New-York tribune., 1922-07-16
2 Strikes Now
A Real Menace
To Steel Trade
Shopmen's Walk.Out Az.
ing Csal shipmeats sss ~,
Threatenr to Causs r. u
tailment of Produe,,a'' ''
Some Shut-Downs Fea,e1
Situation Is Reflected :.
a Quickening Demandd !
for Mar Produa..u

special bfspatch to The 7yts,v.
PITTSBURGH, July 15~s.
over the possible prolongatIon :. sis'' e
coal strike and the rail shov..a, :. a'
strike continues to be ths ssss Siasns
factor in the steel industry tb,.~"a ,sas
ths Pittsburgh, Wheeling and yas. .'a'
town districts. These two lab.r
heavals are seriously menae;r. W
production. The coal strike frsu '.ss' =
very first forced extreme caut;o, 'ae
steel makers to avoid as.un,; sp'n
sponsibilities for tonnage fbsn r.
not be able to produce. The re.ui ialsat
an early policy Of decIininy ssua ~ vas
orders winch would put the order sn ssl,
out OF balance with the coal pile Ts.ss Ts.s
came the shopmen's strike, wsi.s a
hrst ana not seem to contain any sss;
Gus threat against the operation ,',i, =,
the steel mills. Now, however. !. I.
clearly seen that the shopmen,s ,..,ls :. Is
carries possibility of serion. ;r;nas rIs,.s
to steel production in that II - ;'It'
ginning 10 affect operations m % ~a;s Ds'
roads which have already been nnssas ,s.l,
to the utmost 70 keep I'D the coal sns' srs
plies TO the steel mills. wal sup
1t is natural, therefore. tbs. -.
steel industry should be observ;,, .hs .l,s
progress Of these TWO labor dis1n.a. .as
with uncommon anxiety and with ~
keenest interest. Steel officials aug -s
following the news of the strikes VIII
an avidity which shows how kssn;r
they feel the possible menace TO tbsi,
own industry. The fact that rost ~
the large steel mills either own NAV.
union coal mines or depend upon ther
for fuel and coking coal is snotis,
factor in their concern over the ont.
come of the conferences in Washing.
ton. 1t is freely said here that sons
Of the larger concerns will make a..
termined fight to prevent inclusion Of
hitherto non-union mines in any
settlement arrived at, and no one Al
all familiar with the steel Industry Be-.
lieves for moment that the United
States Steel corporation will sit idIy
by and see the mines upon which i
depends brought within the fold Of
the union.
Independents Affected
youngstown reports that Valley Ii.
Germ over the strike Of the railway
shopmen, which is cutting into IN.
bound coal shipments and threatens 10
curtail operations at time when de-
mand is firm for variety Of steel
products.
Several Of the important youngstown
interests fear a suspension By August
/, unless the situation clears up in the
meantime. Coal shipments have been
greatly retarded on some roads and
industrial consumers have been com-
PEELED in consequence TO use their re-
serves.
The shopmen's strike is interfering
in many places with placing Of cars At
the mines, as well as train movement.
it is reportd But for this situation
the larger buyers say they would Be
able to ill their Requirements With Lit.
tie difficulty, though compelled 70 pay
higher prices.
This situation is being reflected IN
demand, which has ouickened for some
products, particularly sheets. pie ard
strip steel. Manufacturing consumers
VI SIt1 10 III pal ltSA4dL 1AS -
pressing anxiety over the future anu
are endeavoring to secure larger ship-
ments, against a possible interruption
to steel supply.
Prices of West Virginia and Ken.
tucky coal are firm at $780, while sons
mines are asking 1915. For eoal mined
in the Pittsburgh region various prices
are being asked, ranging from s4.26 to
S4.3G to s4.75. Because Of the lower
freight charge from the Pittsburgh re-
gion to the valleys much coal is NOV
ing into the district from that source.
Fuel Supply Factor
Until the shoprnen's strike is settled
fuel supply promises to be dominant
factor in the steel markets. At no tine
since April 1, when the coal miners
strike began, have plants IN this terr'-
tory been compelled 10 restrict nee
operations, though there has been scae
prevention of expansion that Houia
otherwise have taken place.
A decided change was made du1ins
the last week in operation Of iron sha
steel mills in the Wheeling distrisi.
The plants of the Wheeling Stel eol'
poration were increased in worsine
while the Unitd States Stel Corpora
tion underwent a change dovn.afu'
The Standard plant, at bnags
port, was put on the idle list siIs' M
working at capacity for some tinis'
leaving only one plant of the giant COZ co.
poration in operation, the Lsuga.a'
plant, in Martins Ferry. No reason lOi
the suspension of the 4Etna plant ~a'
given by officials. ~.
For the first time in two years shs -
Republic Company Is operating all y.
pipe mills in the tube department. :, y
Youngstown. The units are equally O. O.
vided between lapweld and bustwei'
production. In some sizes demand g e. !.
ceeds supply, owners say, and for {, thl'
reason prices are very firm. The shss
and Tube Company has ten OF u
eleven tube mills active and total
sixten out of seventeen mills in sa
Mahoning Valley are therefor opefa'
ing this week.
The Cambria Steel Company.
Johnstown is operating nineteen ous
twenty-five open-hearth furnaces
Johnstown and three out OF eieVs
blast furnaces.