The Iron Age 1910-10-27: Vol 86 Iss 17

THE IRON AGE bonnet Published Every Thursday by the DAVID WILLIAMS COMPANY 14-16 Park Place, New York i at the New York Post Office as Second Class Mail Matter. on Price, United States and Mexico, $5.00 per Annum; to Canada, to Other Foreign Countries, $10.00 per "Anoum. Single Copies, 20 Cents. Subscrif $/.50 per Annum ; CHaaces T. ROOT, * & ? * = PRESIDENT Ww. H. 7 ; - ° - TREASURER ANO GENERAL MANAGER Haro. S TTENHEIM, * - o - SECRETARY Geo. W. Cope, o's 8 ° A. |. FInDvey, - - - - bd } corrons H. R. COBLEIGH, - - - . - MECHANICAL EDITOR Branch Offices Philadelphia, Real Estate Trust Building Chicago, Fisher Building Pittsburgh, Park Building Cleveland, American Trust Building Boston, Compton Building Cincinnati, 807 Andrews Building Milwaukee, 1417 Majestic Building. CONTENTS. Et ia PAGE. Bet terme: Sumnes ais = ht ene kb Sa ees owet se Vaw k war 933 Co-operation in International Steel Trade............ 934 The Hight Peet 2s Geer “Sea ish owk oes be o's bee a ot 935 \ Prosperous Year for Farmers.........c5sseceenees 935 Correspondiepegl 75's wi cten 24 Fn ore cee eee oe clehgs ewe ek ka 936 The National Machine Tool Builders................0.6. 937 The Turin Bapeehttoit sesiékn Usama Seetsiies 6s Phreemeraws 937 me Hundred Years’ Production of Pig Iron in the United SUAlCR .. wen cek see AA oak wa od heen 6 anid ob ae ee 937 rhe American Iron and Steel Institute Tour.............. 938 The Iron and Metal Market Reports................ 942 to 951 Iron and [ndurgQieh: Siege Fos hi0:o acdin Wa & oa yoo ad ee See 951 rhe Desirability of Uniform Statutes Affecting Corporations 951 Machinery Market Reports.........cesseecse08 952 to 965 tuary. POC CRG 6:00 5 WW 0 0 0a 6 00 ew UE Os FO OR ETNH 966 fhe Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company’s Relief Plan.... 966 I Westinglotine = POmBGtes 6 fics. ck cbc okude cs duawh teas 966 The Oliver Chilled Plow, Works Doubling Its Capacity..... 967 rhe Pacifie Hardware & Steel Company’s Improvements... 967 \ Remarkable Range for Wireless Telegraphy............ 967 rhe Buffalo Coke Rate Hearing. .........cceccccecscees 967 Sunday Labor at Iron and Steel Works...............06: 967 He Light and Power in Buildings. Illustrated......... 968 lhe > Anniversins Number of Grits and Grinds............. 969 Steel PasnQaget aes x bis ies bn ces tae e hee Cede eee 969 Foundrymeii's SUNS bos eee e kee sat ens AERO eee as 969 rhe Schrade Cutlery Company... 6. i cecciececcersvsescs 969 The Quebec BPMMGG Sins seks sis ci. 5 sbk secon meee 969 Contract Obligations in the Iron Trade.................-. 970 Pe Tsonal © 9:0 hae wee @ & Bielnce aie aie bales geek mene ahah arden Ae 971 International Competition in the Steel Industry.......... 972 Stevens Engineering Lecture Course..............s0008% 974 An Obermayer Foundry Exhihit.............cccecsucecs 974 \ New Acme Turret Lathe Turning Tool. Illustrated... .. 975 A New Drive for Cleveland Flat Twist Drills. Illustrated. 975 House Grgge Mees bass os ch ccd hoae dnc uecraCkeeé uae 976 J. H. Williams & Co.'s No. 6 Shop. Illustrated........... 976 I he Globe-Abbott Tumbling Barrel, Illustrated........... 977 I ¢ Frontier Drilling and Tapping Machine. Ilustrated.. 978 rhe Disposal of City Waste... . 085s os dec tic cccwacaece 978 Ihe Steel Corporation’s Quarterly Statement............. 978 rhe \vey Ball Bearing Drill Press, Ilustrated.......... 979 ‘he Greaves-Klusman 15-In. Engine Lathe. Illustrated.... 980 was Appliance Nets 6 ic Ss i ties EC oc adec ke PER hone 981 aut Niagara Double Back Geared Power Press. Illustrated, 981 The Style C Hammer Core Machine; Ilustrated...... +. <9 082 er Newton Duplex Rod Boring Machine, Illustrated...., 982 Jterger of German Electric Companies.......i........-.. 983 : e Lodge & Shipley Axle Drilling Lathe. ‘Illustrated ek wa 984 | ' Bickford & Washburn No, 1 Miller. Illustrated . Likiien ee the Cost Of. SEGRE COUR, on cesk tm er Sere eee . 985 +g ‘Stockbridge 16-In. Back Geared Shaper. Illustrated. . 986 : © Seymour Mfg. Company Enlarging. ............+++.. | 986 | Steel Welding. TDMSENNEOG (5. oes sccexdadiativrves 987 a - ee Liability LAW. . 063 os ods de fee 8 5 988 lilnetrated eee Drive for a Cincinnati Pianer. eee Ly , Deets oe Kromp Motor Driven Brake, Illustrated...... 991 The w ine ee ce dhe ait ans Eo acd Se ; altham Filing Machine. Illustrated.........- t ide ae rent Metal PRiGGS. oo sie. cscwncctascessamens shee a ae New York, , October 27, 1910 — = — ———> VoL. 86: No, 17 —s Betterment Expected Actual Demand for Iron and Steel Little Changed Pig Iron Buying at Lower Prices, with Activity Greatest in Eastern Districts The feeling is general that iron trade conditions, while they may not change decidedly for the better in the near future, are not likely to grow worse. Con- sumption in all lines apart from the railroads has been maintained with steadiness in the past two months, and it is expected that whatever improvement comes this year will be almost exactly measured by the business the railroads place. Rail requirements for 1911 are being made up, and in the case of several important roads will be close to the total taken this year, with the proviso that the outcome of the rate hearings is such as to strengthen railroad credit. The Steel Corporation’s report showing earnings of $37,365,000 for the third quarter of the year, or only 7 per cent. less than for the second quarter, was bet- ter than might have been expected from the slowing down of output since the middle of the year. The com- parison is favorable, also, with the third quarter of 1909, when with a larger output at somewhat lower prices the total was $38,247,000. For the fourth quarter a consider able falling off is to be expected in earnings; as to unfilled orders the same can be said unless large rail contracts come in to offset the steady reduction in other products. The Steel Corporation is now operating 65 per cent. of its blast furnace capacity, 48 furnaces being idle, against 45 at the opening of the month. Pig iron buying has increased in the past week, but again prices have suffered, and another has been added to the succession of bottoms. Activity has been great- est east of the Alleghenies, Buffalo furnaces