The Iron Age 1911-01-12: Vol 87 Iss 2

THE IRON AGE Established 1 Published Every Thursday by the DAVID WILLIAMS COMPANY 14-18 Park Place, New York Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Mail Matter, a Subscription Price, United States and Mexico, $5.00 Annum; to Canada, $750 per Annum; to Other Foreign Countries, 510.00 per Annum. Single Copies, 20 Cents, ARLES T. ROOT, 7 sie - PRESIDENT » H. TAYLOR, - = ‘TREASURER AND GENERAL MANAGER roLD S. BUTTENHEIM, rm = ad SECRETARY Geo. W. Core, - A. |. Finovey, - H. R. COBLEIGH, - - - MECHANICAL EDITOR } Eprrors Branch Offices My 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. ‘ CONTENTS: editorial : Iron and Steel Exports Keep Up The Steel Corporation’s Output in 1910 To Amend the German Patent Laws.............6005 The Growing Use of the Industrial Automobile The Conservative Copper Market of 1910 An Essential Cost Factor of Compensation Septic Poison’s Needless Cost in Works Correspondence New Publications mne Life of Electrical Apparatu®... 6. ccsccereveevcsvves 122 British Pig lron Output, First Half of 1910 Steel Corporation President. Portrait The Iron and Metal Market Reports................ 124 to 132 Kron ‘and ‘Didestrial: Bei@awk:. 6.5. . bo abt Fee eee 132 Notes on Prices 32 New Tools and Appliances The Machinery Market Reports...............000. 134 to 144 Notes on Motor Truck Performaén¢es.............-++e+e8+ 145 The Western Steel Corporation Personal Obituary New Railroad Equipment The Apollo Sheet Steel Calendar The Steel Corporation’s Unfilled Orders.............+--- Continuous Foundry Operation Trade Publications Death of Charies H. Morgan, Portrait Customs Decisions Briquettes:from Cast Borings.. ....... iu «shoei ecee ce dees 152 Castings from Nonferrous Alloys 1 he Results of Tron Molders’ Strikes in 1910 The Newark Foundrymen’s Association The Philadelphia Foundrymen’s Association The Pittsburgh Foundrymen’s Association Experience with Molding Machines The Welsh Tin Plate Trade November Exports and Imports of Iron and Steel “anadian Iron and Steel Works Pxtensions...+........-- 158 Che Garrison 400-Ton Double-Acting Press. Tllusttated.... 159 A Country Club for Employees... 159 A Private Accident-Relief System 150 rhe Columbia Steel Foundry. Illustrated A Cleveland Portable Pneumatic Grinder. 162 New Standard Reducing Presses. Illustrated | Corporation Payments for Hill Ore 163 Roberts Motor Air Compressor. Illustrated The Boe del Ceiling Electric Elevator Machine. LIllustrated.... 165 ‘he 16-In, Schellenbach Geared Head Lathe, Illustrated. . D H N T A Cu t Ratchet Jacks at Panama, Illustrated. iting Furnace Doors. Illustrated Morris Lathe Attachments. [Illustrated Western Electric Company’s Year nalysis of Boiler Feed Records. Illustrated ent Metal Prices 855 New York, January 12, 1911 Vou. 87: No. 2 Iron and Steel Exports Keep Up Large Tin Plate Order for the Oil Trade Better Demand Expected from the Railroads, but Buyers Generally Hold Off Export business in steel products has been unusually good of late, excellent as it was throughout 1910, and it is particularly welcome in the present halt of new demand at home. A significant order recently placed is for 250,000 boxes of tin plate for the export oil trade. Welsh tin plate, as is well known, has long been im- ported for this trade, but the crowded condition of Welsh mills and the consequent advances in tin plates abroad have temporarily thrown the business to Ameri- can mills. Another phase of the heavy export trade: now com- ing to the United States is the inability of British man- ufacturers of plates, angles and shapes to take their usual share of the foreign trade in those lines. The ending of the British shipbuilding strike and the large accumulation of new work at the yards will call for-all the ship steel British mills can deliver for several months. The result has been the turning of consider- able inquiries from neutral markets to this country. Exports to Canada have kept up well; a recent order 1s for several thousand tons of structural material for a bridge over the Saskatchewan. The meeting of steel manufacturers in New York this week is seemingly the pivot of the market; at all events it is the latest reason given for the holding off of buyers. Steel manufacturers are represented to be practically unanimous in favor of holding prices as they are, in view of the decline that has already taken place from the 1907 level, and the belief that there is no dammed up demand which lower prices would release. Little has developed since the opening of the year to throw light on the ultimate outcome of the present situation except the better prospect for American steel abroad. Those who believe that the present price basis will be substantially maintained, not only temporarily but ultimately, count much on a larger railroad demand than has thus far been indicated for 1911. From the railroad standpoint the immediate situa- tion is considered to be better to the extent that 220 locomotives have been placed in the past week and that rail and bridge demand shows more promise. The ac- ceptance of the Pennsylvania rail order for a total of 150,000 tons has been assured by an agreement on the price to be paid for the extra discard. The basis of the New York Central contract is also near adjustment, an extra price being asked by the mills for meeting the ductility requirements on high carbon open hearth rails. The Great Northern has bought 3800 tons of open hearth rails and an Eastern coal road with West- ern connections has bought 16,000 tons. An inquiry for 28,000 tons f Teste ine and one for 25,000 tons for a Scented Boag eee 7 Gary rail Mechanical and Civil Engineers, PITTSDU RGH. PA. i. 2 oe tr my * eer es Cg e PE Ping Neh like ve, g- s as = Fm pag TM ee ie oe Se fi Tyree Lo $F: ge Sa a= os bg a ahes a4 a i a a pr eere. 4 ~”~ EA oe > ty i she + ek ‘* ee 5 ge - ali ¢ & z ty * * 120 mill will start up next week, having orders for 20,000 tons for early rolling. A favorable construction has been put in quarters on the