New-York tribune., 1922-05-14
Steel Industry
Is Finding New
Coke Sources
Position Of Connellsville
and Monongahela River
Mines Thr atened by Dis-
roveries in By-Products
Foundry Iron Advanced
Principal Concern Of the
Trade Is TO Keep Coal
Pile and Orders Balanced
Special Dispatch 10 tn. T-.ban.

4 PITTSBURGH. May ls. - Further
evidence that the ConnellsviIle and
! Monongahela River non-union coal
mines now closed by the strike ar.
menaced as to their future develop
ment has come to light during the
past week in the steel industry. As
result of certain discoveries made by
stei manufacturers who were forced
to look elsewhere than to the above
fields for their sources of coal FOR
their coke plants. it is now freely pre-
dcted in steel circles that the leading
place once held by those fields In re-
lation TO the steel industry may never
again be restored.
One of the outstanding developments
in the steel industry as direct re
suit Of the strike IN the Pennsylvania
n-union fields is the attention being
given 30 producing by-product coke. II
was shown in these columns recently
that the by produc. oven at the mills.
as compared with the beehive oven at
the mines had the advantage, not only
in the quantity and quality OF coke
produced as well as by-products manu-
factured and marketed, but also in en-
abling the steel companies to use coal
from other than the famous Conneils-
Vile and Monongahela River fields
which has heretofore been considered
indispensable to the steel industry. It
was pointed out that one Of the re
suits Of this situation might be tina.
some OF the coal mines now on strike
in the Connellsville region and along
the Monongahela River would never
again be opened
Coal has been obtained in ampla
quantities from other sources and
some of the steel companies, notably
the Carnegie Steel Company. have
already begun work on enlarging thair
by-product coke batteries.
Produces Better Coke
The latest development along this
line is the discovery that coal brought
into the Pittsburgh district from the
great non-union fields of West Viz
or River coal. produces more and bet
ter coke per ton OF coal than the lat
ter Goals alone have ever turned out.
1t was known in the theory and prac-
tice of by-product coke making that
high volatile Goals. such as the Con
nellsville and Monongahela River
fields produce. when used alone DO
= not make good coke as when in mix
r ture with certain Goals Of lower cola
= tile contents. However, the chance to
t make the experiment under actual
I operating conditions was not presented
, until the coal strike forced the steel
G operators, through necessity, to turn
: to other SUPPLIES of coal
y 1t was found that the coal from the
$ West Virginia fields. Of lower vola-
+ tilty than the Connelsvile and River
d GOALS, when mixed with the latter pro-
a duccs higher grade coke and a
greater yield per ton.
y This increase in coke output zoe. a
l. long way toward offsetting the added
It cost of transportation from the more
@ distant fields and the prediction WAS
# freely heard in steel circles here this
e week that the future of the famous
s Ccnnellsville and Monongahela River
e coal lelds is further jeopardized, espe-
= cially when freight rates have been re-
t stored to normalcy.
d is said to have had its effect upon
some of the more intelligent miners
in the striking Pennsylvania fields and
80 have caused them to pause and con
y slider what the outcome may be TO
:, them. The discovery of the steel in
y tcrcsts that they have more than one
+ string to their bow in the matter Of
Il coking coal supplies. is said TO be ono
/. Of those revolutionary things which
= seem to come out Of every great in
= dustral uuheaval, to the detrimeat Of
$ the workers who inaugurate the dis-
= turbance.
Week Uneventful
u The week in the steel industry hssl
= been uneventful AS far as operation is'
U concerned. Most OF the large steel
! producers have Withdrawn from the
market and no steel manufacturer
: wishes to use up his coal reserves on
: new orders. The principal concern OF
: thc steel industry now is to keep the
coal pile and the order book balanced,
+, Steel manufacturers say that In
y creased costs Of iron and steel rroduc
ton warrant higher prices, which will
: probably apply to third quarter tor
mage. Higher costs are felt practically
in ceal, pig iron and scrap metals.
Little business Is being booked IN
: sheets and wire products.
' During the past week foundry iron
$ advanced from s. to 81 per ton, while
l steel bars have been marked up 81 per
e ton in the Youngstown and Pittsburgh
districts. Many furnaces and mills ara
: sold up for several months to come as
3. CONSEQUENCE Of the strong buying
t movement Of the past few weeks and
s makers are now in the position OF
e rickinp their orders, taking only the
Il most attractive
o There is as yet no noticeable restrle-
e tion in production because OF the coal
strike. though needed expansion ~
being held up. Any break in the min
ers' ranks or resumption OF idle non
II union workings will be followed almost
It Immediately by the blowing in OF ad-
j. ditional blast. furnaces. Pig iron IL be
: coming scarcer and increasingly dim
g cult to obtain, and the market IL
: stronger in all directions.
e The most important development IN
- the industry in the Shenango NaHe3
# this week WAS the blowing in Of an
other blast furnace By the Shenange
o Furnace Company at Sharpsville ano
il resumption of all finishing mills At thf
Sharon steel hoop plant. The furnace:
have been coked down for severa
weeks.
. Discussing the price situation. Pres
4 ident F. c. Biggert jr., Of the Unite,
n Engineering and Foundry Company
er stated: I'VE are playing the safe gam'
2. bv keeping prices on the low side. ant
$. we propose to continue this policy.
II Our product consists Of rolls, stse
castings and mill machines. None 9
Mt these is capable of any considerable
- Standardization. Rolls come nearest t
Mt being uniform product, but even her
r; wide variations occur and no grea
I'd quantity of duplicates is made. In thi
ar product we have our best chance :
'r, keep prices at that nice balance whicl
SO will bring in a good profit withou
60 building up excessive competition
&c limiting output beyond the most eco
~ nomical point.