New-York tribune., 1921-06-26
Rail Buying Expected in July
Steel Industry Looks for Orders for Repair Ma
terial as Soon the Effect OF the Wage
Cut Is Determined

manager of the Ohio region Of theK
Erie railroad, states that some rosis
are planning to place tonnage forcsr
and locomotive material Sgch bnsl-
ness will probably be let as soon as
the carriers ascertain the result Of re-
duced wage payments, he states Cars
us-a in the grain trade are badly N
repairs and many box cars nayee
defective roofs which must he repaired
before they can be used. the number
OF box cars throughout the country
needing repairs is estimated at 20ovVe-
Galvanized steel is used to large ex-
tent for car roofing, both On account
of the high cost of lumber and ths
trend in car building to get away iron
wood when some other material cie
be utilized.
District steel makers say that ,ne
banks are prepared to deal llberSily
with roads In the matter of proVihibs
money TO repair cars, especially ~
moving crops.
Current steel plant operations hasc
been revised TO the extent whefe ~
dependent steel works production aver
ages 35 per cent, surpassins' tor S'.g
first time in many years, the raao y
operation of the United Steel oorP0l@'
tion, at SO per cent.
All district sheet makers have ae.
justed prices to conform to the aeNs.
established levels of S5 per ton leMsa
On black and galvanized, carrying -s shs
former TO 3.75c and the latter % -
AS a result of this readjustment sony
business has come out. nepofis q.
current in the trade, however, 'AAs
black sheets are being sold by egiss n
peti.ors in this district AZ 3.50e 10 S'ess
per pound and galvanized at 4.5ee.
One maksr in territory close py aFs
been selling on such basis Tor ~
cral months and mas been enaaiea
thereby to maintain production
tween so and 60 per cent. H. is -
timated that the lower prices VIII Bass
30 be met generally or producers W.
adhere 70 the higher base Wit be eos''
PEELED to suspend.
Makers of fine finished stock A.
readjus ted prices prop $3.50 4eesi-f -.
ing them down from Sue, the no-a'h7'
quotation.
Another factor which is holding gp
sheet production at this time Is taS
likelihood that union mills may sas
pend owing to failure to reach Sh
FSfStnfCilb bN It2E NFdss H-e4tt ~ W
p1oyees acting through the AmsiFar
mated Iron, Steel and Tin WORKERS,
The current contract expires jung ~
and there is no provision fer the eehs s
tinuance OF operations beyond tass
time. No arrangements have as
been faade to that effect and sss-
pension until Il new agreement =
reached is declared likely 70 s9il..s
quarters. That it would cause htlss
disturbance for either the mills or en-.
ployees is evident from the fact siaas
operations have been at low rate fes
tho last three months.
The bar iron agreement also cxpifss
June 50, and a new contract has BOT
been negotiated Ii provides, however,
for the maintenance Of operations fes
a period of thirty days in event q
failure 10 reach a new agreement..
In face OF a weak market tin pisse
has sagged to So 4 base box. with sae
mills of the chief district maker wsseisy
suspended and orders being tllied fFcrs
stock, Balk of the business is eonstgg
from milk and tobacco eAnncaS, tsle
teenSipasd on sss, rasel