prices Forced Up.
In coke the needs of foundries are
sufficiently urgent to force prices up
| ward 25 to so cents per ton. one
| late sale Of 100 cars bringing SO per
net ton. In furnaced coke a swing In
the opposite direction has taken place
| and prices for this quality have dropped
Is cents per ton. growing largely out
\ of the postponement of buying because
| of possible plant idleness resulting from
| q general strike No ALLEGATION has yet
been made Of the 100000 tons Of rails
which the Railroad Administration, 1t
Is thought, will buy at this time. The
Inland Steel Company, In anticipation
| of heavy rail orders next year. has COM
| menced the construction OF a rail mill at
| Indiana Harbor Meanwhile q Canadian
mill is busy on $4,000 tons for American
| railroads.
steel bars are still nominally at the
235c- Pittsburg basis, forward bookings
| being refused until commitments are re-
| duced. Most of the assoc. business
closed is for extended delivery. Coated
wire nails have now Joined the other
wise strong wire products group and on
$4,000 kegs 1910 has been done, or CSC.
above the ree9lar market. On ship
| material the Government has again OBJ
tanned base quotations Of assoc. Pitts
burg for plates and 2.4oc. for shapes.
The former price is widely possible on
attractive lots. but 2.45c. Is the general
market for structural material. Lake
| shipyards are figuring on boats which
will take 10000 tons of plates. Plate
mills are generally operating at go to rs
per cent. OF capacity, except In the East.
where they are making only half their
| possible output"
Says the Iron Trade RepielD
whether the strike call of the radical
union element against the steel indus
| try IL Withdrawn or not apparently re-
mains a matter of no great consequence
to producers or consumers. Both are
taking thu situation with the same calm.
ness and lack of anxiety that have
marked their attitude from the beginning
In reality the opinion is held In many re.
sponsible quarters that an attempt OF the
newly recruited unions TO dictate foroibly
their programme would be attended BY
a salutary and clarifying effect on the
unsettled labor situation of the whole
country.
| Americans Against Strike.
"It has been shown that the greai
bulk OF the organized faction has beer
enrolled among the foreign and more
ignorant classes. The American borr
and skilled workman. as a rule, has re.
fused to Join In the movement and hal
been making agreeable growing protes
against interference with conditions Of
employment The trade situation in iroT
and steel continues highly favorable
with production for the most part still
on the upward curve.
while new buying In these products
which have been most active. IL not sS
vigorous on the whole. II Is chiefly be
cause II cannot be accommodated be
fore an extended date. Specification
have been flowing in on producers q
heavily that very little free mill spao'
remains UP to January / in steel bars
sheets, wire products. tin plate and lap
weld tubes. Buyers are beginning :,
seek mill positions for 1920.
Heavy lines, in which demand haI
been lightest. are improving. but In al
erratio way Calls for large tonnage
OF steel pig iron stocks with mercran
furnaces have been dwindling steadily
and now represent In total less than
months shipments or production Sell
ers arc having little trouble to get g.
lcents to VI a ton advance where the,
ask It and can deliver.
Buying for 1920 still IL being hel,
back by the unwillingness Of mos
producers to book orders for that period
Growing prospects and sales abroad ar
denoted by EFFORT OF the export agenc
of Independent mills to obtain increase,
allotment of foreign tonnage from It
principals. At present 10 per cent. o
output OF associated plants Is set asid
. for this purpose. this representing abou
$4,000 tons monthly.
"France has placed 5000 tons of shi
) plates In the East A Belgian inquir
9 for 10000 freight cars now pendin
will call for about $4,000 tons An In
teresting purchase by Italy calls for un
D assembled material for a $500 ton fab
ricated ship. Japan 10 reported 70 hav
, placed 1900 tons OF plate and Braz
xva nfa fk 600 TONS Of rails in This oon