The Iron Age 1911-06-08: Vol 87 Iss 23

_ THE TRON AGE — New York, Jane 8, 1911 DAVID WILLIAMS COMPANY 239 West 39th Street, New York Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Cae ee Schecrigtien Pee United States and Mexico, $5.00 Ann Canada, 50 per Annum ; to Other Foreign Countries, $10.00 oe hie W. H. Taylor, - President and Treasurer 1. A. Mekeel, - - - First Vice-President Harold S. Buttenheim, - Second Vice-President and Secretary Editors Branch Offices Philadelphia, Real Estate Trust Building Chicago, Fisher Building Pittsburgh, Park Building Cleveland, American Trust Building Boston, Conga atin Cincinnati, 807 Andrews Building CONTENTS. A. I. Findley, W. W. Macon, The Application of the Anti-Trust Decisions................ 1378 evord. Tous MG Bitel Harmartes «occ cs ios cic c ies ccecwenscenve 1378 Intensive Production Higher Machine Tool Prices The Steel Corporation Buys Coal Lands..........-.....000% .»+ 1380 Personal Obituary Pig Iron Production BOO STU Wee NOE UMNO, ok kines s bed eecdccvsha. 1384 to 1394 Efficiency in the Foundry Lake Superior Mining Conditions ey Blast Furnace Wastes The American Sheet & Tin Plate Company Starts Gary Plant. 1399 Standar@s for Various Kinds of Pig Iron Iron and Steel Exports and Imports Experience with Permanent Molds Tae Steel Corporation Investigation E. H. Gary en Co-operation Mechanical Engineers’ Meeting The Corrosion of Iron Automatic Temperature Controlling Instrament Russian Pig Iron Soaring By-Product Coke Ovens in America Handling Sand in the Foundry The Detroit Industrial Exposition An American Sheet & Tin Plate Company Asnouncement Combined Jarring and Squeezer Molding Machine Combination Turret Lathe..........+..4..: SCbab ECON s od ube The Brown-Ketcham Iron Works Receivership..... Picteiae Mechanical Charging of Cupolas A Self-Contained Vertical Sump Pump A Study of the Blast Furnace Kewer Freight Cars Idle...:..... PI shoes 0400s s ce tents ae 1429 Raising the Battleship. Maine.,.... Sanh d Ales bie Gidecues ah kare New Liquid Weigher............ PEE he, FPO Te ee The Vitrolite Company’s Improvements \merican’. Vanadium Facts.......... ab bea tphhe anys’ edosacras \ Heavy Pattern Drill Press...... - The Joliet Rolling Mill Company Railroad Equipment Orders.....4..-.¢0+200055 tia > Cakepie 1433 The Machinery Markets Trade Pubiiiathet 45: is cicada «cps vcdcingeablece ecdeniee eves 1443 VOL. 87: pon 23 Pig ne ‘Hecdection Shrinks Better Demand for Steel Bars Some Rail Orders Coming Out Our reports from blast furnaces, covering opera- show a furthér reduction The restriction of operations thus continues. Our figures show that the total make of coke and anthracite pig iron in May was 1,893,456 gross tons, or 61,079 tons a day, against 2,065,086 tons in April, or 68,836 tons a day. Quite a number of furnaces were blown out during the month, but some of these merely went out for repairs and tay be ex- pected to be in opération shortly. Several furnaces connected With steel plants were blown in, indicating that the production of pig iron for steelmaking may slightly increase. “Phe number of furnaces in opera- tion June I was 203, against 212 on May 1. The United States Steel Corporation had in operation at the begin- ning of this month 63% per cent: of its blast furnace capacity. This is about the rate of production which has prevailed for some time, indicating uniformity in the operations of the corporation’s works as a whole, this being accoiptinied’ by ro accumulation of stocks of pig iron. ’ Manufacturers ‘of cold-rolled steel shafting have followed the example ofthe makers of steel bars, re- ducing their discounts to 60 per cent. off in carloads and 55 per cent. off in smaller lots, delivered in base territory. Makers of boiler and structural rivets have also lowered their prigessto correspond with steel bar prices. jae The steel bar trade shows some improvement as a result of the recent reduction in prices. A considerable tonnage of steel bars wagyplaced last week with the leading manufacturers on the new basis by agricul- tural implement makers and other large con ts who contract at this time for their supply for too twelve ; months beginning July 1. Other lines in which price reductions wete wid do not show much improvement in business, yet the week has not been a bad’one. Among orders placed for new projects involving structural material were 6000. tons for a department store at Newark, N. J.; 1200 tons for the new building of the American Express Company, New York; 2400 tons for the ane coke oven plant at South Bethlehem, Pa.; 5932 tons the Otis Bank Building, Chicago. The fabricating contract for the Hotel Statler, Cleveland, 4000 tons, has at length been placed. Rail orders agé somewhat better. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad has bought 23,050 tons, taking. 13,050 tons from the several mills of the Unite tes Steel Corporation, 7500, tons from the Cambria Com- tions in the month of May, in the output of pig iron, wet BF ove 1378 pany, and 2500 tons from the Bethlehem Steel Com- pany: The Missouri Pacific-Iron Mountain system has bought 25,000 tons from the Colorado Fuel & Iron Com- pany for delivery within two months, and a further purchase of 25,000 tons is under consideration. Other important rail inquiries are in the market, including one from the Harriman system for 40,000 tons. The American Sheet & Tin Plate Company has completed. part of its new Jarge plant at Gary, Ind., and satisfactory test runs have been made. Among new business now coming up is the require- ment of steel plates for ‘the ten new torpedo boats, amounting to 5000 tons. The two new revenue cutters will take 2000 tons. A large steel company at Pitts- burgh is the low bidder on 4000 tons of plates and 1500 tons of*shapes for the collier Jupiter, to be built at the Mare Island Navy Yard. The Williamsburg Bridge, New York, will require 4000 tons of steel for reinforce- ment and for tower construction. Bids are now in for the great Hell Gate Bridge, New York. The pig iron market shows little change in demand as prices are not as firm as they should be, and under such conditions consumers naturally wait for develop- ments. The