The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-02
AUTO INDUSTRY
USES FOURTH
OF STEEL

NEW YORK. Jan. 2.-The au-
tomotive industry took IS per
cent Of all of the finished steel
made in 1885, as compared with
81 per cent Of 1884 production,
according to the Iron Ages an
nual survey Of steel distribution.
Railroads took only 6h per
cent Of the 1884 total. The large
increase in shipments Of finished
steel to the automotive industry
and the sharp decline in the
percentage taken by the rail
roads were the outstanding facts
brought to light by the canvass.
Large gains were also shown
in the percentages for agricul-
ture (9h per cent for 1885 as
against 71a per cent for l934
and for the metal container in
dustry 111a per cent for 1885
compared with 10 per cent in
1880, although producers of
tanks, barrels, drums and buck
cts increased their consumption
Of steel more than tin can manu-
facturers.
Building Ratio Less
The building industry was a
relatively less important outlet
for steel in 1895, taking IL per
cent Of the total compared with
1871 per cent in 1884, and there
was q particularly noticeable de-
cline in the proportion Of steel
that went into highway construc-
ton, the 1885 figure being "a
per cent as compared with per
cent for 1884.
The ratio for exports declined
from AZ per cent for 1884 to 312
per cent, and that for machinery
from per cent for 1884 to 4
per cent for 1885.
The miscellaneous classification
accounted for 20 per cent Of total
finished steel shipments in 1885
as against II per cent in 1884.
Makers Of domestic electrical ap-
pliances, household equipment
and furniture and office equip
ment accounted for more than
one-quarter of the unclasSified
shipments.
Sheet Steel Leads
Sheet steel again accounted for
the largest tonnage of finished
products in 1885. In fact, light
flat-rolled products predominated
as in the recent depression years,
having taken more than 43 per
cent Of the total. Bars, with 1871
per cent of the total, were
again the second most important
outlet for raw steel and the per
centage taken by wire mills rose
from Q to 10. This reflected the
improved buying power of the
agricultural industry which took
nearly 10 per cent Of the steer
shipped in 1885.
The rather poor showing made
by the railroads and by the con-
struction industry was naturally
reflected in the relatively small
amount Of steel which went into
shapes, plates and rails. Rails &C.
counted for less than 3 per cent
of steel output last year, the
least taken in any year that this
survey has been made except IN
1898. The showing made by
plates Il per cent? and shapes
(61a per cent? was almost equally
bad.
Tin Plate Takes 81 Per cent
Tin plate, accounting for s1a
per cent of total production, was
an important consuming outlet,
although the figures on produc-
ton of black plate for timing ap-
parently no longer include all of
the tin plate made. Cold-reduced
material, in some cases, may be
reported as strip steel with no in
dication that it is eventually to
be timed.
Total alloy finished steel pro-
duction in 1885 Appropriated l.
400. 900 tons. OF this total, the
automotive industry was the
largest single outlet. having about
640,0 tons or almost 46 per cent
Of the total.