The Iron Age 1910-12-29: Vol 86 Iss 26

New Y «1418 Park Place, New York ‘Entered at thit New York Post Omice as Second Class Mail Matter. rad Sebeat nik United States and Mexico, $5.00 Annum ; to Canada, ~ $7.30 per Annum; to Other. Foreign Countries, $10.00 per Panay CHARLES T. Roor, - - - - - PRESIDENT W. H,. Tayior, - - - TREASURER AND GENERAL MANAGER Haron &. BUTTENHEI, - - - - ~ SECRETARY Geo, W. Core, gel Se ee * a. 1! Finotey, es ar } eorrons H. R. Cosceicn, ° - - - - MECHANICAL Eorror 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, 416 Engineering Building. Editorial : ae Paap. Umiprecedented Ore Stocks..............cecccceces 1453 The Lake Superior Ore Market in 1911............. 1454 Progress with the Six-Day Week................... 1455 Workmen’s Compensation and the Common Law..... 1455 SE NEMS Weck vncedoervccccsccbcnsccecdesss 1456 New Railroad Hquipment Orders..................0000 1456 Follansbee Broth pa biccaeccneneceses 1457 Nww Lackawanna St . Bn p'cévcacesses 1457 The. Structural Materials Laboratory at Pittsburgh....... 1457 The United States Pngineering & Mfg. Company......... 1457 The Best Mfg. Company’s Removal................e0005 1457 The IrdM did’ Metal Market Reports.............. 1458 to 1466 RPO MUCNUIBEE IRE POULOORS. 0. sen ccccacscccccscsceeses 1466 PaO NSU Sho, TPS 6 Ubieinld bi Wv'eelde sees 1467 Stephens-Adamson Improvements.................-2+0+- 1467 Ee ae ra 6 Anas a resnnadvoentc iss aus hi 1467 The Machinery Market Reports.................. 1468 to 1477 Savings Renk Life Insurance in Massachusetts.......... 1477 Complinientary Dinner to Joseph G. Butler, Jr........... 1477 International Harvester Company Bonus.,.............. 1477 How the Bight-Hour Law Is Working................... 1478 New Teele and Appliances. , 05. ..% . dceas sn sdawsbdeeces 1479 RE oe «ilies 45:0 aie wh pmein be thaw ie e++-5 1480 aes cs sinivinn cs cnascccdocceiecedics aces 1480 I oo 6 os ohne oh oc dwaernsa¥seccdeennas 1480 A Large Alberger Pumping Contract.................+5 1481 ‘Texas Freight Rates on Cast Pipe and Steel Rails........ 1481 fhe Richardson-Phenix Company..................0+0+ 1481 ie Bec Power Wisnt Bollerss «22.5 ov ie eds 1481 H ection High Carbon Rails. Illustrated.......... 1482 The ville Wire Swager. Illustrated................ 1483 German Spelter Interests Cut Loose from London........ 1483 «-A New Plain Milling Machine. Illustrated.............. 1484 The Pels Combined Punch and Shear. Illustrated........ 1486 Asbestos. Ilustrated........... SNES ES Oe ee 1487 The Brass/Manufacturers’ Annual Meeting.............. 1488 The Mewar Automatic Gear Cutter, Illustrated......... 1488 The Pratt & Waitney 6-Ft. Vertical Surface Grinder. Illus. 1490 The Titan Steel Casting Company to Make Manganese RM MUMS GONDO is oc caus cc cutest ccs Sccnsces 1491 The: Thomas. Elliptic Grate-Bars. Lllustrated.......... . 1492 The Gap Squaring Shear. Illustrated......... 1492 Traile MOC We PESTLE. TOL gh 2k Foc cen ccacsndenr 1493 The Whitehall Building’s Mechanical Plant. Ilustrated.. 1494 A New Gould & Eberhardt Gear Cutter, . Illustrated. .... + 1496 Winnipeg’s Industrial Expansion.... . We . onus «apo a 1497 The New Gang Radial Drill. Illustrated................ 1408 Turning a Wrist Pin in an Acme Screw Machine, Illus... 1499 The New Rockwell Tilting Furnace. Tiustrated......... 1500 An Accurate Piece of McCabe Lathe Work. Illustrated... 1502 The Garvin Hole Grinder. Illustrated..............--- . 1502 Alloy Steels for Automobiles. ..........ss.++ 004-0500 <0 1504 Illumination of Iron and Steel Mills.............-.++++- 1508 New Sullivan Air Compressors. Illustrated. ,.......«--- 1510 The Beloit Combined Power Punch and Shear. Illustrated 1511 The Niagara Power Bench Press, Ilustrated.........+.+ 1511 Current Metal FOUR neha < «oc be chee ch ne Ube ten Bededeé 1612 ene ee * ee $e -_ - ork, December 29, 1910 Unprecedented Ore Stocks Their Bearing on Prices for 1911 The Coke Market Stronger—Activity in Cast Iron Pipe Actual iron market developments of the closing week of the year relate to the basic departments of the industry rather than to finished material. In the coke trade a number of contracts are reported, including one for 18,000 tons and one for 12,000 tons a month for the first half of next year, and one for 15,000 tons a monta for the entire year. There is a better feeling among coke producers, and the very low prices recently quoted have been withdrawn. Contract Connellsville coke is now more generally on a $1.75 basis. The incorpora- tion of a company to sell the output of a number of Connellsville producers is not as significant as some re- ports have indicated. Only about 7000 ovens are likely to be iticluded. The Lake Superior ore situation has assumed im- portance in view of a recent meeting of producers and producer-consumers in connection with the proposal to maintain the 1910 price throughout 1911. The argu- ment has been brought forward that consumers who buy all their ore in the market would be helped by such a policy in working off their stocks of high-priced ore, many of them having enough to last them for nearly a year. In 1908, it will.be recalled, the high ore prices of 1907 were held for a while in line with the general price maintenance policy, but in May, under actual buying, declined 50c. a ton. How far the expanding demand of one year ago misled ore buyers is indicated by total stocks of Lake Superior ores on docks and in furnace yards December 1, this year, of 32,600,000 tons. Estimates of a total movement of 25,000,000 tons in IQ1I afe now current, against estimates for 1910, made one year ago, of 50,000,000 tons. The pig iron market has grown even quieter in the past week. In the Chicago district local foundry iron interests have made fresh concessions to move accu- mulated iron. Southern irons must be sold below $11, Birmingham, to compete now in the Northwest. The only noteworthy sales of the week are 6000 to 7000 tons of low phosphorus iron for New Jersey delivery, at the equivalent of $22 delivered in eastern Pennsylvania, and 5000 tons of high manganese iron by an Alabama company. Better co-operation among pig iron producers is aimed at by meetings held last week at Philadelphia and Cleveland. Central Western furnacemen agree that more furnaces should blow out, but there is no