Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-01
INCREASING DEMAND
FOR STEEL PRODUCTS
Smaller Concerns Show Ten
denoy to Charge Premiums
on Favored Deliveries

New York, Nov. 1.--Continued i'm
provement in the strike situation, an
increasing demand for various pro-
ducts and apprehension over the pos
sibility of a coal strike were the out
standing features of the steel situation
during the last week.
The possibility of the coal strike
came in for first consideration among
the leading interests. Because of this
threatened trouble number of the
leading companies have suddenly shown
tendency to decline much of the bust
ness which has been offered for forward
delivery and consumers have found
that they are compelled to wait until
the situation clears before they can get
orders for their requirements on the
books of the manufacturers.
In connection with the demand the
most significant feature has been the
tendency to charge premiums on ia
vorcd deliveries by some of the smaller
Independent concerns. 1t has been
noted that in some instances the buyers
have been willing to pay premiums,
and although the tonnages involved in
such contracts have been moderate,
there are many who assert that such a
condition indicates an advance in quo =
tations if favorable business continues.
Thus far none of the larger com
panies has asked or quoted premiums
but in this connection it might be
stated, that the general opinion is these
larger concerns are not in u position
to give the nearby deliveries, and where
consumers have been anxious to Sc
cure shipments as soon as possible they
have been compelled 10 deal with sOm'
of the small corporations that are abl'
to furtill the contracts
All reports received by the local office
| of the steel companies during the las
week have shown further additions t.
the ranks of the workers at the stee
mills. The more complete protection
| given the men willing to work by th'
city and state authorities all over thu
country has shown results which arr
gratifying. some authorities state.
Among the labor developments of tn
week was the charge by President Com
pers of the American Federation o
Labor that the steel companies wante
strike to come. This charge, how
ever, is not borne out by the past rec
ords or the facts in the matter. Il
June of last year. the American Fed
Grafton of Labor at its annual conven
tion took the first steps to start labo
| trouble in the steel industry. and h
resolution adopted at that time wa
further strengthened by another adopte
at the convention at Atlantic City las
June.
These resolutions. which are a mat
ter of public record, clearly indicat
where the initial steps to bring abou
strikes in the steel industry were taken
The fact that the labor organizers faile
in securing sufficient members to max
the strike q success is pointed to b
steel officials as concrete evidence tina
the workers themselves, with the ex
ccption of a small minority, did nc
want to strike.
Officials of the various steel com
% panies were not inclined to make a repl
. to the charge of Mr.. Gompers. The
insisted that those interested in the sit
,ation could get at the facts, and adde
J that as the newspapers of the country
in their editorials and otherwise. hay
shown all through the strike that the
v understand the situation, it was M
necessary to make an answer to IL
', charge.
T The statement of earnings of Il
:. United States Steel Corporation for Il
third quarter of this year was mac
public during the last week and shove
e satisfactory increase over the repo
70 for the preceding quarter. The. mo
u significant item was the decrease IN Il
= profits in September as compared WI
It the other two months of the perlo
= and although it is believed that Il
q I nreparations for the strike. etc, we
I,nrtly responsible for the falling of
that month. it has been intimated tn
ID another. factor was the reduction
l. shipments. caused by delays in spec
j. Cicntious on certain seasonable product
ID Railmakers of the country are Q
re- Meeting quite a large business IN I
IN next few months. In fact reports a
to now heard of large inquiries which a
about to be made for rails on beh'
of the railroads for use after the ca
l. riers are returned to their original ow
w ers by the government. and some a
Ill thorities believe that rail buying in ~
ii will be larger than it has been IN yea
mt 1t must be remembered that the roa
as are in dire need of rails. For sevel
e, years many of the railroads have be
so getting along with much less than tn
y usual annual quota of new rails, a
no as a result there is much repacemt
ne in all sections of the country. 1t
+. DpllpNPu IlhI many VI 'h'
us be early buyers of rails, and that nj
" spring deliveries viii be going forwt
We at the rate of capacity of the rail IN
W of the country.
W. Rumors have been heard that l
VI prices are to be advanced, but 1t
be stated authoritatively that the pr
H. ent intention of the leading manufi
his turers is to hold quotations unchan
BILE without regard to the swings either
lr- ward or downward in other produ'
,ek This was the policy OF the produc
me before the war; and it is expected
Up, continue so unless there are some
mt velopments which will force chang
In pig iron there is a good dema
and at least one maker has withdra
ew from the market so far as deliveries
- the first half of next year are concern
De- Before withdrawing, however, this
&c terest had booked a large quantity,
asst timated at between 125, 900 and 1870,
tons of foundry. for delivery in the. t
six months of 1920 and on some of
Iya in nnptnfin