taking a good share of the business in foundry grades. Pipe works and stove works in eastern Pennsylvania have bought round lots. Several important buyers are asking for iron for first quarter and first half of 1911, and Northern furnaces are selling for those deliveries at 1910 prices, while Southern furnaces are holding for 25c. to 50c. more. Foundries have been into the series, and the demand is thus spread out in a way most to the advantage of the buyer. For months there has been no concurrence of inquiry from many direc- tions—the sort of inquiry on which prices advance or at least stiffen, The market for steel making pig iron staggers under heavy accumulations in Central Western furnace yards. A sale of 3000 tons and one of 5000 tons of basic iron are reported for the first quarter of 1911, at delivered prices netting less than $13, at Valley furnace. The market for billets and sheet bars is very weak and leading makers are more aggressive. In one case open hearth sheet bars have been offered at $24.70, delivered at Pittsburgh. — coming market im e ae ton iy Ry wh 4 er EIT. nei eet pd a ae ENO cadets 934 THE IRON AGE In steel products the rate of new business is little changed. Wrought pipe mills find a good demand for so late in the year. In line pipe two contracts have been closed, one for 15 miles of 6-in. pipe and the other for 8 miles of 2-in.pipe. Plate mills are figuring on 10,000 to I1,000 tons of plates and shapes for the. new battleship to be built by the Government and 2500 tons of plates for torpedo boats. The American Sheet & Tin Plate Company is operating 85 per cent. of its capacity and turning out the largest product in its history. Rail orders include 3500 tons for the Erie and 5000 tons for the Pennsylvania for this year. Two West- ern roads are in the market for 1000 cars each. While steel bars are held at 1.40c. in Pittsburgh territory, delivered prices have been made on some shipments farther west netting 50c. to $1 a ton less at mill. In structural lines there is some slowing down. The building season is drawing to a close, and rail- ro21d bridge work is not expected to come out in large volume soon. The Long Isiand track elevation work, nearly 12,000 tons, as finally decided, has been award- ed to the Fort Pitt Bridge Works. The Quebec Bridge Commission may take another month to con- sider the various designs submitted. On the com- mission’s design the award seems to lie between the British and Canadian works, on the score of price. While coke for spot shipment has sold at $1.50, a sale of 15,000 tons for November is reported at $1.55, and 15,000 to 20,000 tons was taken for the first half of 1911 at $1.75 for furnace coke. Lake ore shipments are tapering off and 75 per cent. of the fleet will stop by November 15. The total for IgI0 is now put at close to the 1909 figure, which was 42,600,000 tons, while early estimates were around 50,000,000 tons. Co-operation in International Steel Trade The officers of the American Iron and Steel Insti- tute can take much satisfaction from the success of their first undertaking. They set out to hold a con- ference with European manufacturers of iron and steel and to have them as their guests during the meet- ing and for some days following, on a trip covering important steel producing districts of the United States. All the carefully laid plans have been carried out in a way more than meeting expectations. The foreign dele- gation was not as large as it would have been had not the time appointed conflicted with the annual meetings of important companies abroad, but it was representa- tive. Its members were given an opportunity to meet the leaders of the American steel trade and for some days to share with them the experiences of travel and observation of steel works construction and practice in the United States. The enterprise of local committees made them well acquainted with the progress and Standing of three important industrial cities, albeit some of the literature put in their hands showed the touch of the American boaster. As indicated in what has already appeared in these columns this last party of European iron and steel manufacturers to visit this country was unique in be- ing composed almost entirely of representatives of the commercial side of the industry.. Heretofore the oper- October 2 ating or engineering departments have been repr -senteq in similar excursions. The fact was not disgui: «(| that a definite object was aimed at in inviting the ‘reign guests. President Gary’s address-at the meeting of October 14 plainly said that the policy of co-operation which has been to some extent operative in the domes. tic steel industry could be and should be exten led to the relations of American steel manufacturers with foreign manufacturers. “ They will meet us _ half way,” he said, and the foreign guests who spoke at the New York and Chicago dinners freely confirmed |udge Gary’s confidence. Some of them said, speaking for their own companies, that they would willingly co- operate in Judge Gary’s proposals whenever called upon. G. Scoby-Smith, a managing director of Bolc- kow, Vaughan & Co., Ltd., of Middlesbrough, Eng- land, said of the value of international conferences be- tween commercial heads of the steel industry: They not only enable the producer to have the ad- vantage of the experiences of the best appointed works, but they permit us to exchange such information as to supply and demand as to prevent overproduction or undesirable scarcity, and hence possibly inflated prices. So far as the gentlemen present from England are able to represent the English views, I believe we are in accord with the idea that arrangements of this character are to the advantage of all. . . . Possibly in the near future these gatherings may prove the need of an international iron and steel in- stitute, at which the discussion of commercial and technica] questions may be a feature. I am sure that a policy of friendly conference for the exchange of views and experience on such matters can do much to remove the sharpness of undue competition. Speaking also at the Waldorf-Astoria dinner, Sir John S. Randles, of the Workington Iron & Steel Company, referred to the new era.of friendly