concerted effort in that direction. The proposal for a selling agency for basic iron has had some support in the Pittsburgh, Valley and Cleveland districts, but one interest has thus far held out against it. In finished lines buyers are awaiting the outcome of the present uncertainty regarding prices, and that attitude may continue for some time. A dinner con- VoL. 86: No. 26 aa «ee SA RE Oe ean ERR aE x os ar sdk OU eg ms ee d Prat. 1454 ference of steel manufacturers, on the invitation of Chairman Gary, will be held in New York, January 11. Concerning the expectations of buyers that lower prices will come before the new year is far advanced, it should be said that strong influences are operating and will continue to operate against the precipitation of an open market. As an alternative the possibility of co- operation on a lower level has been discussed. Canadian buying of structural material promises to be considerable in the new year. In Vancouver alone plans are maturing, calling for 35,000 tons. The New York Central has taken bids on 3000 tons of steel for bridges over the New York State Barge Canal. At Portland, Ore., bids are in for 8500 tons for the new bridge. For the Masonic Temple addition in New York 4000 tons will be required. There is fair buying of railroad track supplies, in- cluding spike contracts for the Louisville & Nashville and St. Paul. The former’is in the market for 50,000 pairs of splice bars. The Carnegie Steel Company has sold 5000 of its heavy I-beam steel ties for export. The cast iron pipe trade is more active, in part from the usual December contracting for gas pipe, of which the leading producer has booked 15,000 tons in December. The Pacific Coast awards to be made in February amount to 24,000 tons of water pipe for Portland and various California points and 12,000 tons of gas pipe for Portland. The copper outlook, on the heels of three years of adversity, is anything but encouraging to producers. Prices are weaker and demand halting. The grip that has been on the pig tin market so long shows no signs of relaxing. Statistically the lead situation is stronger. The Lake Superior Ore Market in 1911 Lake Superior iron ore interests evidently are in the same fog of uncertainty regarding the coming year that envelops the rest of the iron trade. Some estimates have been made as to the amount of ore ahead of the furnaces which use Lake ores—that. is, the total of ore in furnace yards and on Lake Erie docks. That statement, moreover, must be interpreted in the light of the steady diminution in the production of pig iron now in evidence, from the rate of 22,400,000 tons a year on December 1, whereas one year ago it was advancing beyond the rate of 31,000,000 tons a year, shown by the statistics of December 1, 1909. While it may be agreed that the low rate of produc- tion in this holiday week is likely to be improved upon as the new year advances, no probable improvement can keep the present stock of Lake ore from being a serious incubus on the ore market of 1911. The lead- ing interest is credited with having on hand about 19,- 000,090 tons. Its shipments in 1910 were about 23,- 000,000 tons. It has now in furnace yards and on docks what may be reckoned a year’s supply even under any probable increase in its pig iron production next year beyond the rate now prevailing, which is less than 50 per cent. of capacity. But the Steel Cor- poration has for years provided a large factor of safety against strikes on the lakes, or on docks or at the mines, and would ordinarily have ore stocks at the opening of navigation sufficient to carry it into late summer. These indicate the largest stocks on record. THE IRON December 29, : )i0 AGE The amount of ore now carried by indeper |: steel companies and merchant furnaces, together \ ::) the dock stocks of merchant ore firms, is not kn \ :). But gauged by the Steel Corporation’s stocks it »),, be estimated at 13,000,000 to 14,000,000 tons. 1 his would mean that 32,000,000 tons to 33,000,000 tons of Lake ore is ahead of the industry. Estimates made jy Cleveland ore firms, of the amount of ore to be shipped next year, in view of the enormous total now piled up and of the off year that is ahead for pig iron and stec!, range from 60 to 70 per cent. of the production of 1910. That would mean from 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 tons. with the probabilities rather in favor of the lowe: than the higher amount. The price of Lake Superior ores for 1911 will be influenced to a considerable degree by developments in the steel trade in the first quarter of the new year. The policy of the ore producers in making no read- justment in prices on 1910 deliveries has been com- mended by a number of furnace companies, in spite of the fact that pig iron prices have declined $3 to $4 a The same argument has been used that was brought forward in defense of holding finished material prices in 1908. It has been urged that to reduce ore prices would be taking a needed prop from under the pig iron market, and would bring even more than a corresponding reduction in the price of pig iron. Now that it is seen how far into the future the present surplus of high priced ore will last, the intimation has come down the line that a re- duction in ore prices in 1911 is by no means a foregone That view must meet the same test as the claim made a year ago, that because ore prices for 1910 were higher than those for 1909, pig iron for 1910 delivery should bring a higher price. It is dif- ficult to see why the price of Lake Superior ores should be long out of line with prices of pig iron and finished iron and steel, or why, in view of the read- justment of the latter to a lower level, the basic ma- terial should be left untouched. : ton in the past year. conclusion. The perplexities of the Lake ore situation are not alone due to the fact that a year’s supply must be brought down the lakes in the seven months of naviga- tion, and that decisions must often be made regarding prices and tonnage more than a year in advance of the use of the ore. There are the diverse interests of those who are purely producers, those who are only consumers, and in the third place the great producing- consuming companies. The situation for the coming year may be said to be simplified in one particular— that the demand from merchant