Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-20
NEW STEEL ALLOYS
IN GREAT DEMAND
Construction Industry Has
Changed Specifications in
Modern Building.


chrome nickel steel and other alloys
and special steels is indicating def
mite change in some sections of the
steel industry. The requirements for
chrome steel today are so heavy, ac-
cording to officials Of the Department
of Commerce, that the mills are unable
to keep up with it. The demand Is
coming extensively from the construc-
ton industry.
II is certain, according to engineers,
that entirely new code of bulldlnS
practice and of specifications will be
built up as a result OF this develop
rnent. The call for special steels has
been brought about through Efforts 10
lessen building costs. TINS seems OH
ficult to understand for the outsider,
since some of the special steefs cost
around 40 cents a pound, as compared
with to cents for ordinary structural
steels. But the use of the special
sfeels enables the architect to cut down
the weight of foundations and frame
work of building and permits saving.
New SteeIs Rustless.
This nossibilitv first was discovered
IN the construction of bridges. In SKY
scraper construction no weight is helo
NV the brick work or masonry, IL Is
explained by executives OF arthur y
little. Inc. management engineers OIi
tbe other hand, the foundations ana
steel framework have to carry tile
weight of the masonry. Consequently
masonry is being cut down Inc new
steels, which are rustleSS, are pet ..Iss
made into outside wall sections VIII VIII
window frame, sash, sillS, spanorel anu
unit heater. With this type OF OUT.
side wall masonry is needed only at
the corners
Panels of this type follow the general
MD, now adopted by builders OF making
an assembly in the shop instead Oh
putting the separate parts togeIneI vi
the lob" This lessons the hano ia Iot
required and shop costs are uSuaily ess
than the same work at the bullo1ng.
MASONRY decoration also IS giving
Mace to materials lighter in welgnt'
such as chrome steel and ALUMINIUM
Al the moment aluminium is favored,
for il is of lesser cost than chrome
steel Chrome nickel steel ingredients
now cost from IS to so per cent mort
than those of ordinary steel, put theIe
is every indication, according 10 FeoeIaI
officials, that these costs VIII oe Tr,l;1
or the quantity demand increases. This,
they saw. will further its use, not ony
for buildings, but in the industries.
Weight Reduction.
It is magnetic, it is claimed, ano
Is in demand for purposes Wnere tne
fact it does not oxydize is OF Vaiue' such
as for chemical manufacture, Tor Stor-
zoe tanks and filters and in food prep
aration. metal mining and REDUCTION
works. pasteurizers, pumps and plstons.
Further weight reduction IN oiilce
buildings is being obtained by the m
creased use of gypsum partltlon tEes;
the weight of which Is about a IIlI1
that of masonry. Several aH-Steel
buildings now are in course OF cohSLIuC-
ton. one of which, at Worcester, Mass,
shortly will be completed. Inc use Oh
the "battleship,deck' type OF noor CON-
struction is leading to replacement OF
riyets by electric Welding and building
codes are being revamped to PROVIDE
good welding practice.
These new construction TENDENCIES
are commencing to have erect on &c,
ment lime. stone, brick, lumber and
heating apparatus lines.
Russian Metal Production.
Renewed opposition to Slne admission
of certain goods from Soviet Russia
into the United States has drawn the
attention of Government officials ana
American mining men to the increased
activity of the former country IN Ine
production of non-ferrous metals. MOI
only is Russia bringing herself into
position to compete with american
metal producers, but she is doing IL
with the aid of American technical ao-
yisers.
From a negligible output of copper
IN 1000 Russia has raised production
of the red metal to $4,000 metric tons
in the last fiscal year. From 1877 metric
tons in 1922, the zinc output has in
creased to 5000 tons. Before the war
nickel. tin and aluminium were not pro-
duced at all. The government plans 10
increase non-ferrous metal production
by about IS per cent in the present
fiscal year in all these products.
The Soviet government representa-
tiyes in this country declared today that
the non-ferrous metal output stu IS lar
below domestic requirements, but TINS
in itself affects the American producers,
since they are losing Russia as a GUS.
toner and shortly she will be COM
petitor. In the last year Russia has
paid 100000 roubles less for copper
than in the previous year.
Huge deposits OF non ferrous metai
ores have been discovered in the Ural
and Caucasus Mountains and in Kazak-
stan. In the latter Iegion the reserves
are estimated at 500000.00 tons with
a copper content of 100000 tons. ka-
zakstan also abounds in lead-zlnc de-
posts Within 5 years 1t Is planned 10
step I'D the production of the Soviet
aluminium plants to 10000 tons. SINH
lar increases are planned IN output OF
tungsten. mercury, antimony, nickel,
manganese, tin, cadmium and other
metals.
Soviet Purchases.
In many of these metals, the Ameri-
can productive capacity Is exceedingly
domestic and world demand with a
consequent low level of prices. To cor
rect this the non ferrous metal mines OF
the United States and those controlled
by American capital in South America
and Mexico are following program OF
strict curtailn;ent. This has not as yet
Suficed TO raise the prices. II can
readily be seen that if Russia produces
and refines .Eese minerals by forced or
convict labor the local producers will be
under strict disadvantage.
According to Russian sources the for
eign trade of that country increased 81
per cent in the last fiscal year TO total
of 81, 066, 469.2lG. The United States
was a big factor in this commerce and
some industries, notably the machinery
and electrical business, benefited extern
siyely. Russia bought S144, 1886. 400
worth of goods from this country in the
last year, gain of 1873 per cent as COM
pared Win Tie previous year. 0ne sofa
in the United States $22 958l85 worth
of Russian products. But Great Brit
ain. often called Americas best Gus
toner. took over $l22 65l 900 worth of
Soviet goods. The Soviets sold 10000
600 gallons of gasoline on one British
order.
In the last year contracts were con-
cludec with a number of American firms
for technical assistance in development
of the non ferrous metals mining in
dustry and over 100 specialists were
engaged. The Soviets plan to add sew
eral score to that number in 1881.
Copyright. 1917