New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
Steel Trades
Attention on
Expansion
Much Speculation a. % II.
Scope of the YOunr,.
town Sheet and Tube q
Plans; May Buy S. and 7
Manufacturers 0piimisII.
Current Activity Expe,,,y
To BE Maintained n Il.
First Quarter Of Yea.
ap,llal plaraieh I, Il. Il.

PITTSBURGH. Dec. 5O.-lu.a,....
events Of the ysarsnd "a a. 80,
industry in tho Pltt,burzh S,,,,,,, -. =.
the transitions Of the ones . f,..,,,
Steel Company into eo,,,,..,
with new charter and incye,,.J 49, ~
Cal stock, and tbs merger of ..
Of Youngstown Independent, 49,
promise % extend % include o.be,.t
the Chicago district.
There is much speculation nDa.
scope Of the expansion proz,sr, -
the youngstown Sheet and Tub g.
pany has undertaken, beginning ~
the acquisition Of tho Brisr mi 80
COMPANY. Notices have bs,- a., :.
stoekholders Of Brier Hill as,r -
20 ratIfY the agreement n vl "A.
oompany's holdings and lt /. -,
etood the most important ir.srse,t
statements.
u is the BELIEF tha, Sheet asd TIA.
Comrany - ondeayoring % secure T,
Chicago district connection and nsy
absorb both the Inland Steel Company
end the Steel and Tube Company q
merics. Another plan which the Shsr
and lube Company Is preparing
push with much aggressivensss M "a
construction Of a railroad from ts,
AhnoninR Valley % thu Ohio Rive.
and later 70 Lake Erie. Such q Fo,l
would be especially vaiuabls IN Raul
ing coal from the Pennsylynla flsld
and would effect a substantial saylsf
IN freight costs. This project has lonS
been before Valley executives, bat n
Uniform action on it has ever been
possible.
That sheet and tube pIaas % ep.r,,
the Brier Hill properties with he ID.
most economy IL the belief N The ir.
dustry. Sales oficers Will Be eorssu.
dated, and Il Is quite likely the elsye
branches which the Brer Hi Corasssv
has maintained, including one IN "A,
city, viii be discontinued.
That Republic Iron and Steel Csu.
pany would welcome an advantasscc,
merger is we'll known among flnins.i
leaders.
The Trumbull Steel Company hmn
Gently been strengthening rs spsst
ing personnel and will make sC,ul
other additions % Is operating ras.
agement on January J.
Optimistic Over 1923 Outlook
Steel makers generally are oy,-lrl,
over the outlook FOR 1923. CufIss, 4.
t.vity indicates that operating Ftsi.
ules VIII be we'll maintains5 afssa.
out the first quarter. PiN niiu
especially are enjoying favonh's h-t-
ness. One Valley interest i vsfdrf
off large order for io-lneh pi,s =.
Gently placed b. the Texas tonys.y
involving upwards Of 10000 tors io..
bcrs arc replenishing ard bslansiss
their stocks preparing for 6snsz1
next spring. In fact pipe business has
been largely responsible for he sue
cess this year achieved by the YosnQ.
town Sheet and Tube Company and &
has Likewise enabled the Republic
Iron and Steel Company 70 raske
favorable showing the last quarter
or the seventeen pipe mills IN ias
Mahoning Valley sixteen are EcE
rolling, and this scheduls has bees
maintained for some tine
While steel mills turning out ssr'.
finished and finished products are op
Grating near normal. the outlook tor
the Independent blast furnaces Il
rather dubious, according % lesaing
manufacturers Of the Shenango Waller.
There are only FIVE Of the fourtser
blast furnaces active. three Of then
owned By the Steel Corporation Pa
iron maxers assert that costa OF f''
semblinR materials az the furntei
high freight rates and excessive eeT
OF coke Is such that the furnaces car
not be operated at 8 proa', consider
ing the selling price Of iron. Ihfii'
are several independent fsrnsess u
the sharon district ard all are ~
Two OF the stacks are being rebrht
They will not likely be blown IN ult.
there 10 a reduction in the price q
materials or an advance IN the pnr
Of pig metals.
Manufacturers assert that the egst'
ing OF the new year presents difsf.
ert aspect compared with January q
1922. Books are well hlled With orders
that will keep the mills running i@
several months. l. Is estimtiec lh,l
mills are operating AZ approxinrls}
IS per cent Of eapaeitl, vale Cnilsa
states steel Corporation plants are %
q better than 30 per cert basis
The STANDARD Tank Car p.shl -
the Pennsylvania Tank Car OolY'n
.ion are operating their p.ale = -,
paeity. The former Is tsi1'ns -
more than five hundred ears noA.l. 49,.
Orders on the books total nos' ~. w..
So, ,00O. 600. The Sharon sissl nss
Company Is operating its s,iios -
Youngstown plants a. neery 80.
capacity. The open hearth ana l'yyL IN.
ing mill az the sharon WORKS y, a. -
Il is the general belief ey ~ ,ss' s'
and steel men in this district ih.s -
will be- a year Of greater rfospsi.s. 80
the industry. AZ present lne oul .i,rs. 49,
drawback Is the common lspor 80 !.
tion. When all the mills re,."
near capacity there Is no dosy. 80.
serious labor shortage, and many 80, -.
ing manufacturer prediet -. lr.....,-srf
action will be taken BY the gq'sl,n,.l.c.s,
10 loosen the immigration fes.i''',f,,r e.' .,,,r
so as 10 hermit more Workeis "