The Iron Age 1910-05-26: Vol 85 Iss 21

me ree Cresqent Reund Safety Jointer Head. == Established 1855 Published Every Thursday by the DAVID WILLIAMS COMPANY 14-16 Park Place, New York Entered at the New York Post Office, as Second Class Mail Matter. . United States and M. . $5,00 per Ann to Canada, Subecsrs ‘y yen to Other incon Comite. 61 $10.00 = Rude » 20 Cents. CHaRtes T. Roor, - - - = = PRESIDENT CHARLES KIRCHHOFF, - - - - ~ ViCE-PRESIOENT W. H. Taycor, = - TREASURER AND GENERAL MANAGER Haro.io §. BuTTENHEIM, - - - - - SECRETARY Gro. W. Cope, - - - , - \ corrons A, |. FindLey, - - - - - H. R. Cos.eicn, ° - - - - MECHANICAL EDITOR Branch Offices Philadelphia, Real Estate Trust Building Chicago, Fisher Building Pittsburgh, Park Building Cleveland, American Trust Building Boston, Compton Building Cincinnati, Mercantile Library Bldg. CONTENTS. PAGR Editorial : Pig Iron Bore ActPpGs .°'. 0. décndss eke ees uae were 1209 Fluctuations in Iron and Steel Costs...........+.65 1210 Freight Rates on Tron and Steel..........-..000- ewe The Apprentice'’s Boni... cscs sae Copwe ty oy sues 1212 The Interlaken Industrial Training School. .........:... 1212 “A Stady in Heat Transmission”: .. isis cwaeawvcss eas 1212 The National Machine Tool Builders...........+...4 bose SRB The Ohio Engineers’ Meeting... ........05 cevcssevvsess 121: Higher Freight Rates Oppcsed.........cceccecesecevers 1214 Forging Manufacturers’ Testimonial to C. M. Schwab..... 1214 Central and South American Railroads...............4.4. 1214 Resistance of Various Pigments to Corrosion... ....«s««+ 1214 The Iren and Metal Markets Reports..........2.4 1215 to 1224 i i Seek SOGOU 6. «6-5 0 ¥.0's:6 4 Qaleminine +6 8k cee 1224 The Machinery Markets Reports................. 1225 to 1237 Verein. Deutather Ingenieure...........ccccsnvsevcvevs 1227 New: Pablieatlentee 00 6-0:5:86 69s 60 CVO Vere OEE ee ees 1238 Programme for the Foundrymen’s Convention at Detroit... 1239 The Bethlehem Steel Company’s Strike Ended........... 1239 A BOC. Trine, Aer RO som cee wian cei ene bh eee catece 1240 The N. & G. Taylor Company Purchases Maryland Plants. 1240 COMCOCe « Ar OCUMOMRIOGIN, San ccc c thr ere rb it seh ewes vn 1241 Commarea) Rumt: PEG ss. iss bs ec taha eed hack Rivers 1241 The New Plant of B. F. Avery & Sons, Iné.............. 1242 Reciprocity Opinion in Canada. ......6..6.ce eee ccneeees 1242 The National Association of Manufacturers.........¢....% 1248 PORIAR oss Cane be ha Law bs eee bbe COC 1244 ODITURRY 2£ E05 od leet a 0 6 Hibs Shes hw de bee sos eee 1244 Trade’ Bm Ce OG ok sk 6s oF Red Cee Kone Ee cbc oe gee Ee > 1245 CE TOON O a bc wk tie cho EA AS ORO t's 60 eke web <a Oe 1245 Open Hearth Steel Production, 1909.............000 00 ee 1246 Westinghouse Companies Get an Irrigation Order........ 1246 British Pig In Production in 1909.........6.6 eee eee 1246 "Tine EI GOnr se Dime TEASING cy lis S60 b cae RE eke oe bw wae 1246 The Greiner Automatic Wire Straightening and Cutting IGG. TVRGCRRR . bo 5 5s WAN o> oho. p Uo Cees emNe es os ee 1247 Adjustable Flue Covers and Blocks for Boiler Settings.... 1247 The Forter-Trump Gas Producer 124 The Cincinnati Planer Company's New Plant. Lllustrated. 1248 A Thomas Carlin Low-Knife Bar Shear. Illustrated...... 1250 The Herrick’ Rotary . TOGMe st ... Fis sa Ses Sah dew ec be hewn 1250 The Changeezy I-Beam ‘Trolley. Illustrated............ 1251 The Kern Ball-Bearing Sensitive Drill. ITIllustrated...... 1251 The Jones & Laughlin Tin Plate Mills Started........... 1252 A Fosdick Boring and Miliing Machine Job. Illustrated.. 1252 Another New Mueller Radial Drill. Illustrated.......... 12538 The Whitaker-Glessner Company’s Improvements........ 1253 The National Plain Automatic Screw Machine. Illustrated 1254 The New Cincinnati Face Plate Jaw. Illustrated........ 1254 A New Lodge & Shipley Turret Tool Post. Illustrated. 1255 The Mechanical Engineers’ Spring Meeting.............. . 1285 Steam and Air Flow Meters The Bashlin Air Chuck. The First Girod Furnace in This Country.:,............ 1259 Capitalization ard Earnings of Industrial Corporations... 1259 Lower Lake Stocks of Lake Superior Ores............... 1259 A New Wadsworth Core Machine Illustrated........... 1260 A Reputable: French Tool Steel.......... 2.6.6.0 060-045 1261 A Small Sirocco Electric Fan Ventilator. Illustrated... .. 1262 New Trade Schools at Worcester........6....-+ee0eee08 1262 The Chicago Incinerator. Tllustrated.................:. 1 An Excelsior Automatic as Machine. Steel Production in France in 1909............-++eeeees 1 The Johnston & Jennings Double Hook Trolley Hoist. Tus. 1 Illustrated... . Derrick Bocm Seat. Iliustrated..... ae hts bor Conditions at Bteel Works. i. sisswa rot Aas? ean sen emeeee ee os seep tae ee OE THE IRON AGE New York, May 26, 1910 : BHastratedy: dikes ek ss cee eee lilustrated........ Sy bes OO o's ee 1 Pig ron Met ‘Adie Large Contracts for Bars and for Line Pipe— The Attitude of the Railroads The pig iron market is reaching a level at which an increasing number of consumers believe they can safely contract. The low prices recently flamed in con- nection with early shipment have been quoted by some producers for delivery throughout the year, . Other sellers take the position that blowing out is preferable to large commitments at such prices. At $16, at furnace, for Bessemer iron business in the Pittsburgh district has been stimulated, and at $15 for basic considerable iron that has been overhanging the market has been moved. That these figures could be shaded has been made evident by developments of the week, the opinion being general that the situation will clear up more quickly under heroic measures. The East has led in the buying of foundry iron, transactions in the Philadelphia and New York dis- tricts and New England amounting to fully 50,000 tons. Of this pipe makers took about 10,000 tons; a stove foundry in New Jersey, 4200 tons; a machinery foundry in New England, 5000 tons, and an implement works, 5000 tons, malleable foundries. have bought moderately. while In the Central West a considerable number of gray iron and malleable foundries have been in the market, and some buying has resulted, but bids of $11.50, Bir- mingham, for No. 2 seemed to be necessary to meet buyers’ views. One sale of 5000 