production is now so much under the rate of three months ago that it must’ be close to if not under the consumption. In the last half of May stocks of pig-iron at independent furnaces in western Penn- sylvania decreased 13,000 tons. An event of great importance is the advance of pig tin in London to the highest price ever known. It is within 34c. per lb. of the highest price ever reached in New York. The Application of the Anti-Trust Decisions The Supreme Court decisions in the Standard Oil and American Tobacco cases show clearly that the mere bigness of a corporation is not in itself to be con- sidered a violation of the Sherman anti-trust act. _This is an important point upon which the judgment of the public appears to have been at fault. The Sherman anti-trust act grew out of the fear that industrial and commercial organizations were being formed by agree- ment among competitors which would completely con- trol their respective branches of business and that the consumer would then be forced to pay exorbitant prices or be limited to but one source of supply for a neces- sity. , The Sherman law was enacted expressly to check such a disposition among business interests and it did so to some extent. So much respect was paid to it by those who felt absolutely impelled to reduce com- petition in their lines that they turned from merely making trade agreements to the formation of large cor- porations which absorbed as many competing concerns as was; possible or desirable. Greater corporations were thus created after the enactment of the Sherman law than had been in existence or even dreamed of prior thereto. These corporations the public has regarded as trusts indiscriminately and as violators of the law because of their great size. The Supreme Court has shown by these decisions that a big corporation stands or falls according to its methods. The two corporations ordered to be dis- solved or reorganized have been found guilty of im- proper actions, of conducting their business in a man- ner which constitutes a violation of the spirit of the Sherman law. The question which concerns quite a number of large corporations in the various trades THE IRON AGE June 8, igi with which The Iron Age is identified is how they shal) conduct their business so that they may not fall the ban of the law as have the Standard Oil and Amer. ican Tobacco companies. Announcements have come from Washington that while the Department of Justice will not conduct a crusade against large corporations jt proposes to continue its activity in endeavoring to pun- ish all corporations and their officers who appear to be violating the law. The way seems clear, in the light of the decisions, for large corporations to avoid syb- jecting themselves to the pains and penalties of the law and even to clear themselves from any unpleasant attention by the Department of Justice. This is to conduct their business with a- wholesome respect for the law and not with any attempt to evade it. The Sherman anti-trust act is evidently here to stay, Neither its enemies nor its friends are likely to be able to amend or reconstruct it. It has been interpreted by the highest court in such a way that no violator js financially so strong or politically so powerful as to be able to avoid it, while the way has been pointed out for great interests to proceed in the conduct of their business without harassing attention from the officers of the law. It is therefore the plain duty of every large interest to conduct its business in the straight and nar- row path. inder Record Iron and Steel Exports New records are being made in all the general classes of iron and steel exports. The sharp increase which has recently occurred in exports of the tonnage lines of iron and steel is generally appreciated, but it is not so widely known that in agricultural implements and general machinery new records are also being made. The increase in the tonnage lines is lightly ascribed to the efforts of the United States Steel Corporation, and the inference is probably sometimes drawn that were it not for its position and policy no special development in the matter of exports would be observed at this time. When it is perceived that exports of other iron and steel products are this year exceeding previous records by approximately one-fourth, it becomes apparent that, whatever may be the particular influence in the case of the tonnage products, the movement toward heavier ex- ports is general. Before considering the machinery and other fabri- cated lines a glance may be taken at the tonnage lines. In the following. table are shown the exports of the tonnage lines for the past seven years, since prior to 1904 the exports were, as a rule, much lighter, until then being made up chiefly of pig iron and unfinished steel. To the seven years has been added an estimate for I9I1, based on the four months so far reported. The figures cover scrap, pig iron, unfinished steel and finished rolled steel such as structural material, plates, bars, sheets and pipe, together with wire, nails, etc. Iron and Steel Exports, Gross Tons. 19046... cde ni dewies 1,167,710 1908... , ener 964,266 ISOS . ..0.025 secu 1,010,255 1909.6... 6k visece 1,239,708 1906. cawcesscen 1,325,740 1910... 0. -eseees 1,535,693 LOG? i ven. Se sansh 1,301,979 IDAL.. ce cvaseee 2,240,000 "Three times the total for the four months reported. The exports in the first four months of this year were one-half greater than the average rate of last year, and more than double the average in 1904 and 1905. The actual exports in the four months of this year were as follows: Gross tons. Gross tons. jaune ease 152,140 March ....-.++--- 215,667 CDrUAty. «5 cr<s cas 150,702 April ....c0ee+ ++ 287832 June 8, 1911 For several years prior to 1910 the exports averaged appr ximately 100,000 tons per month, the exports in ro10 averaging 125,000 tons a month, so that the sharp increase in recent months is readily apparent. The April exports were approximately 125 per cent. in ex- cess of the average prior to last year. (he declared value of the above tonnage exports has been as follows: 1.2 eee $42,551,109 EI $43,397,323 .. 