New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-27
spectar Dispatch to TIC Tribune

Il
cept 33 per cent increase granted the
coke workers of the corporation. An
other mine in the third pool rsumed
during the week and it is believed that
the Bridgeport mine, one of the largest
in the district, will start mining coal
next week
In the Mahoning and Shenango val
legs, mill operators are hopeful that
the low point in the operation depres-
sion, because of lack of adequate coal
supplies, has been reached. Only three
independent blast furnaces are pouring
in the two valleys, while the Carnegie
Steel Company is operating nine stacks,
out of a total of twelve. During the
postwar industrial depression in 1920,
furnace activity in the same district
was reduced to six active stacks.
1t is therefore virtually impossible
to obtain surplus pig iron in the
Youngstown district; unless the tran
saction involves resale material, and
very little Of this is on the market.
Some Spot Tonnage Available
Some spot tonnage of semi-finished
steel is available, but in limited guam
titles. The market has moved to a
minimum of $3.50 for sheet bars, slabs
and bllets, aside from the tonnage
moving under contract taken at S35.
This, of course, represents tn bulk of
TIL unfinished shipments from this
territory.
One large pipe interest in the Ma
koning Valley has recently purchased
round tonnage of Besemer steel, tax
ing some from the Carnegie Steel
Company and some from Jones &
Laughlin. These purchasers were
finished steel for conversion into FIN
lShed products chiefly nine
Joseph G. Butler, dean of the in
dustry in the Mahoning Valley, looks
for prosperous business for the IN
dustry when the present troubles times
curtaiiing production are at an end
Output of the steel mills has been
severely restricted for some time, in
the face of active demand" states Mr.
Butler, "and accumulation of such
business, IN addition to new require
ments, should give the mills PLENTY
to do. The wage. increase comes at
an opportune time and is deserved by
workers in the industry, who have re-
ceived more than their share of cuts.
in comparison with workers in other
lines
Producers are still struggling with
the problem of trying to keep their
plants going. In open hearth furnace
departments, fuel oil is being used on
a more extensive scale than ever be-
fore, while tar and natural gas are
likewise being employed as substitutes
for coal, and are proving satisfactory.
The Youngstown Sheet & Tube Com
pany has cut down its open hearth
operations to so per cent basis. for
the time being.
Firmer Prices on Sheets
Firmer prices are applying on sheets,
& yeyr cto vi,
plates and shapes. The Brier Hill steel
Company has entered the market in a
more active way for plate business
especially on 132-inch mill sizes, and
It's large mill ic active after an idle
ness of several months. For standard
gauges, 1T is quoting up to '2.15c on
plates. and up to 2.50c and S2.6nc on
the lighter sizes.
OF the Mahoning Valley indepen-
dents, the one most closely approach
ing normal production is the Trum
pun Steel Company, at Warren, which
has all of its seven open hear+bs
charged. It's blooming mill and bar
mill have sufficient capacity to roll
the output of eight additional fur
| naces. which will ultimately be added
to the steel plant It's property has
| capacity Of 10000 tons per month, in
cludlng billets, sheet bar, blue an
nealed, black and galvanized sheets.
| galvanized and painted roofing. eIec
trio sheets, tin mill black. finpIate.
hoops, bands and hot and cold
rolled strips.
steel workers generally are gratified
by the wage advance, which was pre-
dlcted IN these columns last week. It
means a return to high price level.
IN the opinion of manufacturers, who
see some check to business on that ac-
| count.
The Sharon Steel Hoop Comnanv
made an advance in the price Of strin
steel of aall sizes of SIS per ton. exeez
4 tive August 10. Indications are some
independent manufacturers will be
forced to raise prices and Others will
make an effort to hold prices at the
| present level for time. The increase
is to absorb added costs due to IN
creased fuel charges
| All independent manufacturers have
announced that they will raise WAGES
20 per cent for day labor to meet the
increase of the United States Steel
Corporation. Higher wages are OK
pected to prevail throughout the in-
dustry which will include skilled work
ers as we'll as salaried men, under
5000 a year. The only workers not
affected arc those working on tannage
/ basis.
There has been some revival in scrau
buying, but on the whole activity in
/ the old metals market has been large.
! ~ nominal lately. Heavy melting
grades vary from SIS to $3.50, while
automatically compressed sheets range
from sle.25 to SIT, The higher fgure
applies only on grade A material, how
/ ever.
Makers say there will be large
carry from the third to tho fourtf,
because of restricted production in the
current period.