tons, deliveriés ex- tending over the second half, was made at close to this basis. Chicago reports sales of malleable Bes- semer, including one of 5000 tons in Wisconsin. It is evident that consumers of foundry iron would place large orders for the balance of the year at $11.50, Birmingham, and at $15 or slightly less for No. 2 at Central Western furnace. On the other hand pro- ducers would sell freely for such delivery at 50 cents above these levels, The decline in Bessemer pig iron has brought down Bessemer billets, which have sold at $25.50, Pittsburgh. Buying of bars by implement manufacturers, inelud- ing wagon and carriage makers and all’ agricultural interests, has been the most active feature of the fin- ished material market. In the past six weeks it is estimated 300,000 tons has been taken i such oy al hu thousand eS Tocca: Ae C imp ial IQII are carried out. x Railroad buying will have much to do with deter- mining conditions in finished lines in the second half of the year. Just now the efforts of the roads to ad- vance freight rates is entering into their market policy. The attitude toward the advances taken Pa those who i210 being held back pending the outcome of rate questions. Car contracts by the Baltimore & Ohio and the Hawley lines are being counted on with more cer- tainty. The latter are expected to place 8000 to 9000 cars, while 2000 or 3000 of the 20,000 or more cars under consideration by the Baltimore & Ohio are re- garded as reasonably sure. Since the beginning of the year it is estimated that 80,000 cars have been ordered. Rail orders of the week inchide 3000 tons for the Baltimore & Ohio and about 4500 tons in smaller lots. Activity in structural work has shifted from the East to the’ Middle West, where a large amount of The Kentucky & Indiana bridge at Louisville is a noteworthy project building and bridge work is pending. on which estimates will soon be made. Line pipe work is making great strides. One pro- ducer has closed 300 miles of 10 to 18 in. pipe for a gas line, the largest single contract in many months. The Ohio Fuel Supply Company has bought 4o miles of 20-in. pipe and will place a further contract soon. Jobbers’ stocks of merchant pipe are gradually being worked off and meantime heavy new buying is not expected. Sheet mills are, as a rule, well employed, but con- cessions of $2 to $3 a ton have been more common re- cently. Tin plate mills have been booking some good orders for the fourth quarter from can makers. ——_~-e Fluctuations in fron and Steel Costs The question of cost of making iron and steel has assumed an importance in the past few months which it did not: possess either in the period of intense ac- tivity culminating in 1907 or at the time of the break last have a more definite relation to cost than has been the year. Market fluctuations in future promise to case in the recent past. So many new features have been injected into the reckoning that it is not easy to define just what is cost. The revaluation of mineral lands in recent years, for instance, has furnished a totally new element. There has been a tendency in ‘current thought to regard certain values as fixed, whereas it is impossible to maintain that the value of mineral lands does not fluctuate. The new feature injected is not so much a fixed value as a new conception of values. It is probably net far from correct to say that the market value of ore properties depends as much upon the market value of ore as the market value of ore depends upon the market value of ore properties. Either value, however, depends upon the position and prospects of the industry which consumes the mineral. The clearest concept of value is that which has refer- ence to the ton of coking coal or of iron ore when it is mined, for then the ton of material stands in rela- tion to the competition of the other districts which help to make thé market. According to conditions, chiefly the size of the mineral property which makes the unit, the last ton of minéral’ may be minéd five, 10 Or 25 years later, and it is the present value of that last ton, on a compound interest basis, which should should guide the decision of the owner whether he mine a ton at present. In the iron business, however, men have not usually been influenced by such theo- retical considerations when market conditions called for the closest scrutiny of costs. Other new elements have been furnished by the rise of the open hearth steel process, which has forced THE IRON AGE May 26, 1910 a revaluation of old material, the advent of the duplex by-product the blast furnace gas engine, and a multitude of smaller items which serve process, coking, to make impossible the comparisons which could easily be made in an industry with fixed raw materials and fixed processes. In such an industry an analysis of costs of materials, wage rates and freight rates would furnish a fairly accurate index to the variation in costs from time to time. The 1898 the prices in the history of the American iron and steel in- years 1897 and furnished lowest dustry. During those years fluctuations were of a minor character and the lowest and highest prices done were not far from the average prices. These averages were approximately as follows, at Pittsburgh: Bessemer pig iron......$10.15 UOGE THEO. 6s 50 oes one 7c, Bessemer billets....... 15.00 PROM WARES ii i sie cab 97, OES Se, m5 aes oan See's 1.07e Plain wire, base....... 1.15¢. DE cave seh bs eee 1.20¢. Sheets, 28 gauge....... 