fact that the Steel Corporation’s fig- ures for orders unfilled December 31 showed a smaller decline in December than in November. Such a con- clusion would be better founded had not both new or- ders and mill output been less in December than in November. More inquiry for Southern pig iron is reported, but the $11 Birmingham basis has been shaded 25c. or more on analysis iron equivalent to No. 2. In the East the slackness in the textile trade is reflected in the curtailment of forces by foundries and machine shops manufacturing textile machinery. The extent to which the business contraction is affecting foundry operations is a factor in the situation which pig iron producers are watching closely. Two eastern Pennsylvania blast furnace companies announce a 10 per cent. reduction in wages. This action follows several months of pig iron prices on which Eastern makers have barely made their cost. Chicago opened bids this week. for 10,000 tons of water pipe, the leading producer being low bidder at about $24, delivered, for 12 to 48 in. sizes. Pipe foun- dries have had some good inquiry of late from gas and water companies for their spring requirements. Copper has declined % cent in the past week, elec- trelytic now selling at 1234 cents, while lake is only There has been some fair buying on some nominally 12.75. the decline. The Steel Corporation’s Output in 1910 The United States Steel Corporation made new records in the production of pig iron, steel ingots and rails in 1910. In pig iron and steel ingots this is but paralleling what was done by the country as a whole. Not so with the record in rails, for the independent mills did not approach last year their record total of 1906,-when the output of the United States was 3,977,- 872 gross tons of steel rails. It is a safe estimate that the total of 3,023,845 tons in 1909 was exceeded last year, but not greatly. The Steel Corporation is under- stood to have produced more than 2,000,000 tons of rails in 1910, while its best previous record was 1,982,- 042 tons in 1906. The pig iron production of the Steel Corporation last year, approximately 11,800,000 tons, is nearly 200,- 000 tons in excess of the best previous year’s record, that of 11,618,350 tons in 1909. The statement of the pig iron output of the country in the past six years is given below, with the output and percentage in each year of the Steel Corporation. It shows that last year’s percentage was less than in any year of the six, except 1907: Pig Iron Production in 1905-1910.—Gross Tons, Per cent. Steel Total for Steel Corpo. United States. Corporation. ration. 2 es Seen 22,992,380 10,172,148 44.2 RS sos ie ne hee 25,307,191 11,267,377 44.5 RO ose dksetatiee 25,781,361 10,819,968 41.9 NOEs 0.610 vad tae ace 15,931,018 6,934,408 43.5 eprom 25,795,471 11,618,350 45 BOOMs 06 csksep >a 27,275,000* 11,800,000 43.2 * Estimated. The Iron Age’s monthly pig iron statistics for 1910 and 1909 show that the steel companies made 18,062,- 329 tons of pig iron in 1910, against 17,036,285 tons in THE IRON AGE January 12, 191! 1909, an increase of more than 1,000,000 tons. The increase of the independent companies was thus more than four times that of the Steel Corporation—ac- counted for in part, no doubt, by the fact that the Stee! Corporation drew upon its pig iron stocks to a greater extent than its competitors. The steel ingot production of the Steel Corporation was well beyond all records, exceeding that of 1909 by nearly 800,000 tons and that of its record year in steel, 1906, by 640,000 tons. A compafison with the produc tion of previous years follows: Production of Steel Ingots and Castings in 1905-1910.—Gro«s Tons, Per cent. Stee! Total for Steel Corpo United States Corporation. ratio: WR iiss oka 20,023,947 11,995,239 59.9 19086 66s vis scsuia. oe, 0eR nee 13,511,149 57.8 as & 60-35 ee ae 23,362,594 13,099,548 56 Saws see theted 14,023,247 7,838,713 55.9 13,355,189 55.7 14,150,000 1909..........+.. 23,955,021 If the steel ingot and castings production of the country in 1910 should prove to have been 25,000,000 tons, as the increase in pig iron production of the steel companies and the Steel Corporation’s ingot increase would seem to indicate, the Steel Corporation’s percent- age would be 56.6, or slightly more than the average of the three years previous. To Amend the German Patent Laws The German Government proposes radical changes in its patent laws, through the medium of a bill recent- ly introduced in the Reichstag. While only meager details have been received here, the understanding of patent attorneys who have kept in touch with the sit- uation in Germany is that the amendments, directly or indirectly, will take from the American patentees their singularly advantageous position in that country, as an answer to the protest that has gone up from German manufacturers and inventors. Under the existing agreement with the United States, the American pat- entee in Germany is exempt from the provisions of compulsory working, which holds with citizens of all other nations and with the Germans themselves. The treaty was made with the idea that the American laws were soon to be amended to include the compulsory working principle, which, however, has not been done, nor does such action now seem imminent, though it has many strong advocates. Naturally the Germans be- lieve that the Americans have altogether the best end of it, though there is justice in the argument that while patentees of other countries are not compelled to work their American patents, that burden should not be im- posed upon Americans in those other nations. Undoubtedly the German Government has, as the most essential reason for the amendments, the wish to place its laws nearer the basis of those of other Euro- pean countries, notably Great Britain. The British patent act has hit the Germans very hard. The bill, according to information received, provides the right to rescind a patent after three years in case the inven- tion has been worked chiefly outside of Germany. An- other provision