furnaces for ores for steelmaking pig iron will be smaller than in many years. Stocks of both steel making ores ang pigviron in the hands of merchant furnaces are very large. Moreover, the chance that the steel companies will be buyers of pig iron in 1911 is very remote, unless there should be again a temporary resort to suc @ method of sustaining the market. The interest of the mer- chant cre companies in giving the Northern producers of foundry iron such a price for ore as will enable them to hold their market against Southern iron is obvious. However, if closer cooperation among pig iron producers should result from. the present situation, Southern competition might even become a manage- able factor, though the history of the 1908 movement is to the contrary. Evidently, so far as consumers’ December 29, 1910 interests are concerned, the non-Bessemer rather than the Bessemer ore situation is the present problem. It remains,to be seen to what extent such consumers will iidorse the proposition that their interests will be best conserved by holding ore prices in 1911 to the level of i910, which has been equaled only twice in the past 15 -years. Progress with the Six Day Week Labor conditions in the iron and steel industries in igII promise to be favorable to the effort to establish to a much greater extent than formerly the six-day week. The pressure upon mills to get out product, which was so marked in 1906, the greater part of 1907 and for a portion of 1909 and 1910, furnished a rea- son for doing much of the work of repair on Sunday, as well as loading and unloading, and in some cases Sunday work was performed on new construction. In the months of only partial employment of capacity that are ahead, there will be no need of employers urging Sunday labor, and the workmen should be well satisfied to get six days’ work, instead of asking for seven day jobs, with their extra day’s pay, as most of them do where both the long week and the short week are worked. Without waiting for the committee of the Amer- ican Iron and Steel Institute to report, some steel manufacturers apart from Steel Corporation subsid- iaries have made a beginning in the reduction of seven day labor, At one plant all the mechanical men—en- gineers, firemen and others—who have been working continuously, have been put on a six-day week. The few men who are paid by the month are naturally pleased with the change. Some of those who are paid by the day have not been as well satisfied, but as time goes on and the benefits of the new regime appear, complaints are fewer. Blast furnace workers, as is well known, have gen- erally preferred the seven-day week, with seven days’ pay, to the six-day week with six days’ pay. Blast furnace operations being so largely mechanical and the manual labor required being not severe, the ob- jection of the men to the six-day proposal is one of the important features of the problem. A p.an for doing away with the 24-hour day in connection with the change from day to night shifts and vice versa, at the end of the week, has been in operation at some blast furnaces and may be adopted at others. The time for the change is transferred from Sunday morn- ing or Sunday evening to Wednesday noon, and the off-going and on-coming shifts work 18 hours respec- tively ‘before and after Wednesday noon. It has been found that the reduction of repair work on Sunday to a minimum has worked definite economies. Under the old arrangements, where large numbers of engineers, firemen, machinists and electri- cians were regularly on duty on Sunday, the amount of work done per man was much less than at present, where only a few are assigned to do absolutely nec- essary work. Sunday was apt to be a day on which efficiency was forgotten. Illustrating what can be done in minimizing Sun- day labor, even though custom has required the doing of a good deal of it, the effort for reform in the cement industry is interesting. As indicated in our re- port last week of the recent New York meeting of the 1455 Association of American Portland Cement Manufac- turers, two cement companies have found it possible to close their plants on. Sunday, in the face of the ac- cepted practice in that industry to work seven days a week. The belief that considerable losses would re- sult from shutting down cement kilns on Sunday is opposed by the experience at works employing open hearth furnaces and puddling, heating and reverbera- tory furnaces, where the most that is done is to keep a light heat on the furnaces through that day. More- over, the human side of the argument of those who are leading the movement for a six-day week in the cement industry is reinforced by the existence of excess ca- pacity which next year will be more of a problem than it has been in 1910. The like condition in the pig iron industry may add to the incentive to solve the more difficult problem there. Workmen’s Compensation and the Common Law Much misapprehension exists as to the effect of workmen's compensation acts upon existing laws hav- ing to do with employers’ liability. Briefly stated, the new principle will replace the statutes of employers’ liability, but cannot affect the operation of the common law, which is a fundamental principle of the Federal Constitution and the constitutions of several States. The injured employee can accept his compensation as fixed by the act or he can sue under the common law. To restrict the liability of the employer to the pro- visions of workmen’s compensation would require a constitutional amendment, a remedy which has its ad- vocates. Under the common law the fellow servant prin- ciple, which takes financial responsibility from the owner where injuries result through the negligence of a fellow workman, exists in an accentuated form, as compared with the existing practice under employers’ liability. Generally speaking every one employed in a works is the fellow servant of every one else. Neg- ligence must be personal on the part of the owner, or, under what is known as the vice-principal doctrine, on the part of some one specially delegated by him to perform his duties. He is negligent when he fails to exercise reasonable care in providing reasonably safe places and machinery and methods in connection with the work; in warning employees of dangers and in- structing them in their