The diamond drill., 1920-10-23
ALTHOUGH SHIPMENTS ARE IN
CREAsINc SUPPLY WILL Be SHORT
MUCH IRON co. ORE GOING
II Looks Now as II All StockpiIes
viii be Cleaned up When the
Shipping Season Ends


boggan, the iron ore smelters fear
that there is going to be a shortage
OF ore for use at the eastern furnaces
this winter.
Although the movement of iron ore
down the lake continues in large vol
ume and promises to aggregate over
$4,000, 900 tons for the season, as COM
pared with only 47.177,000 tons last
year, Eastern furnace interests are
apprehensive regarding the possibil-
ity of a scarcity OF ore at the Lake
Erie docks. In some quarters 1t Is
predicted that the price OF pig iron
may be stiffened on that account.
So active has been the demand for
ore by the independent operators this
season, that no cancellations OF ship
ping contracts have been reported.
Every effort, ON the contrary, is being
made 10 speed up the movement OF
ore from the mines to the Lake Su-
perior docks. and provided the wealth
er continues favorable until well into
November, II Is predicted that the
tonnage handled for the season will
be much larger than the most optimis-
tic had hoped for during the early
summer.
Good dispatch is being given in the
handling OF iron ore at all docks. and
with better car service the congestion
at the lower lakes that tied up ship
ping at the beginning Of the season
has been completely relieved.
Price readjustments and the placing
OF large contracts by the railroads for
rails and cars, is predicted in the
near future, In the mean time the
buying OF steel products has declined
in many directions and plant opera
tions are falling off in some quarters.
Commenting on the price situation the
Iron Trade Review says:
I'm the setting OF prices in the ma
the 4.O0c quotations in steel bars Is OF
interest since this figure had repre-
sented the top OF the market. II Is
reported that to prevent steel bar
cancellation, an Independent mill has
dipped well below 3.00c. Pittsburgh
At Chicago. fabricating work has been
placed on the basis OF 2.75c, Pitts
burgh. for plain material from an in
dependent mill. Strength in wire pro-
ducts is reflected by the higher basis
of spring wire extras established by
the American Steel & Wire company
TO conform 70 the recent advance in
plain wire"
County Shipments Heavy
In Iron county the ore Is going for
ward at steadier gait than has been
apparent in long time. Crystal
Falls mines will have comparatively |
no ore in stock when shipping ceases
The Bristol mine is cutting heavily in
20 its pile and with continued open
weather there will be little OF that ac-
cumulation left.
The Mckinney Steel mines are all |
cleaned up, so 10 speak, on stocked |
ore, while the Carpenter cleaned up !
once and went back 10 stocking in |
termittingly as boats were needed TO
take away the ore.
The Balkan sent its shovel 20 STAN
baugh to clean up the Bengal pile but
a shovel is expected from the Warner
next week to clean up the balance OF
the Balkan A little ore will be car
ried over at the Porter and about half
OF the Warner pile may stay.
Almost all OF the vest side piles are
cleaned up 80 that It looks like start
ing with clean slate on next sea
sons requirements.
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