would give the Government the power to compel a patentee to license another person to man- ufacture under the patent, should he not make use of it himself. Apparently the purpose of the legislation is to strengthen greatly the existing laws. lanuary 12, IQII The Growing Use of the Industrial Automobile The growing use of the industrial autemobile is iracting attention in the metal working industries, ‘t only because the increasing manufacture of auto rucks opens an excellent market for material and me- ,anical equipment, but also because of their adapta- ility to the requirements of manufacturing plants. ‘or some years auto trucks have been gaining favor th the railroads and steamship companies for the insfer of baggage, and their use as a delivery me- im by express companies and mercantile houses is ccoming quite general. The adoption of auto trucks 4 part of the interior transportation systems of plants a more recent development, and their use in that di- rection is growing. A number of manufacturers of echanical equipment, including a large pneumatic achinery manufacturer and a gas engine building mpany, have recently begun the manufacture of auto tucks for this special purpose. Unlike most makers ' self-propelled commercial vehicles, they did not take » the manufacture of industrial trucks as an adjunct pleasure cars, but they entered the industry because ' the possibilities it offers as a distinct enterprise. Under certain conditions the auto truck has its advan- ige over industrial railroads for use in factory lants. It affords a flexible carrying system, as a truck an be guided in and around a congested plant to pick up a load, while with a railroad in use the freight must be brought to the tracks. There are now 100 auto truck builders in this coun- try, as against one-third of that number four years ago. Many firms now in that line make industrial cars ex- clusively, and the type of low bodied trucks most adaptable for factory use is growing in favor. The in- ‘reasing use of industrial vehicles is creating a call or material and machinery used in its manufacture that is in a measure making up for the decreased buy- ing on the part of makers of pleasure cars. It is safe to assume that the possibilities of the auto trucks have ot by any means been reached and the industry prom- sés to be one of no small importance. The Conservative Copper Market of 1910 Fluctuations in prices on both lake and electrolytic copper during the year 1910 were far less erratic than i previous years and the effect of speculation on the inarket was felt but little. Only once during the year lid the New York quotation on lake copper go beyond i4 cents, and that was in January, when, because of a heavy demand for prompt shipment 14% cents was isked. The lowest price made on lake during the year vas in July, when lots from second hands were of- ‘ered at 1254 cents. Thus it can be seen that there was ot 2 cents a pound difference between the high and w price. It is to the credit of the sellers that no ‘rong attempt was made to force the market upward t any time, but it was allowed to advance or recede ac- ording to the strength of the demand. There have cen times in other years when the consumer of copper ad been the plaything of the speculator; hence, last car's record was a creditable one to the trade. ‘\hether the publication of the monthly statistics of e Copper Producers’ Association contributed toward onservative trading it is hard to judge, but certainly © market during the year in this country was less THE IRON AGE 121 sensitive than that of London and was conducted on a more stable basis. An Essential Cost Factor of Compensation An element of workmen’s compensation, little un- derstood though of great moment, is the wide variation in cost to the employer, dependent upon the period of time following an accident during which no compensa- tion is paid. Under all employers’ rules governing the system, a certain period must elapse before the injured employee may begin to receive damages. In some cases it is a week, in others two weeks. A compilation prepared by an expert in employers’ liability, based on the history of hundreds of accident cases, reveals the fact that, while with a one week limit 34 per cent. of industrial accidents produce disability enduring more than one week, the number is reduced to 20 per cent. when the limit is extended to two weeks. This means that a great number of injuries compel the victim to lay off more than seven days but less than 14 days. In the attempt to guide legislation in order that the pro- posed compensation laws of various States may be just to both the employer and the employee, these signifi- cant figures should be kept in mind. It will make an enormous difference in the cost of the system to the employer if he has to pay damages for 34 instead of 20 out of each 100 accidents, ‘ Septic Poison’s Needless Cost in Works Some large employers of labor are giving careful consideration to the education of their working people, with a view to reducing the number of disabilities re- sulting from blood poisoning caused by negligence or ignorance in the care of injuries. It has been found that 10 to 20 per cent. of disabilities—depending on the nature of the employment—are absolutely unneces- sary. If these cases were originally attended to prop- erly, the wound would heal quickly, with little in- convenience to the sufferer. As it is, the workman disregards a slight trouble, such as a superficial cut, and in due time finds himself a victim of septic poison- ing. A seeming trifle develops into a serious matter. Where compensation exists, the great number of these cases becomes an expensive burden to the manufac- turer. Without regard to financial obligation, it is often costly to have men absent from their regular places, because the routine of production is disturbed. This species of disability is by no means confined to the more ignorant classes of labor, Men generally have a contempt for small ailments, often failing to realize