42,104,348 1909.......... $0,783,138 eee 52,215,089 1910.......... 63,276,714 te 60,046,221 January, 1911. .$6,243,064 March, 1911... .$7,443,241 - February, 1911. 5,845,972 April, 1911..... 8,696,136 (he monthly average prior to Ig10 was a trifle over $4,000,000, while the April exports were slightly more than double this, indicating that there has been nearly as great an increase in value as there has been in ton- nage. The total for the four months of this year was $28,228,413, or at the rate of $85,000,000 a year, indi- iting a large gain over any previous year. If there been any considerable decrease in the unit value of the lines exported, this has been fully compensated by the exports being made up more largely of the more shed products. e value of the other products classed in the govern- t returns as “iron and steel” but outside of the ton- lines just referred to, and made up of hardware, ry, machinery and parts of machinery, etc., has as follows: . $86,002,504 WBS louk ie $107,715,791 va aa 100,824,165 1909......... 106,897,193 ae 120,340,499 1910......... 137,995,189 van ae 137,020,560 1ary, 1911.$12,496,897 March, 1911...$15,148,607 ruary, 1911 12,844,820 April, 1911.... 16,220,920 (hese exports have fluctuated widely, but as 1907 nd 1910 showed substantially the same total, while in- termediate or preceding years showed smaller totals, it may be inferred that there has not recently been a lefinite tendency toward an increase, but whereas the monthly average in the two record years, 1907 and glo, was $11,500,000, January and February last ‘owed a gain of 10 per cent. over this average, March a gain of 30 per cent. and April a gain of more than er cent, in agricultural implements, which the government returns do not classify as iron and steel, but which are listinctly an iron and steel proposition, exports have been at record rates this year. Inasmuch as these are re or less seasonable goods it might be misleading to ‘ompare the results of the first four months of this year directly with the averages of preceding years, and omparison will therefore be made to show that last ir was a record year, another comparison then show- ing that the first four months of this year have greatly irpassed the record of the corresponding months of year. Exports of agricultural implements have is follows in the past seven years: 4. cue $21,654,892 SOURS be cesses $25,264,939 0S... eunee 22,124,312 We csccess 27,327,428 906. «5d eal 24,744,762 Waist nc 31,291,351 07... anne 25,597,272 ‘hus the value of agricultural implement exports ‘ast vear exceeded the best previous year by nearly 15 er cent. and the average of the preceding five —" by more than 30 per cent. Exports in the first four months ‘ this year compare with these in the same months of ' year as follows: $3,230,249 $4,208,516 -anUary .scessaewenbne ne un eenea ee ° ~ were os ebb eidacticssbuketieees aaa saopes CR ccocccsd Cee Ec bs eee bese base ’ 9 \pril. . 2.0) 0aganeaeeleensieieataal 3,034,348 5,476,750 Tour monte oo owiwesedaeeenee $13,763,222 $18,112,149 THE IRON AGE 1379 The increase from the four months of last year to the four months of this is 32 per cent., and on this basis it may be inferred that the exports this year have been at a rate of 70 per cent. in excess of the rate in the five years 1904-8 inclusive. Thus there is this year a large increase in ‘exports of the three lines, tonnage commodities, machinery, etc., and agricultural implements. In a nutshell, the 'éx- ports of these three lines in the four months of-this year have been at the rate of $310,000,000 a year, over 30 per cent. in excess of the exports in 1910, and more than 50 per cent. in exeess of the exports in the few years preceding 1910. Exports of all merchandise have not been increas- ing this year, the total exports being valued as follows: esses $197,069.11 ae eee $158,670;956 175,945,805 ones 158,008,093 ebruary .... The exports of iron and steel products, including agricultural implements, amounted in April to $30,393,- 806, or 19.2 per cent. of the total exports.’, This is really an excellent record. While there has been much advice given recently that this country “must get on an export basis” it appears that without making any par- ticular effort to change fundamental conditions the pro- ducers of iron and steel, and the domestic manufac- turers using these products, have been getting more on an export basis by the simple process of selling more cxport goods. a Oe Intensive Production It is a matter of: pride with many firms to be able to boast that there is not a single article in their line which they are not prepared to manufacture. “Orders! More orders!” they cry, and the salesmen with such exhortations. ringing in their ears are led into believing that increased volume of business at any cost is what is most desired by their employers. Ac- cordingly, any good sized order is considered ac- ceptable, provided the ‘selling price has not been cut ruinously, with the result that the list of articles man- ufactured by the firm swells enormously, the works be- come crowded with both new and obsolete tools, and the “new machinery account” attains astonishing pro- portions. The practice is considered very good busi- ness by many firms who have proved themselves quite successful. Here and there, however, an establishment is to be found which appears to hold an entirely different opinion as to the wisdom of manufacturing on stich a wide scope. Such firms are like the medical specialist of modern times; all his energies have been expended and plans laid with the attainment of a highly de- veloped equipment for one specific line as the one aim and purpose. Not a little shrewdness and boldness is demanded in the choice of such a business policy: shrewdness, because the wisdom of the thing has been seen in advance of competitors; boldness, becatise of the risk to be taken, the putting of all the eggs in one basket. Many will question the wisdom of taking the risk. Our world is made up of both radicals and conservatives—of “the pushers and the pusHed”— and there will be few who will deny that progress is other than the fruit of the radical mind brought to maturity under the calm eye of