co-opera- tion as having possibilities beyond anything that could be accomplished by $17 rails: We talk about the time of $17 rails, and you may do s0 if you like, but what does it mean? It means that when that policy of $17 rails was inaugurated it represented more misery than was caused by the bloodiest battle. It meant an industrial army laid aside and the workers deprived of their sustenance. It meant ‘oss of industry that ought te have been maintained. It meant disaster worse than war. It was war in commerce and 2 régime which could not pre- vail. Then he added: “I believe our gatherings together in this manner will stop the destruction caused by the juggernaut of cheapness, which strikes at the happi- From the repre- sentatives of the German steel industry also came ex- ness of thousands of our fellows.” pressions favorable to co-operation. E. Schaltenbrand, chairman of the managing committee of the Stahlwerks Verband, spoke of the benefits already realized from a frank exchange of views and explanations of business policy by those engaged in the international steel trade. 3aron von Bodenhausen, of the Krupp works, while asserting the continuing vitality and potency of com- petition, believed that for competitors in the inter- national steel trade to come together and to know and esteem each other would keep their competition sound, on a high level and . hin reasonable limits. These expressions and the friendly reception give" to Judge Gary’s views by the British manufacturers whom he met at Sheffield, England, last year and at London previously, indicate plainly that the policy) of co-operation is making headway. Moreover, what counts more than the friendly utterances of social 0c- casions, various departments of the international steel trade are now conducted on a basis practically exe™ plifying the co-operative principle. There can be n° 1910 QOctoi 275 1910 dou _ that the New York meeting will result in its { er extension. t be suggested, since the United States Steel n does almost all the export steel business country that it, rather than the so-called in- { steel companies, is interested in co-operating However, even steel com- vaged wholly in the domestic trade must have the st interest in any policy which permits the ‘ at a profit of an increasing proportion of he t production of American steel in world mar- ign producers. \s to the practical form the friendly sentiments expressed at the New York meeting will take in the r orders in outer markets, time will give re light. There will be objection to leaving to manu- any industry to decide what is a “ fair ble” price for their product. On the other hand are the unreasonable levels reached in boom peri- the operation of so-called “natural” laws, rofitless: prices which result from cut-throat competition induced by producing far in excess of the ity to absorb. Somewhere between the two ble ground. here is one factor in the international steel trade which cannot be ignored in any practical consideration operation by manufacturers. By a striking co- cidence it was referred to in two papers read at the October 14 meeting in New York. Mr. Kirchhoff, ¢ the Ditsseldorf Congress, said that basic con- ditions in the steel industry of the United States and that of Europe are steadily approximating. Labor is growing dearer in Europe, so that the industry there must have, and is adopting, American labor saving and equipment and reaching the American r| of output. On the other hand the United States is looking after economies in the European way i the use of steam, blast furnace gases and the prod- ts of coke making. Mr. Farrell laid stress on the ‘that well equipped works in the industry, wherever | ted, show little differences in advantages, when all ‘Ssummed up. It is not, therefore, a case of nursing led concerns or of bolstering the weak, but rather preventing the strongest from using their strength to destr vy each other. It is also the abolition of the "ume strategy of preventing a rival from taking even at severe loss to one’s self. Thus viewed movement is far from having the odious as- t monopoly. ut when all is said, the real test of this undertak- ing of the American Iron and Steel Institute is in its It if at the same time that it benefits its mem- their foreign competitors, it benefits the con- réviewin methods stand i steel and the army of men employed in the ture of steel, it will prove itself one of the nserving forces of modern industry. The High Price of Pig Tin excitement in the pig tin market during the | weeks has kept consumers in need of a supply ighly nervous state, and the uncertainty as to Prices is the cause of further anxiety. This affairs is lamentable because of the fact that ‘ting situation is largely, if not wholly, due to rations of people who are not directly interested the production or the consumption of pig THE IRON AGE 935 tin. In other words, the market here is in the hands of speculators who have been more farsighted than the consumers, and the latter are contributing to the bank account of people whose only interest in the mar- ket is to influence price fluctuations. While it is generally admitted that pig tin is in relatively better demand than other metals, there seems no doubt that with spot tin prices hovering dangerously near 38 cents a pound, the market is in- flated and the metal has a fictitious value. Of course the London syndicate of speculators has helped to send the market upward here, but it will be remembered that late in August, when stocks were tightly cornered in London, this market did not respond to the violent fluctuations there, and pig tin for October delivery could be had as low as 34.50 cents. Shortly afterward the corner in the American supply of tin developed, with the result that the price of October tin early this week was put up to 37.62 cents. It may be well to state that the leading American consumer has not par- ticipated in this corner, but, on the contrary, endeav- ored to break the market in London by shipping tin there and has tried to relieve the tension here by sell- ing to other American consumers. It is not necessary to enter into a discussion as to the statistical condition of the metal to find the basis of these high prices. It