duties; and in providing suffi- cient and competent servants. Naturally, in the mod- ern industrial plant much of this personal responsi- bility must be vested in others. The employer gains in one way by the reversion to the common law, be- cause the statutes of employers’ liability have a much narrower definition of a fellow servant, which includes no such officials as superintendents and foremen. However, various conditions of modern industrial life leave the common law alternative one of possible menace. The basic idea of compensation is that the employee shall be recompensed for any injury, né mat- ter how received or through whose negligence, except when self-inflicted. The family shall be protected by a fixed amount of compensation, based upon his earn- ings. Whether accidents result in temporary or in permanent disability, or in death, they shall not be per- mitted to work unusual hardship nor to impose bur- dens upon the public. In the argument for the aboli- S. DIESCHER & SONS, Milt's Tet c lalla 3 alii ah wa - 1456 tion of,.the common law alternative, it is held that jus- tice would best be served if claims for every accident, even though the employer be himself to blame, should be adjusted on the one fixed principle. If the employer is to pay for injuries to his people, no matter how great the degree of their own negligence, then he should himself be relieved of the possible onus of costly litigation, where the contention is made under the common law that he is personally to blame. Unless this is done, the lawyer who does business on the con- tingent fee basis will retain an ample opportunity to pursue his trade. Another factor to be considered in this connection is the vastly increasing number of im- migrant operatives whose knowledge of the English tongue is so limited as to render warnings and instruc- tion uncertain quantities. Correspondence American Society of Mechanical Engineers To the Editor: In your admirable report of the re- cent convention of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, I note quite a serious error in your notice of the report of the Committee on Constitution and By- laws, which I presented on behalf of the committee at the business session. The matter which I presented had nothing to do with “an amendment of the constitution,” nor had it anything to do with any paper or matter “necessary in order to properly confer the title in the Engineering Societies Building shared by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.” The title to that property is perfect, and stands in the name of three foun- der societies. The matter which was presented by me on behalf of the committee related solely to an amend- ment of the charter as to the time of holding the annual meeting, so as to make it in conformity with the constitu- tion under which the society has acted for 15 years or more. The whole matter was for the purpose of cor- recting a small clerical error in the charter, but as this had to be done legally it had to be done with considerable form. Jesse-M. SmirH. New York Crry, December 22, 1910. Plea for Amending the Bankruptcy Law To the Editor: The present Federal bankruptcy law should be amended, so that an individual or firm that becomes financially embarrassed in business may, by petition of a creditor, or by voluntary act, become the direct subject of the court. This would eliminate all the demoralizing and costly go-between red tape pro- cedure of lawyers, keepers and receivers, who absorb the bulk of the assets which should go to the creditors. In almost every instance the individual or firm sum- moned to the court can pay 10 per cent. at once upon all liabilities, which is all that is usually received by the creditors after months of delay under the present sys- tem. Then, at the discretion of the court; an extension of time may be granted for further payments and for possible reorganization of the business. Such a course would obviate failure in the vast majority of cases and save millions yearly which are now lost. or needlessly wasted, through outside operation of the law. If every individual or firm in business could feel that it was thus protected by the United States court from vicious attacks and business injury of the present system of keepers and receivers, and investors and stockholders could feel the same protection for their interests, there would come fresh confidence and great improvement in business. conditions. There would be more business all over the country, better credit, and all needless failures checked. This course of the law would establish honesty in all business methods and give stability to trade. The only way to obtain this amendment to the pres- ent law .is for business men to become aroused every- THE IRON AGE December 29, : 919 where to the necessity of thus protecting their bus: oss from outside mercenary attacks, and to agitate — ;;) Congress shall listen and grant their request. Louis Sr Boston, Mass., December 23, 1910. Labor Efficiency and the Cost of Living To the Editor: In your issue of December 15 M: Root and Brombacher make some very good points the relation of labor efficiency to the cost of living. ©) this Christmas evening the thought occurred to me, wiiile reading their letters, that if both employers and wo) men fully understood these questions they would be to get together without delay. It is misunderstandings that keep men apart, and they may not be all on one side. I think I need a little more light from these two cen- tlemen. It is agreed that labor efficiency, long hours anid machinery will produce more; but suppose this leads to less men needed, more out of work, more labor competi- tion and lower wages. Is not the cost of living of the men thereby increased? Does not higher efficiency mean that the work will be done by the most efficient and the others thrown out of work? : Of course the most efficient men, like the most efficient coals, are used first, but the poorer coals hold their en- ergy while the poorer men possess only active energy, and if not employed they consume the products of the energy of others. Does not competition lower the price of labor as well as the price of products, and is it not natural for labor to combine as well as capital to secure larger profits? Granting the gentlemen’s economic theories, what have they to offer to take the place of John Mitch- ell’s “safety line” for preventing labor from cutting its own throat by competition? What living standard is there below which workmen cannot be forced? J. C. PARKER. