New-York tribune., 1921-06-19
Depends Upon Jobbers


volving a carload, but otherwise little
activity.
Depends Upon Jobbers
Still another interest reports that the
bulk of its current sheet output is
being consumed by the johbing trade.
Makers Of automobile parts are draw
ing upon certain mills for fair sized
tonnage and their, requirements are
keeping some mills partly engaged.
The falling off Of pipe business, both
in wrought Mon and steel, will adverse
ly affect number of mills, inssmuch
as pipe output has materially aided in
upholding their production schedules.
William NJ McFate, a>vce- president
of the Trumbull Steel Company, at
Warren, Ohio, says that the business
outlook is uncertain, but that some ton
mage is developing from week to week.
Expected upturn in tinplate buying has
not materialized, he says, although his
company believes there is q large over
hanging demand which will substan-
TALLY accelerate production as soon as
it is released.
Reducing Production Costs
Independents are still concentrating
their attention in this territory on the
reduction of production costs, in the
belief that lower price level is ahead
of the industry The general Is per
cent reduction in salaries Of officials of
the Brjar Hill Steel Company and all
salared workers became effective on
June Is. On the same date the Jones
& Laughlin Steel Company abolished
all overtime, being the last of the in
dependent steel companies to make this
change in working conditions. Also on
the same day Spang- Chalfant & Co.. at
INC oh Oh ,,,,r, IL,
men back on a ten-hour basis. 1t is
reported that another wage cut will
follow early in July by the independ-
ents.
Steel men say there are indications
that business involving large tonnage
in the aggregate is being temporarily
withheld until costs and prices reach q
more stabilized level! It is expected
heavy tonnage will be released as soon
have been fully liquidated.
A regular volume of the bar move
ment to non-integrated sheet produc-
ers indicates that the latter are get
ting their share of going business and
IN some cases relatively more than the
self-contained makers. The highly
modernized mills of such smaller in
terests, which enable cheaper and more
efficient production, offset the advan-
tages of the self-contained interests
in having their own iron and steel
making equipment.
Want Better Prices
Buyers are generally insisting that
a more attractive price be offered on
sheet bars than the nominal quotation
OF S39. The practice prevails in the
acmi-flnished trade in this district to
allow orders to accumulate sufficient
Tor weeks rolling and then to start
the mills. Practically all of the skelp
now being rolled in this district is
eeIng consumed by pipe makers
The pig iron market reflects the
ranging from s2t to $22, while Bes-
semer is selling for $23.
what few orders for tinplate are
struggling in are being filled from
stock. Very light inquiries for plates
are being received and the price is
variable in view of the limited demand
The stabilized quotation rules on small
current tonnage, but a sizeable inquiry
would bring a substantial concession.
buyers state
Production Further Curtailed
Production in the Shenango VALLEY
was further curtailed this week, when
the Farrell works of the American
Sheet and Tinplate Companv shut
down the hot mill department. The
| finishing mills were operated steadilv
put 1T IS now believed that the entire
| plans will go down. The tin mill of
the company is operating three days
| week ""'
| The closing of the Carnepie stee,
plant at New Castle affected about
l,b00 men this week 1t is said the
mlll Will be idle for at least a month
and possibly longer Only One blast
furnace has been operating and it was
blown out was
The Savage Arms Corporation is nre-
parlng to close its plant at Sharon for
needed repairs and improvements. The
plant employs about 750 men during
normal operation, but only 125 have
been working for SOME time past
Announcement is made thai tho
Sharon Pressed Steel plant at Whea+-
land is operating at about 40 per cent
capacity; the highest average of anv
Independent mill in this district. The
company is making automobile frames
ard 1t is stated that the orders on the
books viii keep the mill running stead :
| lily Tor some time.
Slow Operation Schedule
"A SLOW schedule is in operation in
the Homestead Steel Works and the
DUquesne plant of the Carnegie Steel
Company. The mills chat are runnino
l.
Wednesday of this week, which put
the plants on three and four-day
| schedule. '
The-surprise of the Homestead plant
~ the closing down of the Open Hearth
| No. for the first time, and the lar IS
| now being sent from the Clarion Bv-
product plant to the New Castle works
a number Of steel workers who have
| 1amllles have LETT the Homestead and
Duquesne district for towns alone ~
Monongahela River in search Of en- mn
ployment at the coal mines. The dull
ness of the steel trade has established
a low record for tonnage at both Of
/ the big plants of the corporation.
oilicials of the Cambria Steel Com
pany at johnstown state that com
parson with reports from the steel
INDUSTRY from all sections show the
Cambria plant is enjoying a greater
i percentage Of orders for materials
then any other concern in the conn
try They claim that in this respect