is true that the limited sup- plies here have assisted the speculators in putting up the market, but nevertheless the present prices are artificial and brought about by speculative interests. The only remedy for this is for consumers to study the market more closely, in order that their purchases may be made at more normal prices. A close watch should be kept on the speculative buyers and sellers of tin by those who actually use the metal, and a more in- telligent study of the conditions relating to produc- tion and consumption would go far toward keeping the market in better balance. A Prosperous Year for Farmers One of the encouraging features of the business sit- uation is that the farmers of the United States have enjoyed an unusually prosperous year. The wheat crop has made about an average yield and commands a good price. The oats crop, an important item in cereal production, is understood to have surpassed all former records. There were unfavorable reports dur- ing the early summer regarding corn, but August and September proved ideal months for maturing this cer- eal, and it is estimated by good authorities that the yield and quality are the best the country has ever pro- duced. In the South the cotton crop is somewhat short in yield, but brings a high price which assures large re- turns to the planters. On the whole, the year has undoubtedly proved the most profitable in the history of American agriculture. Rumors of speculative tendencies among the farm- ers contributed materially to the disquieting literature that was in circulation early in the year. It was charged that they were mortgaging their farms to buy automobiles in their efforts to emulate the style of city folks. Later investigation disposed of this rumor, as it was found that the farmer seldom purchased an au- tomobile except for cash. While many people in the cities and smaller towns have strained their moderate incomes in order to maintain their social or business S. DiESCH cH & SONS Ricchanica ai and Civil Engi wae ee SRE ee em ee ee SY Bir ey ipa he tain aah pees ce oe ee aie? 2 936 position in the community, the farmer gets a valuable service from an automobile which makes it an asset rather than a liability to him, and there have been few cases where his investment is a matter of concern to the public. A more serious question is whether the tendency to speculate in Western lands has gone to the length that it a factor in the When the Comptroller of the Currency inaugurated would make financial situation. more rigid rules for the inspection of national banks, many where Western banks had exceeded the bounds of prudence in their loans to cases were discovered men who were engaged in such speculations. Prompt corrective measures were applied but it is not known how far this same evil may have extended in the man- agement of State banks. Those who are familiar with the actual business of selling lands of this character While the farmers, especially in the prairie States, have in insist that it is not a matter of public moment. vested a very large amount of money in unimproved Western or Canadian lands, only a small part of the total is borrowed money. Practically all of it has come from surplus funds which the farmers have accumu- lated from the profits of their crops. There may be cases where the bankers would prefer to keep these funds in their own control, and much of the discussion on this subject may have had its origin in such in- stances. It is a fact of great importance in the economic progress of the country that the farmers, especially in the Mississippi Valley, are accumulating a large sur- plus of idle money. They do not have savings banks in which to keep it, and in the. older States east of the Missouri River commercial banks do not pay interest on deposits, except when they issue interest bearing certificates for a definite length of time. A surpris- ingly large number of farmers in the prosperous prairie States are carrying their surplus funds in these certifi- The that into “ foreign ” land investments is probably a small factor The temptation to put surplus funds into investments of cates. amount of money has gone in the aggregate cash reserve of the farmers. this character is a very strong one. The best lands in Illinois and Iowa now command $200 per acre and few of the holders are willing to sell. The farmer with surplus funds seldom understands ‘the stock or bond market and prefers to take a chance on land because for years he has seen land steadily increase in value. Speculation in grain on the Board of Trade is no long- er popular, and the swindling promoter of oil or min- ing stocks finds that his returns are better among school teachers, doctors and professional people in the cities than among farmers. The high and steadily advancing prices which the farmers have obtained for their products in the past 10 years may have far reaching results in the financial world. The financial houses which market the bonds of railroads and municipalities have found it more and ‘more difficult in recent years to place these bonds in New England and other investment territory which they formerly relied upon. The annual savings fund of the country appears inadequate to meet the demands upon it, and rates of interest have been advancing. New England is no longer making enormous profits in the construction of Western railroads, and no other unusual source of income has taken the place of rail- road promotion. As the country becomes older and THE IRON AGE Octobe r 2 Pe 1919 competition increases, the returns grow less from jp. vestments in manufacturing and other ordinary enter. prises. It is possible that the annual savings fund of New England is actually decreasing, or at least is no growing as rapidly as the demands upon it. The farmers, however, especially in the prairie States, find themselves in the possession of a steadily increasing savings fund in the annual profits of their A larger and larger share of the annual incre. ment of wealth is passing into the control of an ex. crops. ceedingly conservative class of people, who know of no safe place to invest it except in land, which pays then a return of less than 4 per cent. It is possible that the railroads