their possibly serious and even dangerous conse- quences, The suggestion is made that all employees receive printed warnings of the danger of septic pois- ‘oning from slight wounds or abrasions. Correspondence The Value of System To the Editor: The recent declaration of the wasteful methods of American railroads by Mr. Brandeis have done more to bring public notice to the industrial engi- neer than all the other discussions that have been held for many years. We are confronted to-day with the be- ginning of the interesting spectacle of the business world “house cleaning.” It may be well to attempt to define the one word that 122 THE IRON AGE is commonly used to describe the activities of the irdus- trial engineer—“ system.” That word or term may ie defined as a method or order of accomplishing a given task. Almost everybody who has paid any attention to the progress of the world knows of the word, aud its meaning, but, strange to say, the application of system to commerce and industry in this wonderful industria! i. tion is comparatively recent. in the early days of Amer- ican railroads, when these systems of transportation were first stretching out their important branches, the ma‘ issue was their economic construction. Now we have come to the period when economy in operation is demanc- ed, and to the time when it is necessary to economize on the cost of labor, as the chief item of operation. This same condition also extends to and embraces every line of American industry. If we observe the con- ditions among the 3 per cent. of manufacturers who have now come to recoguize the real value of scientific plait management—another way of saying “ system ’’—we find that not only has system increased their production, but it has brought about an increase in the value of the as- sets that invariably follow, and in the 97 per cent. of manufacturing plants that have not installed any system worth mentioning, we fird old-time, slip-shod methods, the pitiful spectacle of a heavily handicapped business, and in not a few instances a closed factory or a com- mercial failure. Many people have dilated at great length upon the harmful effect of modern combirations of business men, but few have spoken of the great lesson in the elimina- tion of waste which these same corporations or combina- tions have given us. The direct aim of the great coin- bination may be explained in two fundamental prin- ciples—namely, to manufacture or purchase at the least possible cost, and to sell at the highest price consisteni with good business principles. If we take any of the existing combinations of business men into one corpora- tion we immediately abolish a great number of presi- dential offices, &c.; thus we are reducing the cost of labor to the minimum of value, and bringing about a greater sense of efficiency by concentrating our activities and the responsibility for their outcome, While many such com- binations have undoubtedly become dangerous, it will serve us well to take their lesson of the value of “ sys- tem” into serious consideration for application to our national and local efforts at regulation of the dangerous activities of the same combinations. This indicates the true value of uniformity, or a standardized system for the nation as a whole, becaus 90 per cent. of the industry of the United States is officially clasified as Interstate. The preponderence of Interstate over State or foreign commerce virtually eliminates the possibility of success in regulating its factors by diversified action of all the States in the Union. It would not be a bad way of concluding my comments on the present and future value of “system” by quoting a statement attributed to Andrew Carnegie some years ago: “ Take away all our factories, our trade, our avenues of transportation, our money, leave me our organization and system, and in four years I shall have re-established myself.” MicHaArEL J. HIcKEyY. BrRookLyN, N. Y., January 5, 1911. ———__~9+@ The New Orleans Roofing & Metal Works, New Or- leans, La., announces that Edgar A. Fordtran has ac quired an interest in the company, and the property is now entirely controlled by Mr. Fordtran and A. 8. White. Mr. Fordtran is a native of Texas, and was for 11 years or more secretary, treasurer and business man- ager of the Galveston Tribune. The business of the New Orleans Roofing & Metal Company was started 13 years ago by Mr. White, and grew to such proportions that three years ago the present large plant at Scott and St. Louis streets, on the line of the New Orleans Termina! Company, was built. It covers a square. The compan) owns an adjoining square not yet built upon. Its products are shipped all over the United States, Central America and Mexico, comprising decorated and lithographed cans; also corrugated iron, metal shingles, stove pipes, &c. The plant is equipped with the latest improved machinery, and employs 150 hands. January 12, 191 New Publications Introduction a la Metallographie Microscopique (|! troduction to Microscopic Metallography). 227 pages 157 figures and 34 plates with 97 microphotograph: Published by A. Herman et Fils, Paris. Price, pay: bound, 10 francs. The book is a translation into the French by A. Co visy of Professor Goerens’s “ Einfuhrung in die Metai lographie,” the translation having been reviewed a1 augmented by F. Robin. It is divided into five parts “ Physical Properties of Matter,” “The Practice of tl: Micrography of Metals,” “ Physical Mixtures,” “ Alloys and “ Metallography of the Iron Carbon Alloys.” Mos of the new matter has been added to the part on alloy: being details of the cooling curve diagrams, of binar) and ternary alloys which have been studied since thi original was written. With these exceptions the text of Goerens’ well-known work has been carefully followed The result is an excellent textbook for all students of metallography, especially valuable to those interested iu alloys, or those who can read French more readily thau German. An excellent English translation of Professor Goerens’s book is published by Longmans, Green & Co., London and New York. Fowler’s Mechanics’ and Machinists’ Pocket Book and Diary for 1911.