thé conservative. Where once we walked, now we ride—and fly, = = = * A firm can be ¢ited which ten years ago, eniploy- ing several hundred hands, took orders for from wood screws to lamp burners, just as d6 a thous- and other firms tod4y. A change in the personnel of a ee Rat prt ae STEN, Tete a er eR ee eee To nos ea Se pe eet 1380 its management was responsible for a change in policy from one extreme to the other. This new policy called for ‘specializing, and specializing on those things which would mean the greatest returns on money invested. A study of its market showed what those things were. Machinery was then built and processes were de- vised ‘to cut production costs and to intensify the pro- dtttion of those few widely used articles. As much business was then secured as would keep the shop running to its fullest capacity and at a handsome profit. {t is, however, more necessary with intensive, special- ized production to keep» ahead of all competitors in the’ matter of low production costs. To succeed per- manently, such a manufacturer must be among the best at the game. But the game is well worth the candle. Neither a long nor a vehement argument is needed to convince one that it is not the number of orders, not the volume of business, alone that counts. Every bit of business taken at a meager profit may mean the ‘ tying up'of productive machinery at the expense of other ‘business which would bring a more generous profit. Although the former may not mean an actual loss, it certainly means less profits at the year’s end; whereas, with a firm whose plant is run on the spe- cialized output plan, preference is given to that busi- ness which is known to bring maximum returns. The trained skill of the entire productive force is then con- centrated,in the endeavor to make that return greater day by day. —_—9--o———_——— Higher Machine Tool Prices The reports of the past two months that the price of, machine tools was to drop were without foundation in fact. The tendency will be upward rather than downward, and when the revival of business comes prices will be increased very materially, according to the plans of the builders. Conditions justify this action. . Machinery lists are as they were at the high point of production four or five years ago. In some cases they are higher. The prices were created under the influences of prosperous business. At that time each manufacturer sought to put his business on a normal money-making basis. This had until then been impos- sible because of the bitterness of competition which had existed before the National Machine Tool Build- ers’ Association. had brought the manufacturers together periodically for the purpose of talking over their differences and softening asperities. Compe- tition was led into legitimate channels. As a conse- quence of the new relationship in the trade even the influence of a complete reaction from good to bad times failed to bring with it the cutting of prices, except in somewhat isolated cases. Relations within the trade’ have not been seriously strained. The occa- sional’ ‘announcement of an advance in prices by individual manufacturers has served to stiffen the situation., Machine tool prices should be higher, if the manu- facturer is to retain the margin of profit which was established in 1906-1907. Since then machinery has been much improved. Competition has impelled the addition of fixtures and appurtenances which make equipment more convenient of operation, besides giving it a larger scope of usefulness. Modern methods ‘of manufacture have brought heavier construction in machinery, The cost of labor is no less, materials are but slightly lower and overhead charges are not THE IRON AGE June &, IQII shrinking. Consequently an advance in prices vil] follow a revival of trade. +e The Steel Corporation Buys Coal Lands An important deal has about been closed where the United States Steel Corporation, through tke H. C. Frick Coke Company, secures some 8,000 acres of coking coal land and 956 coke ovens belonging to the Pittsburgh Coa| Company, the coke ovens having been operated under the name of the Colonial Coke Company. The Steel (Cor- poration has also secured about 8000 acres of coking coal lands formerly operated by the Monongahela River Con- solidated Coal & Coke Company. It is said to have paid about $1750 per acre for the 8000 acres bought from the Pittsburgh Coal Company, this price also including the 956 coke ovens; and is reported to have paid about $900 per acre for the 9000 acres bought from the Mononga- hela River Company. The properties are to be paid for in 35-year 5 per cent. bonds. The transaction will re- move the Colonial Coke Company as a seller of coke in the open market. This company has been operating its ovens practically full for some months, and has been selling its surplus furnace coke in the open market at relatively low prices. The growing scarcity of good coal lands in the Pittsburgh district is given as the reason of the purchase. The Pittsburgh Coal Company will stil! have about 150,000 acres of good coal lands in the Pitts- burgh district. a ‘On Monday next the Pittsburgh offices of the McClin- tic-Marshall Construction Company, steel fabricator, will be removed: from the Park Building to rooms 1218-1224, inclusive, Oliver Building, Smithfield street. On the same date the contracting and treasury departments will also be removed from Rankin, Pa., where the company oper- ates a large plant, to the new offices in the Oliver Building. The machine shops of the Caledonia Railway Com- pany, St. Rollox, Scotland, are lighted by an installation of compressed gas, 112,000 candle-power being required. A pressure of 54 in. of water is obtained by rotary com- pressors. The inverted lamps vary from 60 to 1500 candle- power per single burner, and are said to have an effi- ciency of 60 candle-power per cubic foot of gas, a result due not only to the high pressure, but also to a pre- heating device by which the gas and air mixture is warmed before entering the burner. The Pittsburgh Piping & Equipment Company, Thirty- fourth and Smallman streets, Pittsburgh, is now shipping the material required for piping up the