2.00¢e, The average price of beams given above, 1.20 cents is made high by the fact that the old “ beam pool” controlled prices through the early part of 1897. its price being 1.55 cents, and in 1898 there was a semblance of control. In the intermediate period beams passed at one time below 1 cent a pound. ' Even before our prices dropped as low as the above much alarmed at the England and Germany were prospect, but in recent years they have exhibited a notorious complacency over the advance in costs in this country. When, however, the line is drawn between the increases which have occurred through changes in physical conditions, and are therefore permanent, and the increases which have occurred merely through our prosperity, it is found that the latter greatly pre- ponderate. Of the irremediable increases the one most often mentioned is the decreased iron content in our ores, through the partial exhaustion of the purest, while of those due to artificial conditions the most striking are the increases in freight rates and wages. The 1898 ore book, alyses for 1897 and partly upon expectations for the based partly upon cargo an- 1898 season, listed 36 Mesaba ores, and the average iron content, natural state, of these ores was a trifle above 56 per cent. The average content to-day is but a trifle over 50 per cent., so that there has been a loss of ap- proximately five units since the period of lowest prices of iron and steel. The Marquette range then showed 13 ores running above 60 per cent. iron content, natural state. while the current analysis book shows only 6. Roughly speaking, 11 tons instead of 10 tons must be mined and transported an average of nearly 1000 miles to produce an equal tonnage of pig iron, and this is an absolute loss, however the cost of mining and trans- porting a ton may vary. The additional cost does not end there by any means, for while the quantity of iron ore required has increased by nearly one-tenth the quantity of coke required has increased by one-fourth or more, the proportionate increase in limestone being still greater. The industrial depression, which culminated in the low prices of 1897-8, found many operations badly posi- tioned. Their costs were much higher than those of the best works and they promptly dropped out of the reckoning. In the 1899 boom attempts were made to refurnish some of them, but their inability to keep the pace was quickly made manifest. During the depres- sion there was considerable new erection, so that when ache ste May 26, 1910 in 1897 the country’s total production as measured by pig iron was 5 per cent. greater than in 1890 the ton- nage was made by a materially different body of pro- ducers. It is improbable that a similar shaking out at this time would disclose as important differences in fit- ness as was shown then. If one were able to take the producers of the 80 per cent. of the output in the early nineties which was most economically produced there would probably be found greater variations from the mean than a comparison would find in 80 per cent. of the present-day production. The increase in production cost through natural causes is surpassed by the increases due to artificial although relatively permanent causes, these being chief- ly the increased wages and higher freight rates. The railroads lately have been giving the public liberal doses of statistics to show that their wages paid have increased greatly while their rates have advanced but slightly. An illustration of this class of statistics may be had by taking Poor’s statistics, which show for the fiscal year 1898, falling in the middle of the two calen- dar years taken for low iron and steel prices, average receipts of 0.758 cent per ton-mile, while for the fiscal year 1908 the average is 0.765 cent, the increase being just I per cent. Quite a different showing would be made were the comparison to cover only freight rates on coke, iron ore, pig iron and crude and finished steel. These rates have increased largely. The average rate of wages paid in the iron and steel industry has probably increased not far from 50 per cent. The advance in common labor has been much greater than this. In time these items of cost in making iron and steel may be reduced, but there are many who hold, on the contrary, that the advancing tendency is permanent. Whether the one or the other may prove to be true, it is certain that there is at present a very large increment of cost, as compared with 1897-8, and that if there is any reduction it can come but slowly. On the other side there are directions in which costs of production have been reduced. Mills and fur- naces are driven harder and fuel is economized. By- product coking, the dry air blast and blast furnace gas engines furnish reductions in costs, but it should be noted in passing that the introduction of none of these economies is extensive enough to bring prices down to the cost level they produce, for only a miraculous drop in consumptive demand could eliminate the capacity which is without them, nor, so great is the amount of capital. required, can they be generally introduced in any small number of years. In 1897-8 the Bessemer process was supreme, its tonnage being about six times that of the basic open hearth. tinctly in the lead, but there is no ground common to even one-half the basic open hearth capacity upon To-day the basic open hearth process is dis- which a cost estimate can be erected. . There are large tonnages produced, by each of several modifications of the plain open hearth process. and even. through the current fluctuations in market prices of scrap their relative costs vary. In the different steel products which have open market prices there has been in the past few years a remarkable absence of relation to cost of production, for prices have varied widely between products the cost of producing which .cannot show a great varia- * THE IRON AGE , 1211 tion. Some of the discrepancies at the present moment are noteworthy. Steel pipe and wire products sell at the same price; whether of open hearth or Bessemer material, whereas the billets and sheet bars show a spread approximating $2 a ton. Basic open hearth steel production has quadrupled in a decade and still commands this premium in the crude form, a fact which suggests that it has not been possible to spare as much time to a study of costs as may be required in the future. Freight Rates on Iron and Steel When a general advance in freight rates was under consideration two years ago it was proposed by the railroads in the territory between the Atlantic and the Mississippi to make an exception of iron and steel. An exception tariff was to have been issued, taking the principal rolled products of iron and steel out of the regular classification. So much opposition was en- countered to the proposed general advance that the railroad interests decided not to force the matter, and it was indefinitely postponed. The general advance in class rates which the rail- roads in this territory now have under consideration is practically the advance which was “ checked