—Size 334 x 6 in.; pages 456. Bound in cloth. Price sixpence net. - Published by the Scientific Publishing Company, Manchester, England. This little hand book which is revised annually is a synopsis of practical rules for fitters, turners, millwrights, erectors, patternmakers, foundrymen, draftsmen, appren- tices, students, &c. It is divided into 16 sections, each of which deals with some one line of interest to the various kinds of mechanics. Each of these sections has its own separate title page, and blank pages are bound at the end for memoranda. The first 37 pages are given over to handy references and tables followed by a section on measuration, geometry and trigonometry. Twenty-two pages are devoted to the use of logarithms and mechan- ical calculating devices. Following this in order are sec- tions on materials used in machine construction, machine tool design and the proportion of machine tool parts, metal cutting tools, high speed tool steels, drilling and bor- ing metal, screw cutting and taper turning and emery wheels. Another section of importance is that on shop practice which occupies 40 pages and contains a number of useful hints. The transmission of power by gears, belt and rope drives and shafting is discussed, and a sec- tion on wire rope and chains for hoisting completes the book. * Po The Life of Electrical Apparatus.—The Allis-Chal- mers Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is distributing photo- graphs showing two Bullock electric motors taken from the ruins of the Los Angeles Jimes Building. After the explosion and fire which recently destroyed this building these motors were removed from the basement where they were lying in 5 ft. of water. The presses to which they were attached were completely destroyed and had no value except as scrap iron. The motors, however, were not badly damaged, although electrical apparatus is gen- erally considered to be less rugged than some other classes of machinery. They were practically the only ar ticle of value saved from the ruins. The Jarger motor is GU bp. and the smaller is 10 hp. They are now beirs rewound in the shops of the manufacturer, the Allis- Chalmers Company, and will be used to drive presses 10 the new building which is soon to be erected. _ Oo British Pig Iron Output, First Half of 1910.—The output of pig iron in Great Britain in the first half of 1910, as just published by the British Iron Trade Asso ciation, was 4,993,745 gross tons, an increase of 45,137 tons over that for the second half of 1909. The output of forge and foundry irons declined 185,000 tons, while that of basic iron increased 239,000 tons. The figures for Bessemer iron and for spiegeleisen and ferromanganese were about the same. nuary 12, I9QII Steel Corporation President James A. Farrell Unanimously Chosen Chairman E. H. Gary of the United States Steel Cor- made the following announcement ternoon, January 10: ‘The Finance Committee of the United States Steei yrporation, after consulting individual members of the ird of Directors not on the committee, has unanimous- decided to recommend to the board at its next regular eting the election of James A. Farrell as president of » corporation. Mr. Farrel has been the president of United States Steel Products Company ever since its rganization in 1908, and as such has demonstrated great siness capacity. He has been connected with the manu- cturing and commercial departments of the iron and teel industry for more than 25 years, and is well quali- ed to fill the position. It is believed the selection will gratifying to all of the officials of subsidiary com- lies and to every one connected with the industry.” Mr. Farrell’s administration of the affairs of the ited States Steel Products Company ration Tuesday s produced one of noteworthy evelopments in the ie most istory of the Stee) Corporation. The uilding up of a orld-wide trade in \merican steel prod- ucts involved prob- lems for the working ut of which prete- dents were not abund- ant, and the results represent to a high de- initiative and a talent for organiza- on. To-day the Steel Products Company is directly represented 55 foreign trade and its rami- ations in the steel rade of the world are far more extensive than is commonly ap- preciated. In the movement for the maintenance of friend- and co-opera- among the steel nanufacturers of com- peting countries Mr. Farrell has had an im- ortant part as was in- dicated by the public expressions of the for- eign guests of the American Iron and Steel Institute at the New York meeting of last October. He is chairman of Institute’s Committee on Foreign Relations, and at the October meeting presented a paper under the title, Relations,” which dealt with the problems crowing out of the competition of the principal produc- g countries for the world’s trade in iron and steel. As idicating the attitude of the new president on the in- ternational questions which have assumed such impor- nce in the industry in recent years, we quote from his New York paper as follows: free enters iness tion Foreign The problem of how to dispose of our products with- ut demoralizing the markets of our competitors will, I elieve, practically be solved by a policy of conciliation nd consideration. It has often been said that steel is ther a prince or a pauper. Under conditions of extreme ompetition the latter is inevitable, but experience has THE IRON AGE JAMES A. FARRELL. 