new two blast furnaces of the Iroquois Iron Company, South Chicago, Ill, consisting of 20-in. cast iron pipe for underground work, cast steel valves and fittings, and steam exhaust and riveted steel piping up to 72-in. diameter, with all connections to the blowers. The material and wofkman- ship were spécified to be of the highest grade. This company also recently completed a high-pressure piping installation of 2000 hp. in a cement plant in Tennessee. The American Lead Company has moved its general offices from 3112 Penn avenue, Pittsburgh, where ts plant still remains, to 508-509 Diamond Bank Building. This company makes lead, tin and chemical pipe, wire sol- der, art glass lead, lead drum traps, the American lead trap with reinforced vents and drains, etc., and is ow operating its plant day and night. The Pittsburgh White Metal Company, 3112 Penn ave- nue, Pittsburgh, manufacturer of babbitt and anti-friction metals, making a specialty of babbitt for armature bear- ings, has remeved its offices to rooms 508-509 Diamond Bank Building, Pittsburgh. It is operating its plant ‘0 good capacity. The Strauss Bascule Bridge Company, gor Fort Dear- born Building, Chicago, Ill, has been awarded the er for the construction of a 235-ft. single leaf double trac bridge over the Calumet River at South Chicago, III., for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The city of _— Canada, has also placed an order for a 150-ft. single lea highway bridge over the St. Charles River. Personal R. Anderson has resigned as general manager Anderson Forge & Machine Company, Detroit, He has been connected with W. T. of the Mich., taking effect June 1. the company since its organization as manager. jowell, who for the past two years and a half has been nected with the company in the capacity of general -uperintendent, has been promoted to the position of veneral manager. Mr. Anderson retains his interest in the company and will remain on the board of directors. He is not prepared to make public his plans for the future, but will take a vacation of about a month, fred McFawn has severed his connection with the Watrous Mfg. Company and associated himself with the Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., traveling from the Western office, 73 Lake street, Chicago, and paying special attention to steel stampings. Horst Peltz, general manager of the German Garbe Boiler Works, is now in this country to arrange for the manufacture of the Garbe boiler in the United States. He makes his headquarters with the Wiener Machinery Com- pany, 50 Church street, New York City. Edward G. Elcock, president of the Hansell-Elcock Company, structural steel fabricator, Chicago, and Mrs. Eleock were the victims of an automobile accident last week. While on their way to the Indianapolis Decoration Day races their car was wrecked, Mrs. Elcock being seri- ously injured internally and Mr. Elcock breaking his arm. They are now at a Chicago hospital. The recent death of Alexander E. Brown, founder, president and general manager of the Brown Hoisting Machinery Company, Cleveland, Ohio, has resulted in several changes in the officers of that company. Harvey 1. Brown, formerly vice-president and treasurer, and a brother of Alexander E. Brown, has been elected president. \lexander C. Brown, son of the former president, has been made vice-president. George C. Wing remains sec- retary. Charles T. Pratt, formerly assistant treasurer, be- comes treasurer. Richard B. Sheridan has been made gen- eral manager. The Penn Steel Castings & Machine Company, Chester, ’a., at a meeting of the board of directors held May 12, elected Walter S. Bickley president, succeeding Mortimer Bickley, deceased. George K. Hamfeldt has resigned as general manager i the blast furnace department and as consulting engineer f Les Petits Fils de F. de Wendel & Cie., of Germany, effective July 1. He was for a number of years con- nected with the Catnegie Steel Company and later, as general manager of the Midland Steel Company, Pitts- burgh, Pa., built its plant at Midland, Pa. C. P. Craine, who has represented the Buhl Sons Com- pany, Detroit, Mich., in the Michigan territory for a num- ber of years, has become connected with the Pittsburgh Shafting Company, Detroit, and now represents the latter company in the same territory. \lbert A. Bialas, formerly with the Midland. Steel Company and later a salesman for the S. Jarvis Adams Company, Pittsburgh and Midland, Pa. will hereafter be associated with the Columbia Steel & Shafting Company s special sales representative. The Coltmbia Steel & Shafting Company’s general offices are in the Empire Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. J. Friedenstein, director of William Cooke & Co., Ltd., Shefheld, England, whose Ameritan representatives are John Helmuth & Co., 30 Church street, New York, is at present at the Hotel Astor, New York. _Mr.,Friedenstein, who manages the foreign and colonial business for his mpany, is en route around the world looking after the . ‘erests of his company in this country, Australia, New Lei 7 and South Africa. J Shacklock, senior member of the firm of H. E. a a Ltd., manufacturer of stoves and ranges, Dune- ‘in, New Zealand, accompanied by his son, H. A. Shack- k, and the Rev. D. J. Murray, are making a tour of the U ited States, en route for England. Mr. Shacklock is ing the plants of the various manufacturers of foundry al d mac shop equipment with the object of improving _ tfficieney of his own works. Mail addressed to 64 er street, Derby, England, will reach him before ‘his irn home. . H. Hegmann, 911 Oliver Building, Pittsburgh, Pa., \} retr THE IRON AGE 1381 has accepted the agency for western Pennsylvania of John Hy. Andrew & Co., Ltd., Sheffield, England, on_high- grade high-speed and carbon steels, which are known as Toledo (Sheffield) tool stééls. Mr. Hegmann has had some twenty-four years of 'tocl steel mill experience in the Pittsburgh district with the Crescent Steel Company and Firth-Sterling Steel Company as superintendent. F. G. Haldy, formerly superintendent of the door check and hoist departments of the Yale & Towne Mfg. Company, Stamford, Cofn., has accepted the