and the financial houses which market muri. cipal bonds have overlooked this great change in the flow of money, which is carrying the surplus of the country to the Corn Belt rather than to New England, If the attention of the farmers could be attracted to high-class bonds it might make a great difference in their attitude toward corporate interests. Correspondence The Early Manufacture of Beams in Pittsburgh To the Editor: In The Iron Age of September %, 1910, there appeared an article entitled “ The Mant facture of Rolled H-Beams,” by G. E. Moore, being a reprint of a paper read at the meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute at Buxton, England, September, 1910. As there are several additions that should have ap- peared in the paragraph with the subtitle, “ Pittsburgh Designs of 20 Years Ago,” we desire to make proper mention of them now, as Pittsburgh had the distinction of rolling beams as early as 1883. Joseph S. Seaman, now president of the Seaman, Sleeth Company, Forty-first street and Allegheny Val- ley Railway, Pittsburgh, early in 1883 erected in the plant located at the above point and operated under the name of James B. Young & Co., a 10-in. train, which on February 28, 1883, rolled the first 3-in. I-beam,t section of which Mr. Seaman has to-day. A special section designed to take the place of the H-beam was also rolled there. Andrew Carnegie and Henry Phipps, both at that time actively identified with the steel 1- dustry, witnessed these operations. On May 26, 1885, Mr. Seaman received patent No. 318,513 on his invet- tion, and on April 2, 1889, patent No. 400,495. Be- tween 1885 and 1889 there was installed in the plant of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, Steelton, Pa. @ 22-in. train which rolled! beams under Mr. Seamans method. The rolling of beams as early as 1883, and there being a patent issued as early as 1885, theretore entitle Mr. Seaman to his claim for being the original inventor of rolls specially designed to manufacture structural shapes on a universal mill, as his patent pre cedes the German patent by several years. PITTSBURGH. ———— The General Welding Company, 355-357 Four teenth street, Hoboken, N. J., has been organized by André Beltzer, to manufacture new and improved weld- ing machines and blow pipes of all kinds, oxy-acety- lene, oxy-illuminating gas, oxy-benzine, &c. The comr pany owns the sole rights in the United States tor Mr. Beltzer’s new and successful process of brazing alum!- num and aluminum castings and will manufacture fluxes and brazing sticks for all welding and brazing purposes. Mr. Beltzer is a pioneer in oxy-acetylene welding in this country and was one of the proprietors of the Beltzer-Delcampe Welding Company, from which he withdrew last spring. Oct L 27) 1910 The ‘National Machine Tool Builders The Opening Session Disposes of the Questions of Noncancellation of Orders and Dealers’ Commissions nual meeting of the National Machine Tool \ssociation was opened Tuesday morning at New York, with an attendance without n size. This large attendance was due partly est in the announced programme, and partly iter membership, a growth of 50 per cent. n achieved during the year. President Fred vas in the chair, and Secretary Charles E. cupied his official desk. Most of the morn- en over to association business, including rious committees. The association adopted calling for the use of the following state- nection with all matter relating to sales of , manufacturers and dealers: Kindly note that all our proposals, quotations and of orders are made with the mutual under- that orders are not subject to cancellation, hipment is made at time specified.” was on the recommendation of the com- ng this question in hand, presented and pre- pa C. Wood Walter, Cincinnati, Ohio, which set forth the deep research which had been given the sub- ince the meeting in Rochester. The recommenda- iollowed a joint meeting of this committee with a lar representation from the National Supply and Machinery Dealers’ Association, and embodied the sen- timent as voiced by the action of the Joint Committee. The purpose is to make this the beginning of a cam- paign of education. Mr. Walter, for the same committee, made a report that finally disposes of the matter of dealers’ commis- sions, which has been under consideration for several years. The report set forth that the problem is one for individual settlement between the manufacturer and his lealers and not for action by the association. The re- port was accepted. The vote indorses the view held by he committee. j \ddresses on the subject, “ Who Should Pay ‘the penses of a Representative from the Factory When Sent Out at the Request of the Dealer to Help Close a Veal?” were made, in executive session, by F. L. Eber- it, Gould & Eberhardt, Newark, N. J., and C. H. Nor- Norton Grinding Company, Worcester, Mass. The oon was devoted to meetings of the various com- ‘ representing the several types of machinery Hote Tr 14 ’ T a o____—_——- The Turin Exposition.—The United States Govern- ment is to participate officially in the International “xposition to be held at Turin, Italy, in rg11. It has arranged for the construction of a building, and has :' served for the usé of American exhibitors 10,- “oo sq. m. Of space in the various general galleries of os exposition. The exposition, as planned, will be “ie greatest ever held in Italy, and its promoters are _ ing extensive support from American manufac- “rers. It will open April 15 and close October 31. st day for filing applications for space and ad- at Turin is December 31, 1910. The members ‘ ‘ic American commission to the exposition are: B. Loomis, Department of State, commissioner and Albert H. Michelson, American Consul at leputy commissioner. — .