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., December 25, 1910. te New Railroad Equipment Orders.—Inquiries rather than orders for cars have been the ruleein’ the past’ week. The principal roads in the market are the fol- lowing: Chesapeake & Ohio for 200 flat cars; the Chi- cago & Alton for 25 caboose cars; the Swift Refrigera- tor Transportation Company for 50 produce cars; the Chicago, New York & Boston Refrigerator Line for 300 refrigerator cars; the Pittsburgh, Shawmut & Northern (soon to come into the market) for 2000 freight cars. The Great Northern has ordered 500 50-ton ore cars from the American Car & Foundry Company and the Baltimore & Ohio, 20 coaches from the same company and 30 from the Pullman Company. Locomotive orders include 60 for the Boston & Maine from the American Locomotive Company and 40 from the Baldwin Locomotive Works; 31 for the Soo Line, from the American Locomotive Company; 8 for the New York, Ontario & Western, from the American Locomotive Company; 15 for the Cincinnati, New Or- leans & Texas Pacific, 3 for the Wichita Falls Route and 2 for the Lake Superior & Transfer Company, all from the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The abeve are reported by the Railway Age-Gazette. OO The Crawfordsville Wire & Nail Company, Craw- fordsville, Ind., has taken over the busimess of the Crawfordsville Tank Company of that city, manufac- turer of galvanized steel tanks and troughs, and is now conducting the business at its present location, but 1s erecting buildings adjoining the wire plant and hopes to be able to begin operations in the new plant by Feb- ruary I. The Republic Iron & Steel Company, Pittsburgh, has placed an order with the Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., for a 1o-in. and 12-10 merchant mill. December 29, 1910 Follansbee Brothers Company Changes On account of the resignation of V. H. Arnold, to ill health, Albert Matthews has been trans- ‘red from .central New York to New York City and ; been made district sales manager at that place for Follansbee Brothers Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., inufacturer of black and galvanized sheets and tin ites. His territory will embrace New York, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and eastern Maryland. Mr. Matthews has been succeeded in cen- il New York by James V. Dalton, whose head- quarters will be at Syracuse. A. R. Johnson, for sev- eral years district manager at Cleveland, Ohio, has been transferred to the New England States. William U, Follansbee, Jr., for several years local representa- tive, covering Pittsburgh and immediate vicinity, has been made district sales manager at Cleveland, Ohio, succeeding Mr. Johnson, He is assisted by Scott Fol- lansbee. The vacancy caused by the transfer of Wil- liam U,. Follansbee, Jr., to Cleveland, has been filled by H. V. Jones, for several years located at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Jones is succeeded at Columbus by Edwin J. Fisher, assisted by L. E. Pence. Mr. Fisher has been in the Chicago office of the company for several A complete list of the branch offices, together with district managers, is as follows: D. E, Allen, Norfolk, Va. \ustin Clawson, 427 Commercial Nat’l Bank Building, Chicago. Edwin G. Fisher, 205 New First Nat’l Bank Bldg., Columbus, 0. Wm, U. Follansbee, Jr., 1111 Superior Viaduct, Cleveland, Ohio. E. C, Folkening, 110 South Alabama street, Indianapolis, Ind. Ed. Harper, Seneca and Hamburg streets, Buffalo, N. Y. \. G. Hinderer, Fourteenth and Broadway, Louisville, Ky. \, R, Johnson, 1780 Hudson Terminal Building, New York City. Albert Mathews, 1780 Hudson Terminal Bldg., New York City. G. W. Nuckols, 148 Second avenue, North, Nashville, Tenn. Eb. H. Rider, 608 Warren avenue, West, Detroit, Mich. Ed. Schrader, 705-709 South Fourth street, Memphis, Tenn. W. B. Slifer, 21-23 South Ford street, Rochester, N. Y. H. H. Wherry, 685 Thirty-ninth street, Milwaukee, Wis. Stockhoff Supply Company, St. Louis, Mo. Geo. 8. Lagy, Marvin Building, San Francisco, Cal. I. H. Prest Supply Company, Kansas City, Mo. years, a New Lackawanna Station at Buffalo.—The Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company has completed plans for a new passenger station and ter- minals at the foot of Main street, Buffalo, N. Y., to cost approximately $1,500,000.. It will have a plaza frontage of 100 ft on Main street and 200 ft. on Ohio street, the location being on the easterly side of Main street, between Ohio street and the Buffalo River. The architecture will-be in the Italian Renaissance, similar in design to the company’s stations at Scranton and Hoboken. The waiting room, restaurant and other terminal accessories will be on the second floor on a level with the tracks, which are to enter the station on an elevated structure. The dock frontage between the new station and the Buffalo River will be 1500 ft. in length and will provide landings and dockage for the steamers of a number of lake passenger lines. The plans have been approved by the Public Service Com- mission and are now before the city authorities for approval. a Oe The New York Revolving Portable Elevator Com- any, 352 Garfield avenue, Jersey City, N. J., manufac- iurer of a portable tiering machine for stacking bales, boxes, &e., and known as the Revolvator, whose plant suffered complete destruction by fire October 3, now has in course of construction a factory which will in very way be superior. to the old one. With new ma- ‘hinery, run by individual motors, the capacity will be three times that of the old plant. At the rate the company is booking orders for future delivery, it would seem as if the new works would be running up to full capacity from the start. Having plenty of ground, the business may be enlarged to take care of a still increasing demand. The new location is within THE IRON AGE 1457 a few hundred feet of the old préperty, near the Green- ville station of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. - oe The Structural Materials Laboratory at Pittsburgh One of the important functions of the Government Bureau of Standards, as