123 proved that with co-operation as the guiding policy steel need never be a pauper, nor yet occasionally a prince, and normal conditions may be maintained to the benefit of manufacturer, merchant, consumer and laborer. . A general adoption of the principle of co-operation in place of ruinous competition, resulting in more stable cenditions in the steel industry, would naturally enable inanufacturers to carry out plans for the betterment of labor, which the changeable conditions of the steel in- dustry have heretofore impeded, such as pensions, insur- ance against accidents and amelioration of working con- ditions. It would lead to refinement of practice, improve- ment of plants and the installation of safety appliances. It would ultimately permit of reduction in costs, and it has been the history of every industry, including the steel industry, that reductions in cost of manufacture are in- variably reflected in the prices to the consumer. Thus the consumer must eventually benefit, and without re ducing the fair and normal profit to the manufacturer. Mr. Farrell’s early experience was in wire manufac- ture, and he has the rare combination of thorough ac- quaintance with both the operating and commercial sides of the steel industry. His first work as a boy of 16 was in a wire mill at New Haven, Conn. After nine years at New Haven he went to Pittsburgh, becoming assist- ant superintendent, and later superintend- ent of the Oliver Wire Company. He _ took part in the organiza- tion of the Pittsburgh Wire Company in the early eighteen nine- ties, building the plant of this company at Braddock, which is now operated by the American Steel & Wire Company. Mr. Farrell was secretary and general manager of the company, and started its new plant early in 1892. On the organization of the original American Steel & Wire Com- pany, which took over the Pittsburgh plant with others, Mr. Far- rell was made general sales manager of the export trade, with headquarters in New York. On the forma- tion of the United States Steel Products Export Company (now the United States Steel Products Com- pany) in 1908, Mr. Farrell was made president. He has fre- quently gone abroad in the interest of that company, and is the best known of American steel manufacturers among the heads of the industry in Europe. He is in his forty-ninth year. -——_—~++e__--- A recent performance in metal cutting with oxygen is reported by the British engineering papers. It is stated that one man employed by the Knowles Oxygen Company, Ltd., cut through 42 girders, 15 x 5 in. section, weighing about 40 tons, in 4% hours, with a consump- tion of less than 200 ft. of oxygen and 300 ft. of hydro- gen. Reckoning labor at 1 shilling per honr the cost figured out 6 pence per cut. The Thomas Iron Company, Hokendauqua, Pa., and the Empire Steel & Iron Company, Catasauqua, Pa., have reduced wages 10 per cent. Both companies operate blast furnaces in several localities. a ne, ae, ide THE IRON AGE January 12, 1911 The Iron and 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. Jan. 11, Jan. 4, Dec. 14, Jan. 12, PIG FRON, Per Gross ton: 1911. 1911. 1910. 1910. Foundry No. 2, standard, Phila- Gees 4658'S TAN 5 HOE $15.50 $15.50 $15.50 $19.00 Foundry No. 2, Southern, Cincin- Meth. nos chide Rithied ds edo bh 14.25 14.25 14.25 17.25 Foundry No. 2, local, Chicago... 15.50 15.50 16.00 19.00 Basic, delivered, eastern Pa.... 14.75 14.75 14.75 18.75 Basic, Valley furmace.......... 13.25 138.25 13.50 17.00 Bessemer, Pittsburgh.......... 15.90 15.90 15.90 19.90 Gray forge, Pittsburgh........ 14.15 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, Pittsburgb...... 8:00. 2600: ..i. 82:00 Open hearth billets, Philadelphia 25.40 25.40 25.50 30.60 Wire rods, Pittsburgh......... 28.00 28.00 28.00 33.00 OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross Ton : Evem walle, CRORE 6s 0 <0 ocickss 15.50 15.50 15.50 20.00 Iron rails, Philadelphia........ 17.00 17.00 17.00 20.50 Car wheels, Chicago........... 13.00 13.00 13.50 18.50 Car wheels, Philadelphia...... 13.00 13.00 13.25 17.50 Heavy steel scrap. Pittsburgh... 13.50 13.50 13.75 17.75 Heavy steel scrap. Chicago.... 11.50 11.50 12.00 16.00 Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia 12.50 12.50 12.50 17.00 FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Bessemer steel rails. heavy, at We fo ck ene & aie eas 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 Refined iron bars, Philadelphia. 1.32% 1.32% 1.35 1.65 Common iron bars, Chicago.... 1.30 1.30 1.35 1.60 Common iron bars, Pittsburgh. . 1.35 1.35 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, Pittsburgm............. 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.55 Angles, tidewater, New York... 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.71 Agwies, Pittsburg? .... 5... ...% 1.40 1.40 1.40 1.55 Skelp, grooved steel, Pittsburgh. 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.50 Skelp, sheared steel, Pittsburgh. .30 1.30 1.30 1.60 SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, Per Pound : Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Sheets, black, No. <8, 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, galv., Pittsburgh*... 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.15 METALS, Per Pound : Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Lake copper, New York....... 2.75 13.00 13.00 14.12% Electrolytic copper, New York.. 12.50 12.75 12.75 13.87% Seer. CeOey MONE. no. sss amen 5.55 5.55 5.85 6.25 ee Ts a od o's a oc wes 5.40 5.40 5.75 6.12% ie WH WO. oe ce tee ee 450 450 450 4.70 PRs te GAANR SS Ss. Seen 4.35 435 435 4.65 Timi Moar -Tee’ .iis i. cis -- 40.25 39.55 38.55 32.85 Antimony, Hallett, New York... 8.00 7.55 7.75 8.25 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 f.o.b. Pittsburgh Freight rates from Pittsburgh in carloads, per 100 Ib.: New York, 16c.; Philadelphia, 15c.; Boston, 18c.; Buffalo, 1l1c.; Cleveland, 10c.; Cincinnati, 15c.; Indianapolis, 17c.; Chicago, 18c.; St. Paul, 32c.; St. Louis, 2214c.; 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 1.55¢c., net; H-beams over 8 in., 1.55c. to 1.60c.; angles, 3 to 6 in., inclusive, 4 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; zees, 3 in. and up, 1.40c. to 1.45¢., net; angles, channels and tees, under 8 in., 1.45c., base, plus full extras as per steel bar card of September 1, 1909: deck beams and bulb angles, 1.70c, to 1.75c., net; hand rail tees, 2.50c.; checkered and corrugated plates, 2.50¢., net. Plates.