-e—____ Be ‘land cement cupels for assaying 6res have been . at the School of Mines at the University of valt Lake City, and the report states that Port- nent represents a cheap and convenient substi- ‘ the bone ash commonly used. When neat vith from 6 to 10 per cent. of moisture is used cer THE IRON AGE 937 a strong cupel is secured that does not check and will ab- sorb its own weight of litharge. The silver loss due to absorption is about the same for cement as for 60 mesh bone ash the difference being insignificant compared with that due to a slight increase in temperature. Cupels made of a mixture of cement and bone ash are said to-give a smaller silver loss than either one alone and the physical properties of the cupel are also super- ior. The process of cupellation is dependent upon the fact that the capillarity of the cupel is wet with re- spect to litharge and dry with respect to lead and the precious metals. Consequently the physical surface of the cupel has an important bearing on the absorption losses. One Hundred Years’ Production of Pig Iron in the United States The production of pig iron in the United States in the past 100 years is shown in the appended table, taken from the Bulletin of the American Iron and Steel Association. Prior to 1854 the statistics given were compiled by various Government and other statis- tical agencies. For 1854 and all succeeding years the statistics have been gathered by the American Iron and Steel Association. The statistics for 1810, 1840, and 1850 are for census years. The figures for 1820 and 1830 are estimates made by early statisticians. Census statistics for these years are wanting. Years. Gross tons. Years. Gross tons. Years. Gross tons. TGRO, «0% 53,908 \) ee 846,075 1887.... 6,417,148 Se rk 20,000 1864.... 1,014,282 1888.... 6,489,738 1828.... 130,000 SR cess 831,770 1889.... 7,603,642 1829.... 142,000 1866.... 1,205,663 1890.... 9,202,703 1830.... 165,000 Dee ccs ase 1891.... 8,279,870 1831. 191,000 1868.... 1,431%250 1892.... 9,157,000 10. ss 200,000 1869.... 1,711,287 1893.... 7,124,502 1840. 286,903 1870.... 1,665,179 1894.... 6,657,388 1842 215,000 1871.... 1,706,793 1895.... 9,446,308 1846 765,000 1872.... 2,548,713 1896.... 8,623,127 1847. 800,000 1873.... 2,560,963 1897.... 9,652,680 1848 800,000 S874. oe 2,401,262 1898... .11,773,934 1849 650,000 1875.... 2,023,733 1899... .13,620,703 1850 563,755 1876.... 1,868,961 1900... . 13,789,242 1852 500,000 1877. ... 2,066,594 1901... .15,878,354 1854 657,337 1878.... 2,801,215 1902... .17,821,307 1855.... 700,159 1879.... 2,741,853 1908... . 18,009,252 1856. 788,515 1880.... 3,835,191 1904... . 16,497,033 1857 712,640 1881.... 4,144,254 1905... .22,)92,380 1858 629,548 1882.... 4,623,323 1906. .. .25,307,191 Res sss 750,560 1883.... 4,595,510 1907... .25,781,361 See. is 821,223 1884.... 4,097,868 1908... .15,986,018 1861.... 653,165 1885.... 4,044,526 1909... . 25,795,471 ee 703,270 1886.... 5,683,329 a. eee The White Star liner Olympic, the largest vessel in the world, was successfully launched from Harland & Wolff's shipyard at Belfast, Ireland, October 20. Her tonnage is 45,000. She has been building for 22 months, and it will be some eight months more before she is ready for her trial trip. Her principal dimen- sions are as follows: Length over all 882% ft.; breadth over all 92% ft.; height from bottom of keel to boat deck 97 ft. The number of steel decks is 11 and the number of water-tight bulkheads 15. Her sister ship, the Titanic, is well advanced and is to be launched soon. The vessels will be driven by a combination of reciprocating engines and low-pressure turbines. The speed is to be 22 knots an hour. The T. H. Symington Company, Baltimore, Md., announces that its Chicago office will be moved Novem- ber 1 from the Railway Exchange to Suite 623-625 People’s Gas Building. In addition to the Symington journal boxes this company also handles the Farlow draft gear, center and side bearings for cars and an ex- tensive line of miscellaneous malleable castings. The Penn Bridge Company, Beaver Falls, Pa., has appointed Norton & Potter its Eastern agents, with offices in the Hudson Terminal Building, New York. SADA TER aera aes ee ee 938 THE IRON AGE October 27, igio The American Iron and Steel Institute Tou Features of the Inspection of Works in the Buffalo, Chicago and Pittsburgh Districts on a Memorable Excursion The special train bearing members of the American Iron and Steel Institute and their foreign guésts reached Jersey City at 9.40 p.m., Saturday, October 22, and the excursion feature of the most memorable of international meetings of iron and steel manufacturers was at an end. A distance of nearly 2500 miles had been covered, and in five days three important iron and steel districts had been visited while a sixth day had been devoted to the National Capital. Three evening functions had been enjoyed and a visit paid to one of the country’s great natural spectacles. Tours of engineering societies and of manufac turers’ associations are not rare. ard there have been international gatherings on both sides of the water. But it is probable that no such excursion was ever made whose members had the degree of comfort in railroad travel afforded.those who journeyed on the institute train last week, cr had the opportunity to see important industrial works under such favorable aus- pices. Rare weather conditions prevailed throughout the week. Nota single arrangement needed to be changed After five days of clear skies and summer air, with heat at times rather oppressive, the only rain of the trip came Friday night and’ early Saturday morning; but after the arrival at Washington the clouds lifted and the last day of the six proved almost perfect. Concerning the management of the trip in every par- ticular the foreign guests were unstinted in expressions of praise, and those of the American members of the party who made the tour without having any of the responsibilities borne by the general and local com- mittees were equally appreciative. The exactness with which the schedule was lived up to with so large a number of appointments through the week and so many possibilities of the unexpected was a marvel of good management. AT BUFFALO AND NIAGARA The ground covered at Buffalo and Niagara Falls was referred to briefly in The Jron Age of October 20. The inspection of the Lackawanna Steel Company’s works was under the conduct of President Clarke, Vice-President McCullough, General Superintendent George F. Downs and Arthur J. Singer, assistant to the president. The coke oven plant, rail mill and sheet bar mill, to which special attention was paid, have been de- scribed in these columns. The frame work of