defined in the act establishing it, is that pertaining to “the development of physical constants and the properties of materials.” Realizing the necessity of basing its work on the fundamental standards of length, weight and other units, the bureau first established those departments, others following in logical order. The scientific equipment of the Washington laboratory is now being augmented by purchases for the Pittsburgh laboratory, where exten- sive research tests on iron and steel are being pro- vided for, as well as work on cements and concretes, lime, brick and other clay products. This additional equipment will put the Pittsburgh laboratory on a footing commensurate with the important interests it will represent. The work there will have direct ref- erence to practical questions on structural engineering, the improvement of current methods and products and the uses of materials. In doing this the equipment and personnel of the Washington bureau will supple- ment the resources of the Pittsburgh plant. A large amount of reliable work has been done in other laboratories, and the results obtained are now at the command of engineers, on such subjects as the strength of steel as modified by chemical composition and by heat and mechanical treatment; the strength of columns of steel, of plain and reinforced concrete, of brick and brick piers, on each of these kinds of ma- terials taken separately and in combination. ——__s--o___— The United States Engineering & Mig. Company.—- Under this name a company has been organized at Pittsburgh with a Delaware charter and a capitaliza- tion of $1,000,000, of which $500,000 is 7 per cent. cumulative preferred and $500,000 common stock. The purpose is to make electric rock drills, wheels for automobiles, new vault lighting arrangements for side- walks, and other specialties. J. J. Jones, consulting engineer, states that the company will erect a machine shop, 120 x 300 ft.; a foundry building of the same size; a power house, 40 x 80 ft., and a general office building and pattern shop. The machine shop is to be equipped with two 30-ton electric cranes, and similar equipment is to be installed in the foundry. The power house is to have two 250-hp. gas engines and electric generators. Joshua J. Jones is president and McKin- try Griffiths is vice-president and treasurer. President Jones states that the company will proceed at once with the erection of its plant, and expects to have it in operation within a year. > PO . The Best Mfg. Company's Removal.—On and after january 1 the Best Mfg. Company, Pittsburgh, piping equipment of every description will be located at its new plant at Oakmont, near Pittsburgh. The post-office and telegraph address will continue to be Pittsburgh, while all freight and express matter should be addressed to Verona, Pa. The new plant more than doubles the manufacturing capacity, and its concentration of de- partments, modern equipment and splendid facilities for handling material will enable the company to render the best possible service to its customers. Its iron foun- dry is equipped throughout with modern installation, including a complete line of power molding machines, ranging from small squeezers to the largest jarring machines adapted for all classes of work. This depart- ment has a capacity of 90 tons per day, and can handle castings up to 50 tons. The company will carry a large stock of valves, fittings and flanges, both full size and reducing, and also pipe. 1458 The [ron and THE IRON AGE December 29, 1910 Metal Markets A Comparison of Prices Advances Over the Previous Week in Heavy Type, Declines in Italics. At date, one week, one month and one year previous, Dec.28, Dec.21, Nov.30, Dec.29, PIG IRON, Per Gross Ton: 1910. 1910. 1910. 1909. Foundry No. 2, standard, Phila- GOUAIR os cincrcoccccvacersce $15.50 $15.50 $15.50 $19.00 Foundry No. 2, Southern, Cincin- Ce nn ne ema bo ep Aur a hd oe 14.25 14.25 14.25 17.25 Foundry No. 2, local, Chicago.. 16.00 16.00 16.00 19.00 Basic, delivered, eastern Pa.... 14.75 14.75 14.75 18.75 Basic, Valley furnace.......... 13.28 13.25 13.50 17.00 Bessemer, Pittsburgh........-- 15.90 15.90 15.90 19.90 Gray forge, Pittsburgh........ 13.90 13.90 13.90 17.40 Lake Superior charcoal, Chicago 18.00 18.00 18.00 19.50 BILLETS, &c., Per Gross Ton: Bessemer billets, Pittsburgh.... 23.00 23.00 23.00 27.50 Forging billets, Pittsburgh..... 28.00 28.00 28.50 31.00 Open hearth billets, Philadelphia 2}.50 25.50 25.50 30.60 Wire rods, Pittsburgh.....>. ’ 298.00 28.00 28.00 33.00 OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross Ton: Iron rails, Chicago............ 15.50 5.50 16.00 20.00 Iron rails, Philadelphia........ 17.00 .00 18.00 20.50. 13.50 1 1 TD. . on csadeae? 1 13.00 1é 1 1 Philadelphia....... Car wheels, Car wheels, » 7 3.50 13.50 18.50 3.00 13.75 17.50 Heavy steel scrap, Pittsburgh.. 13.50 3.50 14.25 18.00 Heavy steel scrap, Chicago..... 12.00 2.00 12.25 16.00 Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia. 12.50 12.50 13.00 17.00 FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Bessemer steel rails, heavy, at Be eS US. SSSbiss cs CPR et 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 Refined iron bars. Philadelphia. 1.824% 1.85 1.35 1.65 Common iron bars, Chicago.... 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.60 Common iron bars, Pittsburgh. . 1.35 1.40 1.40 1.70 Steel bars, tidewater, New York 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.66 Steel bars, Pittsburgh......... 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.50 Tank plates, tidewater, New York 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.71 Tank plates, Pittsburgh........ 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.55 Beams, tidewater, New York... 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.71 Beams, Pitteburgh............. 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.55 Angles, tidewater, New York... 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.71 Angles, Pittsburgh............ 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.55 Skelp, grooved stecl, Pittsburgh. 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.50 Skelp, sheared steel, Pittsburgh. 