Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-25
STEEL MILLS RUNNING
NEAR NORMAL OUTPUT
Week Started With Produc.
tion Reaching 90 to 95
Per Cent of Capacity

SCI, VI Capacity
Nv York. Jan 25.---More than tho
Usual amount Of discussion was started
"ur'ne the last week by the announce
ul'"V that the plants of the United
',"teS steel Corporation during the pre-
''ouH week had operated at between 90
anu 70 per cent OF normal and that the
new week started with mills running nj
about the same rate.
lhe general impression before the
hnnhcation cf rhe production figures was
mat all the steel plants Of the country
had curtailed operations 10 such an cx-
tent that the output Of many of them
vas no betttr than 80 per cent. while
others were producing at the rate of
ahout so per cent Of normal capacity.
Naturally, it was supposed that the
mills of the l'ntcd States steel Cor
poration also were working at much
curtaiIed rate and the actual figures
therefore, caused some surprise As a
matter Of fact. number Of the smaller
steel companies Of the country have
curtaiIed production. and the average
rate for these concerns is no better than
possibly 30 per cent, according t. we'll
informed trade interests
However, the officials Of the Stepl Cor
poration have thus far not found it nee
eSSafy to order a reduction in operations
ana II Is generally believed in quarters
where good information is obtained that
work will be continued at compare
lively high rate to keep the workers on
the jobs. and thus prevent unsatisfac-
tory labor conditions for the time being
at least.
Many men have been dismissed from
some Of the small steel plants of the
country, l. l. said i'm the trade, and these
men arc Increasing the surplus of labor
which prevails in many States at pres
Vnt. The action of the Steel Corporation
therefore. in holding as many men as
possible at present Is being commended
generally as an excellent move.
There have been no material changes
in the underlying conditions of the steel
markets during the last week Some
good orders for pipe from iobbers to
supply the demand from the oil country
have again been taken 10y number of
steel manufacturers, and the outlook is
that this demand will continue for some
tim" in view of the activities or all the
oil companies Of the country in drilling
ana locating wells.
An order for approximately $4,000
tons of ShiphuIlding material has been
given domestic manufacturers for ship
meut to Holland. This is the first
d. finite export order taken in some
weeks but inquiries from Italy. Japan
and south American countries are I'm the
H;rkct, and some steel men express the
belief that firm contracts might b" locke d
for shortly on these injuries.
Tho market for pig iron is in fair
shape Some business has been placed
hut all the contracts invoke only small
tonnaE"s, and the aggregate Of all IN,
orders tina, have come to light in the
last week is rPth"r insignificant when
compared with the large tonnagoS Whic,
we"" placed sis months or so ago.
As a matter ot fact, buyers at tho
moment do not seem inclined to plac,
orders for future deliveries AID the buSi.
ness which has been placed recent!
,aiiS for spot and nearby shipmeu;. uut
order for 900 tons Of foundrr IroI
for first half shipment has brea placed
hu' this Is cAccp,ioua.
The~" are q number Of inquiries 20.
p.g iron .u 'Ho market from dum,sti,
consumers Involving some fair-sIZ,d lot
Tor deliver. 10 th' nest sis or rigu
months. hVt II is mot believed that thes'
"l' d"'sipp into contracts for some tim,
at least \ new export inquiry frou
England $ y-pur'"o. calling for "a spccia
hl1d of Bosscmcr. but som" Of III" mos
'.NS,. 'h'lNy trdd" Interests express lh
opinion that This hIsmts, will not conn
'rr a ."ng rm" u"inly because OF Tin
. 'm.aE orab} high freight rate. whiyl
won. make lu" nr>t Of IN. iron tu
high delivered ON Ju" other side.
I.- scrap magh". continues steady
~t..- of heavy melting steel s,ral
au..M IS used .u up"u-ucnrth furnace
ha.r u"'u mad" or Si7.1i ana $lS pc
'u'. N" about Unchanged from the pr"