the new merchant mill was seen to be well on toward comple- tion. This mill, which is being designed and installed by the Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., will roll 1% to 34 in. rounds, squares up to % in., and 1%-in. flats 4 to % in. There will be six roughing stands and a Belgian mill of four stands. To increase the finishing capacity two additional stands will be provided, duplicating the last two stands of the selgian mill, the expectation being that an output of 300 tons a day will be reached. The continuous rough- ing mill and the Belgian mill will each have its own engine. Thirty-foot billets will be the raw material of the new mill and a continuous heating furnace of the Morgan type is being built. An automobile trip through Buffalo’s business and residence districts followed the steel works inspection, and after passing through Delaware Park the automo- biles were left at Bridge street. A short walk brought in sight the new Government ship lock in Black Rock Harbor. Niagara River. The harbor, which might more properly be called a canal, is 3% miles long by 100 to 400 ft. wide, lying along the Niagara River front of 3uffalo, generally parallel to the Niagara River and separated from it by Bird Island pier and Squaw Is. land. The Erie Canal, which lies between Black Rock Harbor and the main shore, is being changed to a ship canal, and the lock‘ which is now being built is one of the largest ship canal locks in the world. Its construc- tion called for the largest cofferdam ever built, and this was made possible by the development of stee| sheet piling. The cofferdam is,947 ft. long, 245 ft. wide, outside dimensions, at one end and 260 ft. at the other. The piling is of 40 to 50 ft. lengths. It was furnished by the Lackawanna Steel Company, the total amount being 6352 net tons. The wall of the solter: dam is made of two lines of sheet piling 30 ft. apart, with division walls at 30-ft. intervals, forming - 30-ft. pockets. These pockets are filled with clay to form the solid wall of the cofferdam. The completion in i9i2 of the work the Government is now doing, the appro- priation for which was $5,000,000, will give in place of the present Erie Canal a channel averaging 200 ft. in width on not less than 23 ft. deep, navigable for lake vessels of the largest size, from the head of Niag- ara River to and including the north end of Tona- wanda Harbor. The State’s work on the $101,000- 000 barge canal ends at North Tonawanda. The Gov- ernment work means a very important addition to the water front of Buffalo and its suburbs on the north, and the building of docks on which large vessels can discharge their cargoes will make available manufac- turing sites for which of late the demand has been greater than the supply. Boarding their train near Black Rock Harbor, the members of the Institute and their guests proceeded to Niagara Falls, luncheon being served en route. Trol- ley cars conveyed them to the two power houses on the American side of the Niagara Falls Power Com- pany, where 21 generators are in operation, each capa- ble of delivering 5000 electrical horsepower. Each generator is driven by an independent water turbine receiving its supply of water through an independent steel penstock. Coming to the Canadian side, the visi- tors were taken first to the intake works above the Falls, and later to the generating station below the Falls, of the Ontario Power Company. The water is carried in two 18-ft. conduits of steel and concrete for a dis- tance of a mile to the generating station. Seven gen- erators are now in operation, and three others are under contract to the Canadian General Electric Com- pany. It is stated that of the 800,000-hp. of Niagara power permitted to be taken under the present treaty between the United States and Canada, the different plants have now available, or will have when machin- ery now being installed is running, a total of 479.000 hp. From the generating and distributing stations of the Ontario Power Company the tourists were taken 1 trolley cars for a trip around the Niagara River Gorge and Whirlpool Rapids, on the Canadian side, crossing the bridge at Lewiston and returning by the Gorge ©" the American side. It was the remark of many that never had the Falls been seen to better advantage, the effect being enhanced by a clear October sky, bright sun and the splendid coloring of autumn foliage. At 5 o’clock the train was under way, and the jout- ney to Gary had begun over the Michigan © ntral Railroad by way of Detroit. Oct 27, 1910 IN THE CHICAGO DISTRICT approach to Gary, Ind., early Tuesday morn- isitors had the oppertunity to see the shifting of the lake shore sands, which with their : and scrub pine made up the landscape of district when the founders of the stupendous ‘prise there first went upon the ground. A 1 of coke has been accumulated in the Gary | hedge against car shortage and other con- ; growing out of the long distance separating from its sources of fuel supply. As at the nna plant at Buffalo, the tour of the Gary , made by the use of a train of gondola cars e party left at intervals as some part of the vas reached which called for close inspection. e extensive by-product coke oven plant now going y was seen first. The erection of the ovens on under cover of a roof supported by steel rk, this as protection against inclement The plant will consist of 560 ovens, located liately east of the blast furnaces and steel works, itput of by-product coke is expected to reach tons a month. It is of interest to note that the of depending entirely upon by-product coke plant has been established by recent tests. One Gary furnaces was operated throughout the \ugust on a mixture of which 96 per cent. The fuel was by-product coke from the Joliet ovens, made from coal of which 80 per cent. ; Pocahontas and 20 per cent. was sixth pool coal the Pittsburgh district. The average output of nig iron was about 500 tons a day, while the coke con- sumption per ton of pig iron was held below 2100 Ib. \t the ore docks the operation of the Hulett un- loaders was seen. The buckets are rated at 10 tons capacity, but as a rule take 12 tons at a “ grab.” While spectacular records have not been strained for, the Gary