in,” but not made effective, two years ago. It has apparently been graduated to increase the revenues from the traffic affected about 10 per cent. The key to the rate prob- lem north of the Potomac and Ohio rivers and east of the Mississippi is the rate between Chicago and New York. in this territory are based, directly or indirectly, upon some percentage of the New York-Chicago rate. There are special commodity tariffs covering pig iron, billets, scrap, rails and a few other articles; but nearly all finished products of iron or steel in this territory are Practically all class rates for shorter distances carried at class rates and are subject to the official classification. The principal articles of steel are car- ried at the fourth-class rates in less than carloads and at fifth-class in carloads. The fifth-class rate from New York to Chicago is 30 cents; and the rate from Pittsburgh to Chicago, usually 55 per cent. of the New York rates, is fixed at 18 cents. Rates from Pitts- burgh to other points in the territory affected are worked out on the same percentage plan, so that a change in the key or base rate necessarily changes rates to all points. When it was proposed two years ago to make an exception of iron and steel products in the advance then under consideration, the argument which met with favor was that iron and steel rates had been advanced the year before. About 10 years ago there was a gen- eral revision of the official classification in which the “iron list’ was raised from sixth to fifth class, for car- load shipments, and fifth to fourth on less than car- loads. In deference to opposition, however, the roads “iron list” as an exception tar- iff, making the rates on articles in this list 10 per cent. less than the regular class rates., In. the summer of 1907 this “ exception tariff” was canceled, which had the effect of restoring the original advance of one class. These changes were effected without any change in the class rates themselves, by merely shifting the “ iron list’ from one class to the next higher. It was understood that the leading roads which center in the Pittsb:rgh district did not look with fa- soon after issued the I212 vor, two years ago, on any further advance in iron and steel rates at that time, on the ground that it would tend to restrict the markets of the industries located in that district, or would tend to build up other districts like Chicago. Whether this argument will receive the same consideration at the present time is not known, as no announcement has been authorized as yet regard- ing iron and steel rates. During the past 12 or 15 years there has been a very considerable advance in rates on both pig iron and finished products, taking into consideration the disappearance of rebates as well as changes in pub- lished tariffs. on pig iron from Birmingham to Chicago was $2.85. As late as 12 years ago the net rate The charge is now $4.35, an advance of a trifle more than 50 per cent. Corresponding advances may be found in the net rates on pig iron from other important In the eighteen-nineties rolled prod- ucts were carried from Pittsburgh to Chicago for a net »roducing centers. S revenue of 9 to Io cents, compared with the 18-cent rate now in effect; and from Pittsburgh to other West- ern points the advance in important instances has been considerably more than 100 per cent. The railroads have presented strong arguments in favor of an advance in rates, owing to the higher wages they are compelled to pay, as well as a general increase in operating expenses. It is evident, however, that in the present period of closer margins in the iron and steel industry, the increasing cost of transportation is destined to play an important part in the future de- velopment of the steel industry. shown no inclination to pay freight from Pittsburgh on Western roads have rails, so long as they can place their business in Chi- cago, and the Chicago mills have had order books filled for months ahead when Pittsburgh and Eastern mills have had so little business that instead of rails they have produced billets and specialties. Pittsburgh formerly controlled the agricultural bar trade of the West, but only one Pittsburgh mill has retained any The building of merchant bar mills in the West has gone on at such a rate in recent years that the Chicago market considerable share of this important business. maintains prices independent of freights from Pitts- burgh in hard steel bars and bar iron, as well as in steel rails and in scrap. Without discussing whether condi- tions make a freight rate advance necessary, there is no doubt that such an advance would stimulate the pro- duction in the West of both pig iron and steel. The Apprentice’s Bond Under the laws of many of the States, the employer in making his contract with an apprentice must him- self put up a bond of equal amount to that required of the boy. Under the this necessary, but statutory law often requires it. old common law was not If it is not done, if the employer accepts a bond from a boy to assure the latter's continuation in his apprenticeship, but himself fails to give a bond to guarantee his own fulfilment of the contract,,then no contract exists and a boy could legally retire from his apprenticeship and demand of his employer his bond money. In one State an investigation failed to find a single instance where a manufacturer had conformed with this statute. In recent years in this same community the bondsmen of apprentices have been sued and the amount of the bon’ has been recovered where apprentices kad jcired in a THE IRON AGE May 26, 1910 strike and had therefore violated the terms of their contract. Probably if the bondsmen had been aware of the statutory provisions they could have defied the employers. Some manufacturers have now embodied in their apprentice contract a bond form for them- selves as well as one for the apprentice. There is no great hardship in carrying out this statute, for the money put up by the employer is only equal to that re- quired of the apprentice. ———————»>-e__—__ The Interlaken Industrial Training School The attention of manufacturers attending the con- vention of the National Association of Manufacturers at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, last week, was attracted