New-York tribune., 1922-07-23
Strikes Having
A Serious Effect
On Steel Trade
Already Has ReuIied in the
Banking Of Four Blast
Furnaces in the Mahon-
ing Y alley District
Pittsburgh Faring Better
More Suspensions are Pre-
dicied in Youngstown I'm
less Situation Improves

PITTSBURGH. July 22.-Disorean-
lied transportation resulting from the
railway shipments strike is menaclng
tho steel industry and has already re-
suited il the banking Of four blast
furnaces in tho Mahon.ng Valley. The
Republic Iron & Steel company has
been compelled 90 suspend its Bessem-
or department. which had been IN op-
Grafton only since July 3. IL has also
reduced the number Of its active tube
mills from six % five. Oother COM
pauies. likewise. are curtailing. The
Br.er Hill Steel company had banked
one Of Eos three active blast furnaces,
while Tho G0O-ton stack Of the Irum-
bull-Clids Furnace company at Warren,
o., is down.
Mills in tho Pittsburgh and Wheeling
districts seem 20 be unaffected. so far,
and arc reported % have 80 % 60 days
supplies OF coal on hand. These opera
tors have the advantage Of the Monon-
cahcia and Ohio rivers FOR bringing
in coal fro mthe non-uni0n fields, which
makes them independent Of the rail-
roads.
Unless the situation improves in
YOUNGSTOWN other and more serious'
suspensions are predicted. Meanwhile
Mah0ning Valley Interests are making
every effort to maintain production, and
are rcsorting 20 the use Of fuel Oh,
tar and gas wherever possible. Sub
s.ant.al shipments ~ fuel oil arc COM
ing through. The Sheet & Tube COM
pany Us using fuel oil altogether IN It's
open hearth furnaces.
Cuts Coal Shipments
Apparently. the principal diaculty
has come through inability Of roads
tapping the mines 10 West Virginia
and Kentucky % resist the strike.
Before the shopmen walked out, such
connecting carriers had been operating
considerable in excess Of capacity, be-
cause of che larger coal shipments 20
Che industrial. sections FRO msoushcrn
mines.
Accordingly. the shipments strike
foyurd them unable 90 meet the strain
OF the ituation In consequence.
there has been serious interruption 20
inbound coal shipments In the ioungs-
town territory. the stoppage coming
almost overnight Some coal. Is NOV
ing into the district, but on a much
smaller scale, and Mahoning Valley IN
dependents are depending on this move
mcnt and reserve supplies 20 maintain
current operations.
There has been comparatively little
Interference with outbound shipments
Of steel. while the orc mqvcment from
lake docks 90 inland furnaces has not
been largely affected.
In view Of the stopps q OF coal ship
m'nts from southern fields, indcpcnd-
cnts are preparing % operate thc'r
Pennsylvania mining rrcp,rucs or
larger scale. Valley interests owning
extensive coal mncs .r ponnslyvaria
arc the Shcc; & Tubs c., bsicr liiil
Co., Republic and Tr,miul companies.
Almost AZ Capacity
As opposed 90 the Youngstown fitua-
tion the reports from tnc Shcnorgo
Valley are most optimistic. and indi-
cate that mills of tho United ata.cs
Steel corporation in Farrell are operat-
inc at nearly ono hundred per cent
capacity despite the coal and railroad
strikes. Tho sheet and tinpiatc works
of the American Sheet g. Tinnlatc COM
pany are operating az full capacity.
The Carnegie Steel company Is operat-
irr 90 canacity with the exception OF
two open hearth furnaces and the skolp
mill Shortage OF steel is the reason
given for the idlones5 of the skelp
mill Tho Farrell works OF the Ameri-
can Steel e Wire company Is running
40 normal capacity.
Meanwhile there is little contraction
In business although buyers are Of
course in view Of the uncertainties
surrounding production Makers like
wise decline 20 commit themselves with
respect 90 deliveries.
"Transpor In a large industry
is of prime Importance states v. W.
Delaney. superintendent o. Transports
tion for the Youngstown Sheet & Tube
company "Our plant has handled a
maximum of $4,000 ears In one month
20 and fro mrailrQads, averaging better
that a thousand q day. Every car
averages Eve sepaorate moves from It's
arrival % departure from our tracks.
making grand total Of approximately
5000 car movements per day and
ncccssitating almost clock'work 10
avoid delays 90 some departments or
group OF workmen.
"Ihc freight tonnage required 20 be
handled Ia the normal operation Of our
plants amounts 90 more than % 900. 900
tons Of inbound freight. i,250,000 tons
OF outbound and 100000 tons Of mira
mill between departments. making
total of more than 100000 tons Of
freight 90 be handled on our tracks
per year. This included 10000 cars OF
orc dumped through our car bumper"
ElpCd GflOin taoinl nu aoin oin mn