unloaders have taken out 12,000 tons from a vessel in eight hours. The famous gas blowing engine house and gas engine electric power house at Gary ere visited in turn. Their equipment has already thoroughly described. One of the open hearth of 14 furnaces was inspected by running the visitors’ train from end to end of the building over the charging floor. The rolling operations which excited admiration of the visitors, were those of the bloom- ing mill, rail mill and billet mill. The equipment of hese is without precedent in works of this character, both as to massiveness and uniqueness of construction, notably the four tandem blooming stands and the pro- (igious size and power of the combined hydraulic and eumatic device controlling the lifting table at the three-high blooming mill, in which the piece is given five passes. In the continuous billet mill a fea- f interest was the twist in the guides, by which ter the first, third and fifth passes the billet is given iarter turn. There are six trains of 24-in. rolls in let mill, making it the largest pure continuous existence, s Mesaba ore. South Chicago, Chicago and West Pullman Industries llowing the inspection of the Gary works auto- es were taken for a ride through the city. This ed progress in town building which was beyond pectations even of the American members of the Some of the buildings are excellent examples hitecture, both brick and concrete structures be- resented in the public and semi-public buildings. stitute train left Gary at 12.30 for. the South zo Works of the Illinois Steel Company and n was served en route. The inspection of the \Vorks occupied about two hours. The feature eatest interest was the 15-ton Heroult electric e which was seen in operation, though the visit t timed for a cast. The tour of the South Works near the structural mill at the north end of the ‘here a special train on the Illinois Central was ~ THE IRON AGE 939 taken for the Twelfth street station of that road in Chicago. Tuesday night was spent at the Black- stone Hotel, which was headquarters during the stay in Chicago. Wednesday’s tour was made in automobiles, leaving the Hotel at 9.30 a.m. A half hour’s ride brought the visitors to the McCormick plant of the International Harvester Company, at Blue Island and Western avenues. The twine mill in which about 900 opera- tives are employed and which produces about 22,000 carloads of binder twine a year, was visited first and then in succession the bolt shop, knife shop and binder room. In the last named the manufacture of the bind- ing parts of grain binders is carried on, as well as the testing of knotters. The malleable foundry, which last year produced 29,572 tons of castings of an aver- age weight of 7 ounces per piece, was also visited. An inspection of the Armour plant at the Union Stock Yards followed the visit to the McCormick Works, and later the South Shore Country Club was visited and luncheon was served. In the afternoon a special train was taken for the Pullman Company’s car works at West Pullman, the tour of which occupied about an hour. The Chicago Dinner The dinner on Tuesday evening at the Blackstone Hotel, the latest and most notable addition to the list of Chicago’s hotels, was one of lavish appointments, and the after dinner speaking showed perhaps more free- dom than that of the Waldorf-Astoria banquet at New York. The acquaintance of several days had created a sense of camaraderie which put all at their ease. One of the attractions at the tables was a decorators’ model of a blast furnace with double skip hoist, and the realism was enhanced by the tapping of the furnace, there being a miniature car alongside for receiving the molten metal and a locomotive at hand to draw it to the steel works. Among the banqueters were a number of Chicago manufacturers and representatives of rail- road companies. President E. J. Buffington of the Illinois Steel Com- pany, the toastmaster of the evening, made apt intro- ductory remarks and presented as the first speaker Governor Charles E. Deneen of Illinois. The latter was followed by E. J. Brundage, Chicago corporation counsel, who represented the Mayor in a word of greeting. Chairman E. H. Gary of the United States Steel Corporation spoke of the progress made in the United States in the past decade in improving the methods and morals of men, and to the important economic and ethical questions which have arisen out of present day conditions. “It is not important,” he said, “to con- sider the merits or methods of individuals who have been prominent in the crusade for the betterment of conditions. It is time for all to take a decided stand on the great questions which involve the life and health, safety and happiness of the whole people.” In conclu- sion the speaker said: I still think that there is some danger of going beyond the bounds of necessity and propriety and reason in our efforts to correct abuses and to establish conditions which we deem proper. Many of us realize that it is time to thor- oughly build up and steadfastly maintain a constructive policy in this country. We should remember that the large majority of the people believe in the right and intend, to do theright ; that they are not altogether selfish nor unmindful of the welfare of others; that they love their country and will endeavor to serve its best interests; that they are honest, earnest and patriotic. Sir Charles Allen of the Ebbw Vale Steel Company, England, a nephew of Sir Henry Bessemer, made a happy response, saying for one thing that he had formed a very good opinion of America, for he could not help thinking that his brethrer here go on the principle that if they do not enjoy themselves in this life they will suffer for it in the next. Referring to Sir Henry Bessemer, he said the latter had told him OL PLE DODO ALLA ee ae a ee : ; : 940 THE IRON AGE October 27, i919 in a conversation shortly before his death that had it been possible for him to have been placed in the center of London at 20 years of age, without a farthing, he felt convinced he could have done much more good for the world than he had done and would have made a much larger fortune. Of the early operations of the original Bessemer company, the speaker said th