—Tank plates, %4 in. thick, 644 in. up to 100 in. wide, 1.40c. to 1.45c. base. Following are stipulations pre- scribed by manufacturers, with extras to be added to base price (per pound) of plates: Rectangular plates, tank steel or conforming to manufactu ers’ standard specitications for structural steel dated February 6, 1903, or equivalent, 4-iu. thick and over on thinnest edge, 1(\) in. wide and under, dewn to but not including 6 in. wide, are base. Plates up to 72 in. wide, inclusive, ordered 10.2 lb, per square foot are considered 14-in. plates. Plates over 72 in. wide must be ordered %4-in, thick on edge, or not less than 11 Ib. per square foot, to take base price. Plates over 72 in. wide ordered less than 11 Ib. per square foot down to the weight of 3-16-in. take the price of 3-16-in. Allowable overweight, whether plates are ordered to uge or weight, to be governed by the standard specifications of the As sociation of American Steel Manufacturers. Gauges under 14-in. to and including 3-16-in, on eS eee eee sees eens ones $0.10 Gauges under 3-16-in. to and including No, 8..... 15 Gauges under Ne. 8 to and including No. 9....... .25 Gauges under No, 9 to and including No. 10...... .B0 Gauges under No. 10 to and including No. 12..... 40 Sketches (including all straight taper plates), 3 ft. ae ee Ss hn Win ws be ded wwe cds d 10 Complete circles, 3 ft. in diameter and over...... -20 ee in nese phot ivee dee 10 “A. B. M. A.” and ordinary firebox steel........ .20 Mr hs a ks eg ye ecco eke wees es .30 Es ok ol ane ARIE Os 56. Bae es 60 «0s eee .40 eS CO Ss so a kaw ems eee 50 Widths over 100 in. up to 110 in., inclusive...... 05 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...... .25 Widths over 125 in. up to 130 in., inclusive...... 50 UE OD ID ald ol, wv sins ibe ane 6 Eueere oe 0.0.9 1.00 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 3 ft. to 2 eet I td oh Gk dias bh lé d's Sip kak s ow cab dita 3.6 -25 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 2 ft. to 1 Seat EE AGA Thebes 6 o.0x S08 beds ceo ween 50 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 1 ft....... 1.55 No charge for cutting rectangular plates to lengths 3 ft. and over. vw Penee.~dten eash 30 days. Sheets.—Makers’ prices for mill shipments on sheets in earload and larger lots, on which jobbers charge the usual discounts for small lots from store, are as follows: Blue annealed sheets, Nos. 3 to 8, U. S. standard gauge, 1.55c. ; Nos. 9 and 10, 1.65c.; Nos. 11 and 12, 1.70c.; Nos. 13 and 14, 1.75¢.;: Nos. 15 and 16, 1.85¢.. One pass, cold rolled, box annealed sheets, Nos. 10 to 12, 1.85¢.; Nos. 13 and 14, 1.90c.; Nos. 15 and 16, 1.95c.; Nos. 17 to 21, 2c.; Nos. 22, 28 and 24, 2.05c.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2.10c.; No. 27, 2.15c.; No. 28, 2.20c.;: No. 29, 2.25c.: No. 30, 2.35c. 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, 2.25¢.; No. 28, 2.30c.; No. 29, 2.35c.; No. 30, 2.45c. Galvanized sheets, Nos. 10 and 11, black sheet gauge, 2.20c.; No. 12, 18 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, 3.50c. Painted roofing sheets, No. 28, $1.55 per square. Galvanized sheets, No. 28, $2.75 per square for 2%4-in. corrugations. All above prices are f.o.b. Pittsburgh, terms 30 days net, or 2 per cent. cash 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. -—Steel—, -———Iron.——, Black. Galv. Black. Galv. 7 58 68 63 71 59 69 75 65 70 76 66 66 72 62 68 74 64 67 73 63 59 71 55 Rese Be Bi PSS ei ee 51% .. i ti Butt Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card weights. ee Mes oc a oG ce v5 cli > aad 69 59 65 55 nis aries a ws soe s ue 6 od 74 68 70 64 NT 6 dion wre ts a wy Sal eiidli 78 72 74 68 ee oe 79 73 75 69 Lap Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card — pwns ob Swi Shs ee wor caw 75 69 1 65 2 Oe en cuEGs teas ewe 77 71 73 67 4% to G in...... 2. ceeeeeee 76 70 72 66 Da MOOS cas d «des vada web ae 69 59 65 55 Foy. 2 eee See: 64 54 60 50 Butt Weld, double extra strong. plain ends, card weight. A SUG s dc ic Lou's cba cael 64 g 60 54 Re sc... vn gions 67 61 63 57 RS bce vc ct ics cs eaten 69 63 65 59 Lap Weld, double extra strong, piste ends, card weight. let ik 4 6B nko ak Ox ara 6 59 61 55 Me MN 66 8s 5d. eR SE 67 61 63 I Sa es 3 a 66 60 62 56 RS ra ee cn go's 'c ote ae 59 49 55 45. January 12, 1911 THE IRON AGE 125 THE IRON AND METAL MARKETS Plugged and Reamed. -Butt Weld { Will be sold at two (2) 1 to 1%, 2 to3 in.. points c)” than merchant 2, 2% to 4in....«... Lap Weld lor Lap Weld Che above discounts are for “ card weight, ™ speciined to the sual v aviation of 5 per cent. Prices for less than carloads are hree (3) points lower basing (higher price) than the above dis- ounts, Boiler Tubes.—Discounts on lap welded steel and char- oal iron boiler tubes to jobbers in carloads are as follows: Steel. Iron. 1 to 146. Wir ore wens Hae Minced a enxnenen 49 43 1% tO 25 Mihs vivicwren s s:019 aa eh 600 cewek cham ns 61 43 DM, in, iicacvivenh wt cme Se iiivweos 4 knoe a oO 63 48 ag to © Wises Gases Se cereal acs dee cl 9 oe 69 55 oe in. and smaller, over 18 ft., 10 per cent, net extra. 2% in. and larger, over 22 ft., 10 per cent. net extra. Less than carloads to destinations east of the Mississippi itiver will be sold at delivered discounts for carloads lowered by two points, for lengths 22 ft, and under; longer lengths, f.o.b. Pittsburgh. Wire Rods.—Bessemer rods, $28; open hearth and chain ds, $28. Steel Rivete.--feweatanal rivets, % in. and larger, 1.90c., base: cone head boiler rivets, % in. and larger, 2c., base; 5 n. and 11-16 in, take an advance of 15c., and % in. and 9-16 n. take an advance of 50c.; in lengths shorter than 1 in. ilso take an advance of 50c. Terms are 30 days, net cash, f.o.b. mill. Pittsburgh PARK BUILDING, January 11, 1911.—(By Telegraph.) Pig Iron.