The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-18
PRESIDENT JAMES VI
MCQUEEN REPORTS
AN UNSAT|SF ACTORY
YEAR FOR SLOSS CO.
Summary of 1918 Shows
Production of Activities,
Labor Conditions and
Demand For Pig
Iron

In his annual report made 10
the stockholders of the Sloss-
Sheffield steel and Iron company
Mt the meeting in New York last
Wednesday. President J. w. NC
Queen stated that the year 1915
was not n very satisfactory one In
"a business way.
The conditions which made for less
production, less efficiency of labor, IN
creased cost of production ana cur
tailment of markets are set out in tno
report. with the statement that
While these conditions, with winch
YOU are doubtless familiar, similarly
affected most businesses, they pre-
vented us from securing the satisfac-
tory results that would have been a.
tanned had we not been so adversely
affected
Referring to the by-products coke
ovens at North birmingham. the con-
struction of which was undertaken last
summer under an agreement with the
government. President Mcqueen. In ms
report, says:
owing to the needs of the govern
ment for toluol and ammoniacal liquoE
your company made contract to build
100 bv-product coke ovens at cost
to your company of about $6,e0oooV'
Under the contract your compan5
agreed to deliver to the government tho
by-products for two years at salts
factory prices. 50 compromising :"
part the high cost of wartime COZ
struction On December IA. six months
after the contract was made, the con-
struction being then we'll on the way
and most of the material bought, ire
government sent us request to sus-
pend work. Complying with this re-
quest Your officers opened neeotla-
lions, which are still under way, TO
compensate your company for the loss
OF sales We hope these negotiations
will result in satisfactory ADJUST
ment.
I've have written off as loss the
cost OF these ovens sufficient amount
to reduce their cost to figure reason
ably near their normal cost, all az
shown in the balance sheet herewith
PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
Production activities Of the company
in 1918. as shown by the presidents
report, were as follows: Output or
SST.4s7 tons of pig iron. compared to
$4,000 the average prior to two years
ago: iron ore, S44,1S5 tons, compared
with approximately 100000 tons. the
annual average prior to two years ago
coal. 1.56S.019 tons. compared with ap-
DrOX imatelN 1,9OU,UUU TONS prior 10 INV
Years ago; coke. 5S5,4l3 tons, compared
with an average of approximately
600 600 tons prior to two years ago.
From the above statements 1t Will
annear that the conditions prevailing
throughout the year seriously affectcd
your company's output, the report
adds.
And continuing the report states;
perhaps the most important OF these
conditions was that of labor.
Never has there been in the history
of your company more unsatlsfao'
tory condition OF labor as to Its scar
city. its wage and its inefficiency
From your forces somewhat over
700 went to war, A great demand eX-
listed in the territory in which your
properties are located for government
construction work. particularly in the
| vicinity OF Sheffield Florence and Rus
| sellville
| 1.-THE government. as result OF ex-
| tensive construction work In your dis
| trict. raised the scale OF wages fo'
! common labor in many cases 100 PEI
cent Following this the railroad ad'
! ministra ton fixed the scale of wages
| for such labor in an amount showing
! an additional advance of about 10,
per cent Following this, as result
| of an appeal to the national war labor
| hoard nv the labor interests. that
board made an award in favor of your
! employees again raising the rate d
| certain labor another 100 per cent