to an exhibit in a room adjoining the meet- ing hall, made by the Interlaken School of La Porte, Ind. Products of the pupils of this school were shown—hammered brass and various articles made. of steel, including hammers and chisels, besides sample products of the woodworking department. What is called the “Interlaken School Movement” is headed by Dr. Edward A. Rumely, an officer of the M. Rumely Company, whose plant is at La Porte. The school was started in the fall of 1907 and now has an enroll- ment of 110 pupils, which will be increased to 200 next fall, when better facilities will be available. The course covers 10 years and is adapted to boys of from 8 to 18 years of age. Tuition and board are from $400 to $600 a year. Plans have been made for the erec- tion of new buildings on a site recently selected be- tween South Bend and La Porte, 640 acres of land being taken up. The purpose of the managers is stated to be to make this “a national model school to demon- strate and promote industrial education in the public school system.” The courses include instruction in various forms of manual labor, in the use of metal- working and wood-working tools, and in farm and other outdoor work. Dr. Rumely has canvassed the manufacturers of the country on the question of industrial training and has developed an interest in the movement by putting it forward as an effort to solve the problem arising from the dearth of skilled labor. ee ““A Study in Heat Transmission,” by J. K. Clem- ent and C. M. Garland, is issued as bulletin No. 40 of the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois. This bulletin is for the technical reader and will be of interest to the student and physicist as well as the designer and operator of heating or cool- ing apparatus of any description. The results of the experiments apply directly to the problem of increased effectiveness of heating or cooling surfaces, which is a problem at the present moment engaging the atten- tion of engineers. A large portion of the interest in the bulletin lies in the method of experimentation. The results show that the heat transmitted through the walls of a vessel in contact with water may be in- creased two or three times by increasing the velocity or rate or agitation of the water. Copies of bulletin No. 40 may be obtained gratis upon application to W. F. M. Goss, Director of the Engineering Experiment Station, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. —__+__—_«+-e—____. It is easy to understand why sturdy confidence is lacking, says the Weekly Financial Review of J.'S. Sache & Co., New York. The Government is doing its hest to disturh business interests. The latest attempt is the Borah resolution to investigate the steel business. The railroad bill is wriggling like a snake through the two houses and is jabbed at and stepped on at every opportunity by friends and enemies. If the present at- titude toward railroads had prevailed when the country was younger, the Middle West would still be a prairie. . May 26, 1910 Rocnester, N. Y., May 24, 1910.—The semiannual convention of the National Machine Tool Builders opened here this morning. The attendance is large, over 50 machine tool manufacturing concerns being represented. Guests swelled the ‘attendance to more than 125. The Executive Committee held its usual preliminary meeting on Monday, President Fred A. Geier and Secretary Charles, E. Hildreth being pres- ent. No business of importance was transacted by the committee beyond arranging the details of the conven- tion. A feature of the routine business at the opening session this morning was the election of 21 new mem- bers, an increase, the equal of which has not been made since the early years of the association’s exist- ence. The new members are: Adams Company, Dubuque, Ohio. Becker Milling Machine Company, Hyde Park, Mass. Betts Machine Company, Wilmington, Del. Bryant Chucking Grinder Company, Springfield, Vt. Foster Machine Company, Elkhart, Ind. Edwin Harrington, Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. zandis Tool Company, Waynesboro, Pa. Moline Tool Company, Moline, Ill. Morton Mfg. Company, Muskegon Heights, Mich. New Haven Mfg. Company, New Haven, Conn. Oesterle‘'n Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. Pratt & Whitney Company, New York City. Wm. Sellers & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. Taylor & Fenn Company, Hartford, Conn. Universal Boring Machine Company, Hudson, Mass. Walker Grinder Company, Worcester, Mass. Waltham Watch Tool Company, Springfield, Mass. W. H. Leland & Co., Worcester, Mass. Baker Bros., Toledo, Ohio. During this session a very interesting discussion occurred on the “ Cancellation of Orders,” with papers by C. Wood Walter, Cincinnati Milling Machine Com- pany; C. A. Johnson, Gisholt Machine Company; Mur- ray E. Shipley, Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Com- pany, and William B. Reid, Marshall & Huschart Ma- chinery Company. The various committees made their reports, includ- ing one on the “ Standardization of Motors.” This report is one of progress, demonstrating that the work of standardization has passed to a point which prom- ises the early completion of a most important task. Another interesting report was made by F. L. Eber- hart of the Apprenticeship Committee, and still an- other was that of J. B. Doan of the Tariff Committee. A large number of ladies are included among the guests of the association, and their entertainment be- gan in the early afternoon under the hospitable guid- ance of Miss Kate Gleason of the Gleason Works of Rochester. Miss Gleason was present at the morning session and spoke briefly, welcoming, the members and their guests. She was greeted with rousing cheers. In the evening she and Wm. Gleason entertained a very large party at their villa in the suburbs of the city. > oe - The Davidson Ore Mining Company, capitalized at $250,000, will take over extensive iron ore properties in the Iron River district of the Menominee range, heretofore owned by New York State Steel Company interests. The new mining company will be operated practically as a subsidiary of the New York State Steel Company and the principal portion of the output of the mines will be shipped to that company’s plant at Buf- falo; only