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.60 SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, Per Pound : Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents Sheets, black, No. 28, Pittsburgh 2.20 2.20 2.20 2.40 Wire nails, Pittsburgh*........ 1.70 1.70 1.70 1.85 Cut nails, Pittsburgh.......... 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.85 Barb wire, galy, Pittsburgh*... 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.15 METALS, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents Lake copper, New York........ 3.00 13.00 13.00 14.00 Hiectrolytic copper, New York.. 12.75 12.75 12.871413.62% Spelter, New York............. 5.60 5.75 5.95 6.30 pentane, Toads... 10 osc wens 5.50 5.65 5.80 6.15 nc es ae ge 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.70 ROS Wher REID os v0 pc te ce ary 4.35 4.35 4.40 4.65 TE” aghe gepea aa Sta 38.45 37.90 37.35 33.95 Antimony, Wallett, New York... 7.75 7.75 7.75 25 Tin plate, 100-Ib. box, New York $3.84 $3.84 $3.84 $3.84 * These prices are for largest lots to jobbers. Prices of Finished Iron and Steel Pittsburgh f.o.b. Freight rates from Pittsburgh in carloads, per 100 Jb.; New York, 16c.; Philadelphia, 15c.; Boston, 18c.; Buffalo, 11c.; Cleveland, 10c.; Cincinnati, 15c.; Indianapolis, 17c.: Chicago, 18c.; St. Paul, 32c.; St. Louis, 22%c.: New Or- leans, 30c.; Birmingham, Ala., 45c. Rates to the Pacific Coast are 80c. on plates, structural shapes and sheets, No. 11 and heavier; 85c. on sheets, Nos. 12 to 16; 95c. on sheets, No, 16 and lighter; 65c. on wrought boiler tubes. Structural Material.—I-beams and channels, 3 to 15 in., inclusive, 1.40c. to 1.45c., net; I-beams over 15 in., 1.50c. to 1.55c., net; H-beams over 8 in., 1.55c. to 1.60c.; angles, 3 to 6 in., inclusive, 1% in. and up, 1.40c. to 1.45c., net; angles over 6 in., 1.50c. to 1.55c., net; angles, 3 in., on one or both legs, less than 4% in. thick, 1,45c., plus full extras as per steel bar card, effective September 1, 1909; tees, 3 in. and up, 1.40c. to 1.45c., net; tees, 3 in. and up, 1.40c. to 1.45¢., net; angles, channels and tees, under 3 in., 1.45c., base, plus full extras as per steel bar card of Septem! 1909; deck beams and bulb angles, 1.70c. to 1.75c., hand rail tees, 2.50c.; checkered and corrugated | 2.50c., net. Plates.—Tank plates, 44 in. thick, 644 in. up to 1) wide, 1.40c. to 1.45c. base. Following are stipulations | scribed by manufacturers, with extras to be added to bas price (per pound) of plates: Rectangular plates, tank steel or conforming to manufa:(u; ers’ standard specifications for structural steel dated Febr) 6, 1903, or equivalent, %-in. thick and over on thinnest edge, 11): in. wide and under, down to but not including 6 in. wide, a: base, Plates up to 72 in. wide, inclusive. ordered 10.2 Ib. per squ foot are considered \4-in. plates. Plates over 72 in. wide mu: be ordered 4-in, thick on edge, or not less than 11 Ib. per squar foot, to take base price. Plates over 72 in. wide ordered less than 11 !b. : cnn foot down to the weight of 3-16-in. take the price of Allowable ¢ oe cated ht, whether plates are ordered to gauge or weight, to be govern by the standard specifications of the As- sociation of American Steel Manufacturers. Gauges under \-in. to and including 3-16-in. on THINMEST WONG. Gi ieee ee ECR TH EER b owesdmh 2 eeeree Gauges under 3-16-in. to and including No, 8. 15 Gauges under No. 8 to and including No. 9....... 25 Gauges under No. 9 to and including No. 10...... .30 Gauges under No. 10 to and including No. 12..... 40 Sketches (including all straight taper plates), 3 ft. ant Over tr GE es oo he see bee cSadswdes 10 Complete circles, 3 ft. in diameter and over...... .20 Boiler and Mange SOG. «0.00.65 so cnet S00 00000 es 10 “A. B. M, A.” and ordinary firebox steel........ -20 Still DORE HOS. . Heese cece sesiterewianeeen® .30 i Pree eer: Rh EMEKERT CPE Pe ery .40 Locomotive Brehom 8b6Gkic cs cee cccevpewecssesve -50 Widths over 100 in, up to 110 in., inclusive..... « 06 Widths over 110 in, up to 115 in., inclusive...... .10 Widths over 115 in. up to 120 in., inclusive...... 15 Widths over 120 in. up to 125 in., inclusive...... at Widths over 125 in. up to 130 in., inclusive...... 50 Widths 0906 160 Dice 0.900 19:06 00 hac abe Resa en 1.00 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 3 ft. to 2 TC. TRETUEGIE So SSG Cee. cn 2 Ge ee Cutting to lengths or diameters under 2 ft. om 1 RE., TROIBMIVE cece cheeses she ttneeaun esbees Cc utting to lengths or diameters under 1 ft. 1.55 No charge for cutting rectangular plates to lengths 3 ft. and over. TERMS.—Net cash 30 days. Sheets.—Makers’ prices for mill shipments on sheets in carload and larger lots, on which jobbers charge the usual discounts for small lots from store, are as stn ag annealed sheets, Nos. 3 to 8, U. S. standard g Nos. 9 and 10, 1.65¢c.; Nos. 11 and 12, 1.70c.; Me i 13 rad 14, 1.75c.; Nos. 15 and 16, 1.85c. One pass, cold rolled, box annealed sheets, Nos. 10 to 12, 1.85c.; Nos. 13 and 14, 1.90c.; Nos. 15 and. 16, 1.95¢c.; Nos. 17 to 21, 2c.; Nos. 22, 23 and 24, 2.05c.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2.10c.; No. 27, 2.15c. ; No. 28, 2.20c.; No. 29, 2.25c.; No. 30, 235c. Three pass cold rolled sheets, box annealed, are as follows: Nos. 15 and 16, 2.05c.; Nos. 17 to 21, 2.10c.; Nos. 22 to 24, 2.15c.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2.20c.; No. 27, 2.25c,; No. 28, 2.30c.; No. 29, 2.35¢.; No. 30, 2.45c. Galvanized sheets, Nos. 10 and 11, black sheet gauge, 2.20c.; Nos. 12, 13 and 14, 2.30c.; Nos. 15, 16 and 17, 2.45c.; Nos. 18 to 22, 2.60c.; Nos. 23 and 24, 2.70c.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2.90c.; No. 27, 3.05c.; No. 28, 3.20c.; No. 29, 3.30c.; No. 30, 3.50e. Painted roofing sheets, No. 28, $1.55 per square. Galvanized sheets, No. 28, $2.75 per square for 2% in. corrugations. All above prices are f.o.b. Pittsburgh, terms 30 days net, or 2 per cent. ‘ash discount 10 days from date of invoice. Wrought Pipe.—The following are the jobbers’ carload discounts on the Pittsburgh basing card on wrought pipe, in effect from October 1: Butt Weld. r——Steel.—, -———lIron.