position of superintendent of the Whitlock Coil Pipe Company, Hart- ford, Conn. Phillips Isham, of Nash, Isham & Co., pig-iron mer- chants, New York, has gone on an extended Western trip, including California and Alaska. W. L. Saunders, president of the Ingersoll-Rand Com- pany, 11 Broadway, New York, has been elected a director of the International Harvester Company. B. S. Harrison, London, England, representitig Sota & Aznar, producers of Spanish iron ore, who has been in this country since May 13, returned to England June 3. H. A. Berg has resigned as superintendent of the blast furnace of the Midland Steel Company, Midland, Pa., effective June 1. This plant is now owned by the Pitts- burgh Crucible Steel Company, an identified interest of the Crucible Steel Company of america. Obituary Joun J. Spearman, Sharon, Pa., died May 34, aged 87 years. He was a manufacturer of pig iron for the greater part of his life. Born at McKee’s Gap, Blair Coanty, Pa., his first employment was at blast furnaces in that vicinity. In January, 1847, he was placed in charge of Schoen- berger, Agnew & Co.’s furnace at Sharon. In 1853 he purchased the Mazeppa furnace near Mercer: Pa., which he operated until 1859, when he became manager of the furnace at Sharpsville; Pa., owned by James Pierce, retir- ing from that position in 1862 to become manager for James Wood & Sons, Wheatland, Pa. and subsequently securing an interest in the firm. In 1872 he organized the Spearman Iron Company, Sharpsville, Pa. and, managed! that company until its property was taken over some years ago by the Shenango: Furnace Company. At -the timé of his death he was president of the First National’ Bank, Sharon, Pa., and had held that position for 39 years. Jay H. Keyes, recently fe etired from the presidency of the Standard Wheef Comp y, with plants at Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind., "died May 26 at Terre Haute, _ aged 52 years. Joun D. Hooxtk, who resigned from the vice-ptesi- dency of the Baker ‘IzorhWorks, Los Angeles,,Cal., last year, died at his home, in that city May 24, aged 75: years. Since retiring from active business he had been engaged in philanthropic and scientific work. Simon Perkins, Sharon, Pa, a retired pig iron anu- facturer, died May 27, aged 72 years. He was largely interested in local manufaeturing, railroad ani: beating operations. He leaves foun, children. By —>-e—__ “The Spontaneous Cémbustion of Coal with special Reference to Bituminotrs Coals of the Illinois Type,” by S. W. Parr and F. W. Kressmann, ‘has just ‘been ted as Bulletin No. 46 of the engineering experiment stati of the University of Illinois. The, bulletin lailion ts 2 series of experiments directed toward the determination of the fundamental causes underlying the spontan combustion of coal. These causes may be Martian pn follows: 1. External sources of heat, such as‘‘contact with steam pipes, hot walls, and the impact of large masses: in the process of unloading, height of the, Page etc, 2. Fineness of an 3. Moisture. 4. of dizable compoundg, such ai iron pyrites. A view of the literature upon the spontaneous combustion of coal is given in the appendix: Copies of this bulletin may be obtained gratis upon application to W. . M. Goss, Director of the aig: experiment station, University of I!linois, Urbana, ‘alec aa pane e's Tiveenns A Edison announces that he has perfected a storage battery for motor, cars or vehiclesoff any kind which can be recharged in three or four minutes and will have a life of 50 or 60 miles. He states that it is so. smallt and light that it can be put into a suit case. re- 1382 THE IRON AGE Pig Iron Production May Shows a Further Heavy -Decline Active Capacity Reduced June 1 The, output of pig iron in the 31 days of May fell much below the production in the 30 days of April. The total make of coke and anthracite pig iron in May was 1,893,456 gross tons, or 61,079 tons a day, against 2,065,086 tons in April, or 68,836 tons a day. Thus the indications at the beginning of May of a continuation of.the decline in production were realized. It is not so clear that the de- cline in output will continue, as the furnaces connected with steel plants are becoming a little more active than in May.’ e Daily Rate of Production The daily rate of production of coke and anthracite ‘ pig iron by months, beginning = April, 1910, is as fol- lows: Daily Rate of Pig Iron Production by Months—Gross Tons. Steel a are. Merchant. Total. UE 52k ek tat cee es 55,6 27,129 82,792 RE pe Ch bans stands heres ve 52°935 24,867 77,102 ag Mee AMS. hs ltr ecg ov in Ala 51,637 23,879 75,516 ca ERG ns one kell We 47,183 22,122 69,305 a 3. Ris oeWabvuecenknk os 46,534 21,429 67,963 ae ME. ives os aus Kot eRb es 47,007 21,536 68,542 FRA see ey yt 45,794 21,726 67,520 NE in ok cach od Ses e 41,427 22,232 63,659 BN Ce Sad tess steasee 35,909 21,440 57,349 eoeny. Pee Sete aes 36,401 20,351 56,752 PR dh de eee dale a6 shee ses 42,349 21,741 64,090 DCCA cel atasobhcdeenewenks 48,970 21,066 70,036 BER os Boh np Wide ab 676810 5 0100 ds 47,805 21,031 68,836 RNs hte cb ccebcswdsvors faye 42,270 18,809 61,079 May Output by. Districts The table below gives the production of all coke and anthracite furnaces in May and, the four months pre- ceding : Monthly Pig Iron oe Tons, January. Februar ril. \ (31 days) (28 ‘days) ld (31 days) (30 ay: ) ) (31 day ’ New: York. 0.6.0.3 130.927 New Jersey......... 62 ? i006 P8¢9 it, "9.788 Lehigh Valley...... 68,324 56,367 69 263 78,182 — 79'73) Schuylkill Valley. 60,592 57,321 67,634 55/305 46.827 Lower Susquehanna and Lebanon Val. 43,942 42,729 46,980 44,537 44.179 Pittsburgh district.. 409,698 424,517 531,521 488,44; ; Shenango Valley.... 82,922 86,908 109,799 109,239 8.170 West. Penn........ 94,118 96,616 120,464 100,593 1.299 Maryland, Virginia = and Kentucky.... 56,424 57,759 61,628 60,978 3,271 Wheeling district... 77,715 95,571 135,775 119,489 115.213 Mahoning Valley... 174,318 201,624 203,006 189.822 jx >4 Central and North. OAR ns caay adie s 127,579 144,806 170,914 161,742 909 Hocking Valley, Hanging Rock and SAW. Rane” i s555 33,253 32,396 35,173 27,084 27.185 Mich., Minn., Mo., i Wis., Col., "Wash. 60,941 61,406 69,741 76,379 71,938 Chicago district..... 