such surplus as is not required by the lat- ter company will be marketed, The incorporators are Frederick N. Beegle, Beaver Falls, Pa,; Frederick Da- vidson, Pittsburgh; Louis R. Davidson, Buffalo, respec- tively president, vice-president and secretary of the New York State Steel Company, and Spencer Kellogg, Seymour H. Knox, John D. Larkin, Buffalo; George Davidson, New Brighton, Pa.. and M. S. McDon- nough, Iron River Mich. THE IRON AGE The National Machine Tool Builders 1213 The Ohio Engineers’ Meeting The Cincinnati meeting of the Ohio Society of Me- chanical, Electrical and Steam Engineers which was held May 19 and 20 served more the purpose of a crit- ical and technical inspection tour than a gathering for deliberations over professional papers, although there were several important ones presented. It will be re- called as one of the most enjoyable of the society's 21 gatherings. The meeting opened on Thursday afternoon with an inspection trip taking in the plant of the Lunken- heimer Company in North Fairmount, followed by a visit to the plant of the Union Gas & Electric Company in the city proper. ‘Special cars had been provided by the Cincinnati entertainers—L. T, Kaiser, Samuel Moy- er, F. C. Bitgood, William Mittendorf, Daniel Delaney, H. D. Pownall and E. Me Clintock—and these were used to transport the delegates to the various points of interest during the course of the meeting. The evening was devoted to papers by F. C. Bitgood of the Babcock & Wilcox Company on “ Selecting a Boiler,” and by Herbert Stone of the Dearborn Drug & Chemical Works on “ The Scientific Method of Treating Boiler Feed Waters.” The second day was opened with a short business session occupying but a few minutes, then taking up papers on “ Refrigerating Machinery and Appliances,” by H. D. Pownall of the Triumph Ice Machine Com- pany, and * Metallurgical Considerations in the Manu- facture of High Pressure Valves and Fittings,” by George K. Elliott of the Lunkenheimer Company. In the afternoon the plants of the Philip Carey Mfg. Coms pany and the Triumph Electric Company were visit At the evening session C. O. Thurston of the Kinn Mfg. Company, Boston, in a paper on “ The Kinn Positive Pressure Rotary Pump” introduced so novel ideas in pump manufacture, and showed a sma sectional model with which he illustrated various sta ments, uw Saturday, the closing day, was given over entir to inspections. The members were first taken to t new Cincinnati Water Works at California, Ohig) where they were shown the many innovations a out in the building of this great system. In the afte?= noon they paid a visit to the new turbine plant of the Cincinnati Traction Company. Along with the educational features of the Saturday jaunts, spec’al credit is due the Committee on Enter- tainment fcr enabling several students of the Univer- sity of Cincinnati and Ohio Mechanics Institute: to profit by the visits and discussions. The officers of the association, who will hold over till the annual election in November, are: Oscar F. Raabe of Toledo, Ohio, president; W. C. McCracken of Columbus, William Long and Grant Miller of Toledo, vice-presidents ; Frank E. Sanborn of the Ohio State University at Co- lumbus, secretary-treasurer, and the following mana- gers: W. E. Haswell and G. H. Gamper, Columbus; L. T. Kaiser, Cincinnati; Ira Cole, Lima; E. M. Adams, Akron, and C, T. Baker, Covington, Ky. The very encouraging feature of the Cincinnati meeting was the adding of about 50 new members to the association roster. — + Ooo Joseph Conley, contractor and furnace builder, 405 Wheeler street, Canton, Ohio, has completed die’ ¢om- bination sheet and pair furnace,'coal fired, and one annealing furnace, gas fired, for the National Rolling Mill Company, Mansfield, Ohio. ._He has also received a contract for a similar furnace for the Carnahan Sheet & Tin Plate Company, Canton, and from the Vitro Mfg. Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., a contract for a heating furnace with recuperative system and a con- tract for recuperators for its present two smelting fur- naces. . o ° Livil En Cc Ne Mechanica! and imecrs, - PITTSBURGH. PA. 1214 Higher Freight Rates Opposed About .350 representatives of manufacturing and shipping interests met at the Congress Hotel, Chicago, May 17, to protest against the proposed advance in rail- road freight rates. The conference was called by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and was probably the most representative convention of shippers that has ever been held under similar circumstances. Practi- cally the entire country was represented, a large num- ber of the delegates being accredited from associations of manufacturers or merchants. Statistical data were presented from the records of the Interstate Commerce Commission to show that there has been a large increase in the net revenues of the railroads as well as in their gross receipts, and the argument received practically unanimous support that under these circumstances an advance in freight rates is not needed by the carriers. The discussion was not carried on in any narrow spirit of hostility to the rail- roads. The argument maintained by practically all of the speakers was that there should be a full investiga- tion of the facts by the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion, or by some competent tribunal, to determine whether the increase in wages and in other expenses of operation makes it necessary for the railroads to charge higher rates. Resolutions were adopted which are in part as follows: Resolved, That this convention demands that the carriers in official classification territory suspend the proposed ad- vance in class and commodity rates and submit the question to the Interstate Commerce Commission for arbitration to determine from the facts whether any general advance in rates is reasonable or necessary; and be it further Resolved, That pending and during such arbitration we oppose the general advance in rates as proposed by the lines in said territory; and be it further Resolved, That a committee of 15 be appointed by the chair to carry into effect this plan for arbitration. Failing in such conciliatory methods, said committee is empowered to take such action as will in its judgment pre- vent the proposed general advance in freight rates. It is proposed by the carriers to increase class rates between New York and Chicago as follows: First class, 15 cents; second class, 13 cents; third class, 10 cents; fourth class, 5 cents; fifth class, 3 cents; sixth class, 2 cents. The advance thus proposed would be 20 per cent. of the present rates on the first, second and third classes, 15 per cent. on fourth class, Io per cent. on fifth class and 8 per cent. on sixth class. It is further proposed by the railroads to make a general advance in all commodity tariffs as soon as the new class rates are in effect. John E. Wilder of Chicago was chairman of the conference and E. E. Williamson of Cincinnati secre- tary. Of the permanent committee appointed to con- fer with the railroads R. F. Spencer, Peters Shoe Com- pany, St. Louis, is chairman. a Forging Manufacturers’ Testimonial to C. M. Schwab.