— Black. Galv. Black. Galv. 72 58 68 54 \%, Y%, % in oxels eke > aed 2 se reores a > aaah eee us 4 a s 4% tol Mss bine, ole ue Wal ete Wi OO: Billed os ceidaaveneasan 80 70 76 66 Lap wee BAR ie 854 ccd ee ae eee 66 72 62 ae BO BI, nin ans a6 00.08e a te is 68 74 64 G6 t0' 8 Wis oslo cs ieee a 77 67 a 63 T Ub OS Pensa. see ticpicw an V8 a 59 55 ey oe a aoe: 51% “ Butt Weld, extra strong, plain ends. gard “— 9 eM os i Fx Sec eee e 69 55 EPR eee retthiey a 74 64 Owe 2g Ee 78 4 68 eS ee ee 9 69 Lap Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card me nt. SR Wns % ox Pia Ss. chee 65 Be I ae i ws bg beige 77 71 oR 67 on 00 OU. oc Se 76 70 72 66 TS Bis esses eaben ten 69 59 65 5d DR tas « ss ken cakes wan 64 50 a Butt Weld, double extra strong, plsiln ends, card weight. in Elise» 0's 0's © 0.0 4.5% dni + Oe % C6 OU MASE ict eee el een 67 61 = 57 See oe er eee 69 59 4 Weld, double extra strong, plain re card weight es eee eee . 65 ee Relocate . 67 81 63 OST a, to6 im. 0. yieaul 66 60 62-56 December 29, 1910 THE IRON AGE 1459 THE IRON AND METAL_MARKETS Plugged and Reamed. 1 toAls, 2 to 3 in... Butt Weld { Will be sold at two (2) points lower basing (high- er price) than merchant or card weight pipe, Butt 2, 2% to4in....... Lap Weld | or Lap Weld as specified. The above discounts are for “card weight,” subject to the usual variation of 5 per cent. Prices for less than carleads are threg, (3) points lower basing (higher price) than the above dis- counts, Boiler Tubes.—Discounts on lap welded steel and char- coal iron boiler tubes to jobbers in carloads are as follows: Steel. Iron. Sb BA Ds Wikats lows 0 03:6 OK Ke que ewkeene 49 43 SE UE 6 hss g's dad oslek onhele stents 61 43 2 ibis odin ach ld hie a K'Aw ow'dle- Nie em cinta ob aroes 63 48 Der AM i LAGTCs €5 01d 06.455 RRate dele ale Camcans 69 Oe Be cE REE CEMA ONS 0260 She KOs cle bNG cue 1 43 6 2% in. and smaller, over 18 ft., 10 per cent. net extra. in. and larger, over 22 ft., 10 per cent. net extra. Less than carloads to destinations east of the Mississippi River will be sold at delivered discounts for carloads lowered by we ca for lengths 22 ft. and under; longer lengths, f.o.b. *ittsburgh. Wire Rods.—Bessemer rods, $28; open hearth and chain rods, $28. Steel Rivets.—Structural rivets, % in. and larger, 1.90c., hase; cone head boiler rivets, 34 in. and larger, 2c., base; 5 in. and 11-16 in. take an advance of 15c., and % in. and 9-16 in. take an advance of 50c.; in lengths shorter than 1 in. also take an advance of 50c. Terms are 30 days, net cash, f.o.b. mill. ~~ oe Pittsburgh PARK BULLDING, December 28, 1910.—(By Telegraph.) Pig Iron.—The pig iron market is exceedingly quiet, due to some extent to the holiday season and inventory period. The effort of the makers of basic iron to get to- gether and organize a new company to handle their output is still under way. A meeting will be held in Cleveland this week, but it is stated that a large basic interest has refused to join, and it will probably fall through. No sales are reported, but some renewal of buying is expected after the first of the year. It is reported that No. 2 foundry is being offeréd by one furnace for first quarter at $13, at Valley furnace. We quote standard Bessemer iron, $15; basic, $13.25; No. 2 foundry, $13.75; malleable Bessemer, $13.75, and gray forge, $13, all at Valley furnace, with a freight rate of 90c. a ton for delivery in Pittsburgh district. Steel.—There is very little new inquiry for billets, sheet or tin bars. Sales are reported of 1500 tons of open hearth slabs at $23, Pittsburgh, and two sales of 500 tons each, of small billets at $24, Pittsburgh, full freight to destination added. We quote Bessemer and open hearth billets, 4 x 4 in. and up to but not including 10 x 10 in., at $23, base, and sheet and tin bars in 30-ft. lengths, $24, f.o.b, Pitts- burgh or Youngstown, full freight to destination added. We quote 1%-in. billets at $24 and forging billets at $28, base, usual extras for sizes and carbons, f.o.b. Pittsburgh or Youngstown districts, freight to destination added. (By Mail.) Inventory period is now at hand and consumers are taking in as little material as possible. It is known that stocks of finished iron and steel are low and this leads to the belief that after the turn of the year there may be a better buying movement. The recent meetings of manufacturers of sheets, tin plates, stee] bars, plates, structural steel and other finished materials, at which it was decided to maintain regular prices, have given a stronger tone to the market; it is known that some low quotations on certain products have been withdrawn as a result of these meetings. The pig iron market is practically lifeless and the output is be- ing steadily curtailed. Prices on steel billets and sheet and tin bars are reasonably firm. There is a better feeling in the coke trade, and some low prices on furnace coke, made a week or 10 days ago, but which were not taken up, have been withdrawn. The serap trade is neglected and prices on two or three grades are lower. Ferromanganese.—A sale is reported of 200 tons of foreign 80 per cent., 50 tons a month for first feur months of 1911, at about $88, Baltimore. Inquiries are light. We quote 80 per cent. foreign, for delivery through the first half, at $38.25 to $38.50, Baltimore, the rate to Pittsburgh being $1.95 a ton. Ferrosilicon.—News is lacking as to recent sales, and ihe market is bare of new inquiries, We quote 50 per cent. for delivery over first half at $54 to $55, and for prompt delivery at $55 to $55.50. We quote 10 per cent. blast fur- nace silicon at $23; 11 per cent., $24; 12 per cent., $25. f.o.b. cars Jisco and Ashland furnaces. Skelp.—aA Jocal pipe mill is reported to have bought 1000 tons of narrow grooved steel skelp on the basis of 1.25c., delivered in Pittsburgh district. New inquiry is light, buy- ers being pretty well covered for some time ahead. We quote grooved steel skelp, 1.25c. to 1.80¢. ; sheared steel skelp, 1.30c. to 1.35c.; grooved iron skelp, 1.60c. to 1.65c., and sheared iron skelp, 1.70c. to 1.75¢., all for delivery at consumers’ mills in the Pittsburgh district, usual terms. Rods.—Specifications against contracts have not been coming in at a satisfactory rate for some time, and new de- mand is light. We continue to quote Bessemer and open bearth rods at $28, f.o.b. cars, Pittsburgh, but it is stated that Bessemer rods have recently sold for prompt delivery below $28. Muck Bar.—No sales of local bar have been reported in this market for several weeks. We continue to quote best grades of local muck bar, made from all pig iron, at nomi- nally $29, Pittsburgh. Steel R