165,826 155,498 213,638 236.550 238°424 DIE én 6 80 850 os 128,188 118,594 143,751 149,737 134.386 Tenn., Georgia and , i) re, 25,153 28,331 22,178 28. 868 SEED. ect e cat 1,759, 326 1, 794,509 2 ‘171, 111 2 2,065, 086 1,8 The furnaces blown out in May included one Swede in the Schuylkill Valley; Sheridan in the Lebanon Valley: one Lucy in the Pittsburgh district; Atlantic, Hall and one New Castle in the Shenango Valley; Pulaski and Ivanhoe (banked) in Virginia; Norton in Kentucky; Belmont in West Virginia; one Ohio at Youngstown; Star in the Hanging Rock region; two Mayville in Wisconsin and one Ensley in Alabama. Quite a number of these furnaces, however, were simply blown out for repairs, and they may be expected to be blown in when repairs are completed. The furnaces blown in in May comprised one Eliza in the Pittsburgh district; three Cambria at Johnstown, Pa.; Buena Vista in Virginia, and one Illinois at South Chicago. Capacity in Blast June 1 and May 1 The following table shows the daily capacity of fur- naces in blast June 1 and May 1: zs ft 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 PE: GS 'g gi ip idhged s2f8z' PES g Pea ETLTE REE Ee eEEETER SES ES a egba EPP e SCOLLLITIT TT NT TI RA Ee eee om 84 oy ries mune th poe CINCINNATI <== ae ae fi 4 4 ws ol NLL IM [I I | [a price vocas no. 2 roy.» enters ERE a0 oe LUT MELT TTT TTA wa ttEMSON TTT CC c ott tal KL Gal Th PCCP TT ol PAA PEC tt } Se "COLLEEN TTT mes i CRORES FARMED PECEEEEEECL CCC EN Pirin | i.e SECC CeCe oot Re. eitta tt tt HEE oe wo TTT TT TT PTT A Ee Seen ANaEn PTT LEE HER wap TCO ra ee. ial CCE oof Lt TTA aa RT, s POET AN Tere TT > PEELE NLL CL Leticia EEN PSEC SCOCRCOLCCEOEN CCE TTT re? LEELA CP ee TT wo tet TTT LALLY so ed PEAT ede SE eel Ea POET ee. watt tty PEE eee eed | ys POCO ee eee wot bl Lie Te » Diagram of Daily Average Production by Months of Coke and Anthracite: Pi from © May? 191i; Also of Monthly Avérage Prices of Southern No. 2 Fou Ae tree a Cooma a Foundry Iron at Chicago District Furnace. oundry Iron at Cincinnati and Local No. e 8, 1911 THE IRON AGE 1383 Coke and Anthracite Furnaces in Blast. Chart of Pig and Prices Total ——June 1.——, ———May 1.—; The fluctuations in‘pig iron production from January, ation number Number Capacity Number Capacity : 2 . oo ome of stacks. in blast. may sf in blast. our day. 1907, to the present time are shown in the accompanying N Yor rk: i> oi on an chart. The figures represented by the heavy line are those - Naw Memes. 8 i "164 i "164 of daily average production, by months, of coke and anth- \ jerss UR: catherine the ; 1 183 1 172 racite iron. The two other curves on the chart represent Poca ee te my monthly average prices of Southern No. 2 foundry pig iron gh Valley ....... 24 3 2,497 13 2 $34 at Cincinnati and of local No. 2 foundry iron at furnace at Sc eikill’ “Valley 2... 16 6 4237 1.810 Chicago. They are based on the weekly market quotations Susquehanna.... 7 3 616 3 583 of The Iron Age. The two sets of figures are as follows: nog. veers ap 4 10 of 831 53 862 Daily Average Production of Coke and Anthracite Pig Ion in the ts pe district. ... 7 1 gat 4 o- as United States by. Months Since. January 1, 1907— ie Tons. chonanme> Meee naan 20 8 0618 11 3.641 1907, 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. Pent. seeet1.. 2 9 2700 6 755 SUR sai ica dewek tasers 71,149 33,718 $7,975 84,148 56,752 Cent ta ; oes : "ans EE 406 onvagkeenhonie 73,038 37,163 60,976 85,616 64,090 : ee ee 4 art ’ DE da siearasstoneiweere 71.821 39,619 59,232 84,459 70,036 Wheeling district ...... " ae omar a 3,983 RD os ain Suu acke eens 73.885 38,289 57,962 82,792 68,836 \ahoning Valley .... 23 15 5,685 16 "See <incbbpiabene sie e tee ae Geass Sea mew itral amd North.:.. 22 = ee” & 5,062 Jay oo... ccc cccccseccesesDRlGS SMM GENER GREE. fax... king Ve a he 15 ‘ pe August 2... 2.2L LLL II I721594 43,851 72,546 67,963 _,, Rocke am oes ; a ee $03 SMM vc, ccccatecemua 72,783 47,300 79,507 68,476 ..... ir a reese * yy llee- vane NS: Sores s<jispes senna 75,386 $0,554 83,856 67,520 ..... ui in oe. | 3 1102 ; 1090 MOWOMMNOE 9.5 cceveccccnsseda 60,937 52,595 84,917 63,659 ..... eo ae pen ee ‘ December .....0..0.ccseees 39,815 56,1$8 85,022 57,349 ..... oinia: = see cunts 23 6 745 9 972 Monthiy Average Prices in Dollars of Southern No, 2 Foundry entuchy abacaewiwea 5 1 81 2 311 Iron at Cincinnati and Local No. 2 Foundry at, Chicago Dis- \labama. s eegeaee 46 7 4,335 18 4,823 trict Furnace ae agian ak viele a Z yeorgia... 7 7 . ” . jaded ; cebier - ier aie Sou Loc. Sou. Loc. Sou. Loc. Sou. Loc. Totals «setseeasee 416 203 61,844 212 64,432 No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, No. 2, Cin. Chi. Cin. Chi, Cin. Cri. Cia, Cai. sie oe 9.» Sind Va 16.15 18.10 16.26 37.00 17.38 18.50 Producti ‘ seeeeceeee s+ 26.00 25.59 15.75 17:81 16.1 y , ction of Steel Companies D222222512600 25.75 15.50 17.50 15.05 16.15 16.30 17.80 ee wseeeeese+ 25.06 26.00 15.20 17.38 14.25 16.15 15.37 17.00 Returns from all plants of the United States Steel 24.25 26.50 14.75 17.28 14.30 16.15 15.00 1.36 an : : : 24.10 26.25 15.25 17. . . ‘ . Corporation and the various independent steel companies 33.85 25.20 1800 17.20 15.75 16.65. 14.75 1606 ow the following totals of product month by month. ..23.00 24.50 15.25 17.00 16.38 16.78 14,31°16,00 ‘ . . . . . 9 Only steel making iron is included in these figures, to- ae Feat a ee vo bar a cots vether with ferromanganese, spiegeleisen and ferrosilicon. ..19.50 20.31 16.00 16.75 17.75 18.50 14.25 15.50 These last, while stated separately, are also included in jon’, 191i, 1825, sa Sig Octal aa oo i cs ‘olumns of “total production” : Production of Steel Companies—Gross Tons. : Spiegeleisen and -——Pig.—Total production.——,ferromanganese. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1910. 1911. TY .«<skeeel 1,117,823 1,773,201 1,128,448 19,538 8,360 TY ..eseatanie 1,073,363 1,620,539 1,185,782 21,396 12,821 . «we Seinen 1,140,553 1,739,212 1,518,063 25,591 11,784 MPPEy re 1,093,092 1,669,898 1,434,142 22,304 10,657 oes a ehe 1,256,448 1,619,283 1,310,378 26,529 13,641 . kee ee 1 S68 SRP: SSOREIO: cinccss: EAE. ees 2 1,508,762 1,462,689 ........ 