New-York tribune., 1921-10-23
Steel Mills
Raise Output
On Strike Talk
Consumers Fear of Tie
Up Leads 10 Increase
of Orders ON Specifica-
tions Against Contracts
specto' DtspotcA to 7Ac rrsbuas

cpcCtCt OfS4otcA 10 Inc XfstH@a
PITTSBURGH, Oct, 22.-Fear among
steel consumers of possible railroad
strike is causing them to order more
heavily on specifications against con-
tracts, and a substantial enlargement
in operating schedules next week is
looked for. The fact that stocka of
steel consuming interests are low is
making them anxious about supplies
for the future, which accounts for the
rush of specifications. Steel makers
are laying no particular plans as to
what they will do if the roads are tied
up. No unusual effort would be made
to operate the mills, according to
staten ents OF manufacturers. Certain
operations could easily be suspended,
such as blast furnaces, ut some Youngs-
town plants, One steel producer Is re.
ported to have an accumulation of
10000 tons of pig iron at this time,
which is sufficient for a protracted
period of capacity steel production.
Iron and steel manufacturers of the
Shenango Valley do rot fear q strike
OF the railroad men tho last Of this
month. They are confident that matters
will be anicably adjusted before the
date set for the nationwide strike. A
prolonged strike would cause practi-
cally all of the mills which are now
orersting to close throwing several
thousand men out of employment
sctursrs are hoping that the
railroads will soon announce a reduc-
ton IN freight rates. Many plants
have good sized orders booked, but
they are not being specified against
and will not be until there is lower
ing of rates. Greatly improved busi-
ness is anticipated as soon as freight
rates are lowered
The recent announcement that the
pennsylvania railroad would reduce
freight rates on iron ore from the lake
ports and scaboard 2S per cent has
temporarily hampered rather than
stimulated buying in pig iron. New
business in pig iron has fallen of
perceptibly and is now of compare
lively light volume. The falling OFF
is evidently due to an anticipated
lowering Of prices on pig metal.
The number of active blast fur
naees in the Shenango and Mahoning
valleys was increased to thirteen out
OF total of forty-six with the blow
ing in os furnace No. at the Ohio
works of the Carnegie Steel Company
this week. This stack had been idle
since the first of the year. The Car
negie company is now operating six
blast furnaces in the two valleys. four
IN youngstown and two in New. Castle.
The other active furnaces are: She
mango furnace Company, Republic
Iron and Steel, Byers Company, Brier
Hill, Sharon Steel Hoop and two Of
the Youngstown Sheet | Tube. The
percentage Of operation is nearly
thirty, the greatest in many months.
1t is reported that one or two ad-
d1tional merchant furnaces will blow
IN within short time.
Operation Of the plants in the She
mango Valley continue fairly active. The
American Sheet and Tinplatc Company
continued to tunt its sheet and TIN
mills on the same percentage OF output
Us during the past several weeks. The
American Steel and Wire Company lis
operating about 20 per cent. Little new
business is reported by the independ-
ents, and they are fortunate to book
enough orders keep the plants ruu-
nlng at their present percentages.
Myron /. Arms, president Of the Aetna
Foundry and Machine Company, War
rem, Ohio, states that there are abun-
dant inquiries from manufacturing
STARTERS for galvanizing and strip
steel equipment, indicating the evident
intention to expand in these depaiL L.
lnents. Galvanized sheets have been in
sustained demand for a considerable
period, and are now being called for in
quantities for car roofing purposes. Mr..
Adams states that. while there is some
demand for tinplate mill machiners, it
is not in the proportions of sheet and
strip equipment
The Aetna Company has recently sup
piled galyanizing pots to rolling mill
concern III Milwaukee and strip mill
machiners to producer in the Mahon-
ing Valley.
Robert Bentley, president Of the Ohio
Iron anad Steel Company and a d.
rector Of the Youngstown Sheet and
Iube Company, urges economy and
thrift on the part of all people If the
community and the couitry at large are
to go through the return to normal
with the least possible hardship. Mr.
Bentley believes there is steady i'm.
provement, and that it will continue
but that it Is possible the effects of the
reedJustment may not disappear a,
quickly as some believe. Manufactur.
'n~ concerns. even with fair or GOOD
business, will require at least ali the
next year to work off the adverse ef
itesa OF TINS year, he declares. Divi.
dends paid this year were against las,
years earnings, with few exceptions
On chat account he believes furthe,
reductions in disbursements with many
companies may occur in 1929.
The Trumbun Steel Company and the
Sharon Steel Hoop Company have an
nounced advances of So ton in sheets
and strip steel. The new strip base il
2.25c for hot rolled and As for colo
strip. 1t appears that the advance IL
sheets originally announced by tn,
Brier Hill Steel Company is not apply
ing, in actual transactions, to blue an
nealed, which is still moving at 2.25s
to 2.50c. The last increase would have
brought this grade of sheets to 2 275c.
The Newton Steel Company has ad
vanced the quotation on full finished
sheets from 4.35c to 4.60c for No. 2:
gage auto body stock. Current shee
prices with virtually all interested an
pear to be 2.50c for blue annealed
a.25c for black and 4.25c for galvanized
Most of the business now being rolled
however, was booked at lower figures.
A large independent interest recentl,
notified its customers by telegraph tha
while labor in steel plants has bee,
liquidated more than in any other in
dustry, cost OF producing sheets i
still higher than selling prices. l
production is reduced during the win
ter, as Is customary, cost will be ma
terially advanced
One sheet mill concern In this ter
ritory still has backlog of 10000 tom
of black sheets, most of it booked by
fsbricating interest at Youngstown
Most of this business was placed o