—A dinner was given to Charles M. Schwab at the Hotel Shelburne, Atlantic City, N. J., May 20, in recognition of his efforts in organizing an associa- tion of the forging manufacturers of the country. R. A. Harman, president of the Cleveland City Forge & Iron Company, Cleveland, Ohio, was toastmaster, and remarks were made by Mr. Schwab; by Joseph P. Rogers, Philadelphia; E. G. Grace; A. D. Mixsell, and E. J. Krouse, Bethlehem Steel Company, South Bethle- hem, Pa.; C. B. Porter, vice-president Sizer Forge Company, Buffalo; W. P. Barba, Midvale Steel Com- pany, Nicetown, Pa.; H. F. Martin, general manager of sales, Pennsylvania Steel Company, Philadelphia; Bernard Pollak, Block-Pollak Iron Company, Cincin- nati, and L. J. Morris, Tindel-Morris Company, Eddy- stone, Pa. —_——_3- oe The Brighton Fire Brick Company, New Brighton, Pa., has added considerable space to its drying floor, THE IRON AGE May 26, 1910 which -will give it-an increase in capacity of 8000 fire brick per day. Central and South American Railroads San Jose, C. A., May 2, 1910,—The frontiers of Guatemala are rapidly becoming the center of Pan- American Railroad activity. Much work is being done and new work projected by the new American syndi- cate, especially in Chiapas and the Oajaca. Pacific regions. This, added to Salvador’s Santa Ana and La Union lines and the Panama-David development for 300 miles of new road, will soon bring this much hoped for intercontinental or “ Three Americas ” rail- road into very practical being. The latest project is for the extension to the southward for nearly another 300 miles to Antioquia, Colombia. Thence this British project takes the line across the Amazon and to the Diamantina mining region of Brazil, running thence through Paraguay, Uruguay and finally reaching 3uenos Aires, Argentina, in all some 4000 miles, and thus literally making a Central South American rail- road. Colombia has granted important concessions for upwards of 1600 miles of railroad in the interior, in- cluding the Magdalena region. Argentina has 24,000 kilometers, approximately 15,000 miles, of railroad, well over half of this amount being broad gauge. There are now also 8000 kilo- meters under construction. The Entre Rios _ has established a railroad ferry line over the Parana, some 50 miles from Buenos Aires. The Northeastern Ar- gentina Railroad is extending to Posadas, while the Central of Paraguay, aided by the Argentine govern- ment, is building an extension to Pirapo, and Encar- nacion, Concordia, Monte Caseros and the important city ef Corrientes are all joined now by the Northeast- ern Argentine. Once the Northeastern lines are finished, the time from Buenos Aires to Asuncion, the capital of Argen- tina, will be some 48 hours. The total length of the Central Argentine is 3000 miles; the Buenos Aires & Pacific is 2700 miles;‘the Buenos Aires Southern is nearly 3000 miles, and the Cordoba Central is nearly 2500 miles, with its extensions into Bolivia. Most of the capital placed in these railroads came from Great Britain. ee Resistance of Various Pigments to Corrosion A statement has been prepared by the Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, Jersey City, N. J., com- menting on the tests of paint pigments made under the auspices of the American Society for Testing Materi- als and on other tests made by the American Paint Manufacturers’ Association. Reference is made to the classification of the committee of the American So- ciety for Testing Materials, dividing the pigments tested into inhibitors, indeterminates and stimulators, those in the first class being regarded as retarding corrosion to the greatest extent. The Dixon Company takes exception to classifying zinc oxide as an inhibitor while graphite is classed as a stimulator. The tests consisted in submerging pieces of polished steel in water and adding equal volumes of different pigments. At the end of a given time the pieces of steel were taken from the bottles and weighed, corrosive in- fluence being judged by. the loss of weight. These tests, it is stated, should be regarded merely as show- ing results under the particular circumstances de- scribed. Referring to the test fence built by the Paint Manufacturers’ Association and the results with paints prepared from about 40 pigments the Dixon Company says that while the test is not concluded the zinc oxide paint failed at the end of one year’s service while the graphite paint is still in perfect condition. May 26, 1910 The Iron and THE IRON AGE 1215 Metal Markets A Comparison of Prices Advances Over the Previous Month in Heavy Type, Declines in Italics. At date, one week, one month and one year previous. May25, May18, Apr.27, May 26, PIG TRON, Per Gross Ton: 1910. 1910. 1910. 1909. Foundry No. 2, standard, Phila- ND b 6S c Whe webs Aaah a we $17.00 $17.00 $17.50 $16.25 Foundry No, 2, Southern, Cincin- PAU cis . citi b sis «abies 14.75 14.75 15.25 14.50 Foundry No, 2, local, Chicago.. 17.00 17.00 17.25 16.50 Basic, delivered, eastern Pa.. 16.25 16.50 17.50 15.50 Basic, Valley furnace.......... 145.00 15.00 15.75 14.25 Bessemer, Pittsburgh.......... 146.90 17.40 17.90 15.90 Gray forge, Pittsburgh......... 15.90 15.90 15.90 14.40 Lake Superior charcoal, Chicago 18.50 18.50 19.00 19.50 BILLETS, &c., Per Gross Ton: 3essemer billets, Pittsburgh.... 