San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-01

uary to tle high point Of $1,000 tons in
October and the estimated daily produc-
ton of steel ingots from 10000 in jan
uary to 10000 in October. Untitled
orders on the books Of the United States
Steel Corporation climbed upward stead
ily from February with 4,141 900 tons
to November with nearly 100000 tons.
Prices Of these two products shot sky
ward during the year, rising / the case
of pig iron from an average OF Ssh to
s3l.76 per ton, and in the case Of steel
from a composite average of 200 TO 2.5I
cents a pound. Consumption of iron
and steel was greatly increased by rail
road equipment orders. The American
Railway Association, which complies
such statistics, figures that the total
number a. freight cars installed and on
order from the first of the year 10 the
middle of November was 121 ,2O5 as CON-
pared with only 4S,IS7 during the en-
tire year of 1921.
Virtually every steel car company in
the country worked overtime from early
in the year till its close. So did the
locomotive works. Up to November ID
the railroads had installed and ordered
during the year 2249 locomotives. as
compared with 1882 during the previous
year.
Coal Production Nigh.
The coal industry was wrecked by
strike which extended into its fifth
month, Notwithstanding, production
of bituminous coal during the present
year, according to all indications, will
surpass last years output by few mil
lion tons. Anthracite production was
limited by mine capacity and siumped
about 25,000,000 tons under the pre-
vious years output.
Coal prices also scared. but the estab-
lishment of limits by the government
curtailed, somewhat, the rising tendency
Estimates based on data obtained by
the geological survey and the coal dis
tributer indicate that coal consumers
will have TO pay about S0O0,OOO,OVc
more this year for their fuel than they
paid last year, the tonnage being about
the same.
The labor situation in the coal indus.
fry remains unsettled. Resumption OF
work last August left the issue between
miners and operators undecided and with
fair prospect of another national strike
when the present agreement expires on
the first of April next.
In the group of non-ferrous metals,
the copper mines showed toward the
end of the year tendency to increase
production under the stimulus OF IN
creased demand; zinc worked off IT'S
stocks and increased its production to
about 40 per cent Of the 1870 record
aluminium prices lowered around the ie
cent level but rose at the end OF the
year; and lead prices spurted upward
more than 30 per cent in eight months
due to bettermert Of general conditions
Record Demand for Autos.
The National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce forecast in the early
months n fair average years business
A record demand. however, gave the
automotive industries such great momen'
tum that to their own surprise they ex'
celled the banner year of 1910. Inc
movement has carried forward through
the early winter with such force that
another high record may be established
next year. Ford is planning still larger
production and his nearest competitor
has quit taking orders for 1928, claim
ing that the entire factory output Of
2S1 600 cars already has been sold.
From lovly levels Of 10 years ago
gasoline production has climbed up
ward with the growing use OF the auto'
mobile toll it ranks now well among the
moior Industries. A new record for
consumntion was created during the
nresent year, according to data obtained
bv fine Bureau Of Mines, the total beng
estimated at 5.G0O.000.0OO gallons as
comnored with 4.J00,0O0,OOo gallons
Iost year According to this estimate
every automobile in the country con.
snmed. on the average, ten gallons OF
gasoline week.
With the pickup in demand for other
petroleum products, retail gasoline prices
dronped during the year approximately
five ccpts n gallon. Tie end OF the
movement. however, APPARENTLY has oeen
reached. Higher prices are expected
during the early part OF next year
Production Of automobile tires kept
nece with the increase in cars, rising
from > 600 900 new tires in January to
nearly 100000 monthly toward the
Lose of the year. Prices fluctuated
dmring tba wear. n substantial drop be-
inc succeeded by an advance of about
10 per cent.
p,1dirr onerations in the 81 states
covered by the Dodge Company surVe!
reflected throughout the wiidness OF the
h, ON on which the building trades were
launched. In that area he value OF
onerations undertaken during the year
will approximate S3,5OO,OOO.Ooo, a %
40. cont increase over last year. LABOR
a,d material costs rose sharply-in the
60, as much as 80 per cent IN
some localities-but apparently ala not
check the rush for homes. Brick prices
scared TO dizzy heights; lumber mus
hootnd more orders than they could
fill: cement manufacturers WORKED over.
time and increased prices about Id per
cont. and labor reaped rich harvest
in rising wage scales and bonuses
In New York City. according 10 one on,
authority. skilled workmen in the Dulld-
ING trades. such as carpenters, plum0ers'
nIosterers and painters, commanaSu w
70 $40 a day. while wages OF Sl1 anu
S15 n day were the rule.
More than 10000 miles OF tederal-a a.
highways were completed during tne
YEAR. according to the bureau OF puellc
loads This is a new record, marking
r,oosrrahle nrogress on the 15-year pro,
gram which calls for the construcL.un y,
1S0 600 miles. Estimates to the bureau
from, fine various states place the tStat
cost of new construction in w.
the United States at not
FAR from $40. OOO.O00 This IS about
20 npr cent in excess OF work done IN
any previous year. .,s. r,s