New-York tribune., 1922-09-03
Car Shortage Felt

The Youngstown district and such
steel-making centers as Johnstown,
Philadelphia, Buffalo and Bethlehem
must depend upon the railroads for
transportation of the coal from the
western Pennsylvania and Ohio mines
to their ovens and mills. The matter
Of car supply is, therefore, giving these
operators no little concern.
Iron and steel makers of the Youngs-
town district are more optimistic about
the imm ediate future. Arrival of fuel
and prospects of better coal supply
at slightly lower prices will assure in
creased operation of the plants for
weeks to come
Coke was received in sufficient guam
tity by the Shenango Furnace Com
pany at Sharpsville, Pr, TO start it's
No. stack Wednesday. The Yonngs-
town Sheet and Tube Company has
added another battery of coke ovens to
the one now in operation, and as soon
as coke will become available will blow
in an additional stack at the East
Youngstown plant. Te Republic Iron
and Steel Company, according to Gen.
crease the number of active stacks as
soon as more coal is received at the
plant. Mines of the Republic in the
Pittsburgh union fields started to work
Thursday
With the increase in pig iron produc-
tion the shortage of semi-finished steel
will cease and finishing mills will be
assured of supply, keeping the rolling
units engaged at near full capacity
Pressing demand for early delivery
sheets is reported by independent steel
concerns. Premiums above the quoted
prices of. 3.5c for black and 4.5c for
galvanized are being paid for prompt
deliveries. -integrated sheet max
ers are not quoting on fourth-quarter
deliveries and will not do so until they
bars, the price OF which went to $40 IA
ton in the last sale made here. o
1t was learned from the independents
that orders for nearly all their leading
products are SUI cent to engage mill
capacity during this month and some
orders will have to be carried over
into the fourth quarter. All concerns
are hesitant about booking much in
advance.
u. S. Steel Corporation plants in the
district continue their activity at about
10 per cent Of capacity. Nine of the
fifteen Carnegie stacks in the Young3
town district are making iron.
To Increase Furnace Operations
At present only four of the thirty
two independent blast furnaces in the
Youngstown district are in blast. This
number, however. will be increased to
five this week wheE the Sheet and Tube
stack will be blown and prospects are
for the resumption of at least three
more furnaces early next week The
stele ingot output of the independents
will reflect the increased blast furnace
activity next week. II is expected that
more open hearth furnaces and posi-.
bly, the Bessemer plant of the Youngs-
town Sheet and Tube Will be active
again.
The Standard Tank Car Company is
planning to start its works, near
Sharon, Pa, on three turns. The com :
pany has enough business on the books
TO keep the plant operating for year
or more. The orders are said to ap~
proximate close to $4,000.0 600.
Lack of coal caused the eomplate
shutdown of the Farrell works of the
Carnegie Steel Company and martial
paralysis Of the American Steel snd
Wire plant ard sheet d. partnens OF
the American Sheet and Tinplate Com
pany. Several plants are greatly ham
pered for the want of fuel. Ii Is pra-
dleted that these plants will be run.
ning at full capacity inside of two
weeks
Sheet making continues at high rate
Of capacity At least 100 of the III
sheet mills, all owned by independents
in the Mahoning Valley. are active
Some Of the tinpiate mills Of The
Trunibull Steel Company are idle This
week due TO lack of power.
The prosperity of the Mahonine VAL
ley IN the next three months denenda
on the ability of the railroads to handle
the rush of coal to the lake pcrts and
at the same time provide the mills
with fuel and enough ears to shin their
output. This also applies IA cnrdi.