25.50 26.00 26.50 23.00 Forging biliets, Pittsburgh..... $1.00 32.00 32.00 25.00 Open hearth billets, Philadelphia 29.00 29.00 30.00 24.50 Wire rods, Pittsburgh......... 32.00 32.00 32.00 29.00 Steel rails, heavy, at mill...... 28.00 28.00 28.00 28.00 OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross Ton: Steel rails, melting, Chicago.... 15.00 15,00 16.25 14.25 Steel rails, melting, Philadelphia 145.50 14.50 15.75 15.25 arom: rails, CRichee. 66s k vhs kee 17.50 17.50 18.50 17.00 Iron rails, Philadelphia........ 20.00 20.00 20.50 18.50 Car wheels, Chicago........... 15.50 15.50 16.00 15.00 Car wheels, Philadelphia....... 15.00 15.00 15.50 15.00 Heavy steel scrap, Pittsburgh.. 15.25 15.00 15.75 15.50 Heavy steel scrap, Chicago..... 18.50 13.50 14.25 14.00 Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia. 125.50 14.50 15.75 15.25 FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Refined iron bars, Philadelphia, 1.52% 1.50 1.50 1.40 Common iron bars, Chicago.... 147% 1.50 1.50 1.30 Common iron bars, Pittsburgh. . 1.55 1.55 1.60 1.30 Steel bars, tidewater, New York 1.61 1.61 1.61 1.36 Steel bars, Pittsburgh......... 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.20 Tank plates, tidewater, New York 1.66 1.66 1.71 1.46 Tank Plates, Pittsburgh........ 1.50 1.50 1.55 1.30 Beams, tidewater, New York... 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.46 Beams, Pittsburgh............. 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.30 Angles, tidewater, New York... 1.66 1.66 1.66 1,46 Angles, Pittsburgh............ 150 1.50 150 1.80 Skelp, grooved steel, Pittsburgh. 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.30 Skelp, sheared steel, Pittsburgh. 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.40 SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Sheets, black, No, 28, Pittsburgh 2.40 2.40 2.40 2.20 Wire nails, Pittsburgh*........ 1.80 1.80 1.85 1.70 Cut nails, Pittsburgh........., 1.80 1.80 1.85 1.65 Barb wire, galv., Pittsburgh*... 610 2.10 2315 200 METALS, Per Pound: Cents. ‘Cents. Cents. Cents. Lake copper, New York........ 13.00 13.00 138.25 13.50 Electrolytic copper, New York.. 12.8714412.75 12.75 138.25 Spelter, New York.......se000: 5.30 5.30 5.60 65.20 Spelter, St.: Louis. ....5..6..6 6.15 5.15 6.45 5.05 Bend, New TOGhs . chic ewvies 6 colik 487% 4.35 4.40 4.40 Bi Te TOON oo sic bic canb.ciep 4.22% 4.20 4.25 4.30 TIL SO DOU vin et pi os. k encase 33.25 338.20 32.90 29,15 Antimony, Hallett, New York... 8.124% 8.12% 8.25 7.75 Nickel, New York....6.......6% 45.00 45.00 45.00 45.00 Tin plate, 100 Ib., New York... $3.84 $3.84 $3.84 $3.64 * These prices are for largest lots to jobbers. ee Prices of Finished Iron and Steel Pittsburgh f.o.b. Freight rates from Pittsburgh in carloads, per 100 lb.: New York, 16c.; Philadelphia, 15c.; Boston, 18c.; Buffalo, lic.; Cleveland, 10c.; Cincinnati, 15¢.; Indianapolis, 17c.; Chicago, 18c.; St. Paul, 32c.; St. Louis, 2244c.; New Or- leans, 30c.; Birmingham, Ala. 45c. Rates to the Pacific Coast are S80c. on plates, structural shapes and sheets, No. 11 and heavier; S5c. on sheets, Nos. 12 to 16; 95c. on sheets, No. 16 and lighter; 65c. on wrought pipe and boiler tubes, Structural Shapes.—I-beams and channels, 3 to 15 in., inclusive, 1.50¢c. to 1.55c., net; I-beams over 15 in., 1.65c., net; H-beams over 8 in., 1.75¢.; angles, 3 to 6 in., inclusive, y% in. and up, 1.60c¢., net; angles over 6 in., 1.65¢., net; angles, 3 x 3 in. and up, less than 1% in., 1.75c., base, half extras, steel bar card; tees, 3 in. and up, 1.65c., net; zees, 8 in. and up, 1.60¢., net; angles, channels and tees, under 3 in., 1.50c¢., base, plus 10c., half extras, steel bar card; deck beams and bulb angles, 1.80c., net; hand rail tees, 2.80c., net; checkered and corrugated plates, 2.80c., net. Plates.—Tank plates, % in. thick, 644 in. up to 100 in. wide, 1.50c. to 1.55c., base. Following are stipulations pre- scribed by. manufacturers, with extras to be added to base price (per pound) of plates: Rectaugular plates, tank steel or conforming to manufactur- ers’ standard specifications for structural steel dated edge, 100 6, 1903, or equivalent, 4-in, thick and over on thinnest - wide and under, down to but not including 6 in. ase, Plates up to 72 in. wide, inclusive, ordered 10,2 Ib, per square foot are considered \4-in. plates. Plates over 72 in. wide must be ordered 14-in. thick on edge, or not less than 11. Ib. per square foot, to take base price. Plates over 72 in. wide ordered less than 11 lb. per square foot down to the weight of 3-16-in, take the price of 3-16-in. Allowable overweight, whether plates are ordered to game or weight, to be governed by the standard specifications o Association of American Steel Manufacturers, Gauges under \-In. to and including 3-16-in. on thinnest. COGG..6 +46 62903 cewsneen s ¥ees go «+. $0.10 Gauges under 3-16-in. to and including No, ’ 15 Gauges under No. 8 to and including No, 9. a sae Gauges under No. 9 to and including No. eet pes .B0 Gauges under No. 10 to and including No. 12..... .40 Sketches (including all straight taper plates), 3 ft. and over in length eee sdsntebenreesenebhesdeber 10 Complete circles, 5 ft. diameter and over........ .20 Boiler and flange NN ng inn kd (Ae KAR RRS 10 ‘A. B. M. A.” and ordinary firebox steel........ .20 Stiil bottom BOOS v.64 a 20 Wiis +. © EE OH NEO GD Cb ew ReN NT a8 .80 BERR EIS BON ¢ oo + oc eas coves bbeb 609 bene edesens .40 Locomotive firebox steel. ......cceeeeseecnecees 50 Widths over 100 in. up to 110 1 ; Inclusive 04 Sede .05 Widths over 110 in. up to 115 Ww inclusive...... 10 Widths over 115 in. up to 120 in., inclusive...... 15 Widths over 120 in. up to 125 in., inclusive...... 20 Widths over 125 in. up to 130 in., inclusive...... 50 Widths over 280 Gea osc sists cnc woe abis we wide ab ee 1.00 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 3 ft. to 2 TE. TROTUMEWO cc ic ch ds cc unas anee os ' epoenese es -25 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 2 ft. to 1 £0... (CHMMIVG, 2:0. 06K hop Cte sienna seh eRe Meee f Cc utting to lengths or diameters under 1 ft....... 1.55 No charge for cutting rectangular plates to lengths 3 ft, and over “Penws.—Net cash 30 days. Sheets.— Minimum prices for mill shipments on sheets in carload and larger lots, on which jobbers charge the usual advances for small lots from