The sun., 1919-09-28
ASSERT STRIKE Is
FAST BREAKING UP
important Changes Looked
for Early This Week, Says
Iron Age"
MILLS FOR SAFETY FIRST
Surprising Amount of Busi-
ness Has Been Done in Spite
of Steel Labor Trouble.

Indications are that the steel strike is
tasl breaking up and decidedly important
changes along that line are looked for
ssrly In the coming week. the Iron Age
says in its weekly summary of the steel
and iron situation. There is. however,
a possibility, that journal continues,
thai conditions may look worse before
they are better and producers, supported
by consumers, are determined to close
down the mills IL they cannot be oper-
.ted In entire safety to all concerned.
That summary Of the situation. pub
lIshed several days ahead of time. is
brought out at this time because of labor
trouble among the printing establish
ments of the city. The regular weekly
issue Of the Iron Ago Is scheduled for
uhlication on Wednesday, but in bring
ins the summary out earlier than usual,
the publishers announce that ''labor
troubles In the mechanical department
have forced a forward date in printing
and an effort to get the issue into cir
citation"
sMany signs Of weakening mark the
the publication says. "and a decided
break is looked for early next week. A
number of plants have maintained full
operation UP to date. But conditions
may temporarily look worse before they
are better. The absence Of any marked
riotlng is an indication that there is
nothing yet approaching a collapse.
"The producers are firm in their de-
termination to shut down mills II it is
no. safe to run them and they have the
unqualified support of the consumers.
The public will not believe that the strike
nil, all its terrible portent can prevail.
Neither producers nor consumers are
making any real effort to do business,
hut what has been done is surprising.
Bookings have been usual with mills not
seriously or at all affected and active
furnaces have entered pig iron orders.
Naturally the jobbing trade Is the scene
Of the greatest activity. While stocks In
distributors hands are of fair size. the
scale of single sales Is occasionally lin
tied Few manufacturing consumers of
steel will be embarrassed by curtailed
deliveries over the next few weeks.
ut follows that the business done is
largely in those lines in which demand
has for some time been relatively light.
Structural work Is being covered in good
volume and plate purchases can be made
Plate mills have no difficulty in getting
a.75 cents Pittsburg base. the quota
toL which has been holding until recent
large sales were made at $50 cents.
"A considerable demand for spot iron
from foundries shows a fear OF obtain
ing necessary tonnage later. About
10000 tons was sold In New EnSls nd.
In Pennsylvania "a subsidiary OF the Steel
Cerporation covered in the general mar
sst for 10000 tons of basic at prices OF
1880 and $27 at furnace. Japan is IN
curing for 1900 tons of basic and
1000 tons of foundry iron and there is
a prospect Of iron exports to Scandinavia
anC perhaps TO China
Cast iron pipe exports. after mont
Of negotiation, are materializing. A sale
Of 800 tons for Cuba follows shipments
10 South America and Japan is now In
curing for $500 tons.
The Pennsylvania Railroad has dis
rlouted orders for 10000 tons of car
parts Japan Is now In the market for
500 freight cars and 500 tons OF axles
Belgian car builders have taken export
orders away from American builders.
Heavy demand continues In bolts and
nuts. The New York Shipbuilding Com
pany Is inquiring for $50 tons OF riVets
and 100000 fitting bolts"