—A sale of 1000 tons of gray forge is reported, this being the first transaction in that grade for some time. named is $13.50, Valley furnace, and it is for first half delivery. More inquiries are in the market. Some demand is developing for basic. Bessemer pig iron is quiet. Small transactions have occurred in foundry iron. We quote Bessemer iron nominally at $15; basic, $13.25; No. 2 foundry, $13.75 to $14, and gray forge, $13.25 to $18.50, all at Valley furnace, with a freight rate of 90 cents a ton to Pittsburgh. Steel.—Buyers are waiting for the result of the steel makers’ meeting in New York to-day. 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. Pittsburgh 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 car- bons, f.o.b. Pittsburgh or Youngstown districts, freight to lestination added. The price (By Mail.) A great deal of business is undoubtedly being held up to await the action of steel manufacturers at the meeting in New York to-morrow (Wednesday), and it is believed, even if prices are not reduced, that at least a portion of it will then be placed. Some of it is for work that has to be done and therefore cannot be held up much longer. The merchant blast furnace operators in the valleys are still trying to work out a plan to put their interests on a better basis, but it is doubtful if anything will come of it. Operations imong blast furnaces and steel works are now on a basis of not over 50 per cent. of capacity, and yet customers have no ‘rouble whatever in getting prompt deliveries on the few new orders they are plecing. Ferromanganese.—A sale is reported of 75 to 100 tons ‘f foreign 80 per cent. on the basis of about $38, Baltimore. While the demand is dull, prices are fairly strong. Foreign 80 per cent. is quoted at $38, Baltimore, for the first half, carrying a freight rate of $1.95 a ton for delivery in Pitts- urgh district. Ferrosilicon.—No sales haye been reported in this inarket for several weeks. Prices are only fairly strong and could probably be shaded on 50 per cent. on a firm offer. 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 1) per cent. blast furnace silicon at $23; 11 per cent., $24; \2 per cent., $25, f.0.b. cars Jisco and Ashland furnaces. Skelp.—The mills have only a small amount of work in their books. The leading local buyer of iron and steel ‘kelp is pretty well eovered for first quarter and new in- quiry is light. Prices are lower than they have been for several years. We quote grooved steel skelp, 1.25c. to 1.30c. ; sheared steel skelp, 1.30c. to 135c.; grooved iron skelp, 1.60¢c. to 1.65¢., and sheared iron skelp, 1.70c. to 1.75c., all for delivery at consumers’ mills in the Pittsburgh district, usual terms, Muck Bar.—The little new inquiry is only for small lots for prompt shipment. We quote best grades at nomi- nally $29, Pittsburgh. The A. M. Byers Company has com- pleted the building of 42 new puddling furnaces at its plant at Girard, Ohio, but these have not as yet been started up. The output will be used by the company in the manufacture of iron pipe, its mills being located in this city. Steel Rails.—The Cambria Steel Company has booked an order for 500 tons of standard sections for prompt de- livery. Little is doing in light rails, new orders and speci- fications against contracts last week having been smaller than for some time. The Carnegie Steel Company has taken several fairly large orders for steel ties which are rolled at the Duquesne Works. Quotations on light rails are as follows: 12-Ib. rails, 1.25c.; 16, 20 and 25 Ib., 1.21e. to 1.25e. ; 30 and 35 Ib., 1.20c., and 40 and 45 Ib., 1.16c. The prices are f.o.b. at mill, plus freight, and are the minimum of the market on carload lots, smal] lots being sold at a little higher price. We quote standard sections at 1,25c.. per pound. ‘ Plates.—The steel car interests are figuring on more car inquiries than for some time. So far but few have de- veloped into actual orders, the railroads apparently waiting for the outcome of the steel makers’ meeting before definitely placing contracts. The general plate trade is dull and none of the mills is operating at present to more than 50 per cent. of capacity. We quote plates, %-in, and heavier, in narrow and wide sizes, at 1.40c., Pittsburgh. Structural Material.—A fair number of inquiries are in the market. It is stated that bridge work for a Western road, involving upward of 15,000 tons, has been placed with a local interest, but details are not yet ready to be given out. The Cambria Steel Company has taken tWo contracts for bridge work, involving about 400 to 500 tons. We con- tinue to quote beams and channels up to 15 in. at 1.40c., Pittsburgh. Sheets.—Another meeting of sheet manufacturers was held in this city January 7, at which J. A. Campbell of the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company presided. Reports made at the meeting indicate that while new business in sheets is light, prices are being well maintained. No re- duction was made. As a rule the sheet mills are working to 5O per cent. or less and have been for some time, The full schedule of prices on black, galvanized and roofing sheets is printed on a previous: page. Tin Plate.—Specifications against contracts are coming in at a fairly satisfactory rate, but new orders are light. Regular prices are being maintained, as a result of the meeting held here several weeks ago. We quote $3.60 per base box, f.o.b. Pittsburgh, for 100-lb. cokes. Bars.—Railroads are placing some fair sized orders for iron bars. Specifications against contracts for steel bars are only fairly satisfactory. We quote soft steel bars at 1.40c., and common iron bars at 1.35¢., f.0.b. Pittsburgh. Hoops and Bands.—Some good sized contracts for hoops and bands havé lately been placed by the cooperage trade, on which specifications are now being received, but there are intimations that the regular price of 1.50c. has not in all cases been observed in making these contracts. We quote hoops at 1.50c.; bands, 1.40c. in carload and larger lots and 1.45¢. in small lots, the latter carrying extras as given in the steel bar card dated September 1, 1909. Spikes.—Some time ago inquiries came in the market placed. New orders are still for small lots to cover actual needs. All the spike makers are in nee