22,924 ..... RO a pee Leese LETS. caneets® SEES seas S ber (ss. dueeaee 1,660,839 1,410,221 ........ te iti, r ves See 1,769,094 1,419,624 ........ a mber. -ssunabiene 1,689,994 1,242,804 ........ SME cinse, er \cuge sole L7GR0O9- LAIR LTE oskccec tagged ed . , . The Master Boilermakers’ Meeting lhe International Master Boilermakers, Associa- i held its fifth annual convention at Omaha, Neb., \y 23 to 25, with 300 members in attendance, repre- nting half of the total membership. The president, A. N, ‘Lucas, Milwaukee, in his opening address, urged liberal policy in the education of apprentices arguing that it is most profitable to a railroad to develop its own boilermakers and other mechanics. This subject was the chief topic of discussion of the convention. \V. Thomas, of the Santa Fe Railroad; C. W. Cross, supervisor of apprenticeship of the New York Central Lines, and others went into this most important ques- J. D. Farasey, Cleveland, spoke for the Ameri- can Boiler Manufacturers’ Association. From the report of the committee on steel versus iron tubes, it appears that there is but little to choose between them, but that that little is in favor of the steel boiler tube. The steel tubes are apt to be a little lore brittle and tend to break back of the weld when safe-ended, There is not, however, much difference in the mileage to be obtained. In. a recent test in which sets of steel and iron tubes were compared it was found that at the end the total cost of the irom tubes was ‘omewhat more than the steel, and that there had been ewer engine failures with the steel. More care is required to weld the steel than the iron tubes, and the steel tubes seem to collect more scale. One of the objections raised to the iron tube was its tendency to pit, and cases were given.of iron tubes splitting back bed 18 to 20 in. from the ends when an attempt was \ tion. , 14.25, 15.00; May, 14.00, 15.00. The Record of Production Production of Coke aW@' Anthracite Pig Iron in the United States by Months Since January 1, 1907.— Gross Tons. 19097 1908 1909 1910 Se 1,045,250 1,797,560 2,608,605 WURROEY ci ciccdeny eee 2,045,068 1,077,740 1,707,340 2,397,254 March ............+..2,226,457 1,228,204 1,832,194 2,617,949 April .....s0eeeeee+e+2y0h6,5598 1,149,602 . 1,738,877 2,483,763 May ....+.+.++e4+++42,295,505 1,165,688 1,833,330. 2,390,180 i cavencccevesees + 2,204,575 1,092,131: 1,930,866 2,265,478 SE! kee 6h Me wo 0s maweee 2,255,660 1,218,129 2,103,431 2,148,442 NE os as a: eeu 2,250,410 1,359,831 2,248,930 2,106,847 September ...........2,183,487 1,418,998 2,385,206 2,056,275 October ............02,336,972 1,567,198 2,599,541 2,093,121 November ........+-. 1,828,125 1,577,854 2,547,508 1,909,780 Doceittber. ... .. 06 serers 1,234,279 1,740,912 2,63°,680 1,777,817 January, 1911, 1,759,326; Februar , 1911, 1,794,509; Manch, 1911 2,171,111; 1911, 2,064,086; May, 1911, 1,893,456, April, made to roll them out. As a general rule the members was using steel for safe ends, even on iron tubes, though Swedish iron was also used. For the tubes themselves the seamless steel was preferred, both for the service it would render and the ease of welding. As for the difficulty of welding steel, every. member who took part in the discussion disclaimed having had any trouble whatever. As for pitting, it was generally conceded that steel tubes pit to a greater extent than iron, and yet a case was cited of a test on the Chicago & Northwestern where a boiler had been fitted with a half set each of steel and iron tubes, and that of these six steel and 49 iron tubes had been scrapped for pit- ting. On another boiler on the same road just the reverse had occurred. The time and place of the next meeting were left to the executive board. Officers were elected as follows: President, George W. Bennett, Albany, N. Y.; first vice-president, J. W. Kelly, Oak Park, Ill.; second vice-president, M.-O'Con- nor, Missouri Valley, Iowa; third vice-president, Thomas W. Lowe, Winnipeg, Manitoba; fourth vice- president, J. T. Johnson, Los Angeles, Cal.; fifth vice- president, Andrew Green, Indianapolis, Ind.; secretary, Harry D. Vought, New York City; treasurer, Frank Gray, Bloomington, Ill.; executive board, Charles Hempel, Omaha. . The Boilermakers’ Supply Men's fran eee Alpe TS toate: Siang leaks ©... Coa! den, Chicago, vice-president, and George» Slate, New York, secretary-treasurer. THE IRON AGE June 8, IQIY The lron and Metal Markets A Comparison of Prices Advances Over the Previous Week in Heavy Type, Declines in Italics. revious. May3 June l 1911. 1910. $15.50 $17.00 13.75 15.00 14.25 11.00 15.00 15.00 13.60 15.90 14.40 17.50 At date, one week, one month and one year June 7 May 31 PIG IRON, Per Gross Ton: 1911. 1911. Foundry No. 2, standard, Phila- delphia $15.00 $15.50 Foundry No. 2, Valley furnace. 13.75 13.75 Foundry No. 2, Southern, Cin- cinnati 13.75 Foundry No. 2, Birmingham, Ala. 10.50 Foundry No. 2 local, at furnace, Chic 15.00 Basic, 14.50 Basic, Valley furnace 13.10 Bessemer, Pittsburgh 15.90 14.15 17.00 14.75 11.50 16.75 16.25 15.00 16.90 _ 15.40 18.50 13.75 10.50 15.00 14.50 13.10 15.90 14.15 17.00 Gray. forge, Pittsburgh... . Laxe Superior charcoal, Chicago COKE, CONNELLSVILLE, Per Net Ton, at Oven: Furnace coke, prompt shipment. Furnace coke, future delivery.. Foundry coke, prompt shipment Foundry coke, future delivery. . bh ee oun as nnn = BILLETS, &c., Per Gross Ton: Bessemer billets, Pittsburgh.... Forging billets, Pittsburgh.... Open hearth billets, Philadelphia Wire rods, Pittsburgh OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross Ton: Tron rails, Chicago Iron rails, Philadelphia Car wheels, Chicago Car wheels, Philadelphia Heavy steel scrap, Pittsburgh.. Heavy steel scrap, Chicago.... Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia. FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Bessemer steel mill Refined iron bars, Philadelphia. . Common iron bars, Chicago.... Common iron bars, Pittsburgh... Steel bars, tidewater, New York Steel bars, Pittsburgh 21.00 21.00 26.00 26.00 23.40 * 23.40 29.00 §29.00 14.00 10.75 12.50 13.00 13.00 10.25 13.00 14.50 16.75 12.75 13.00 13.00 10.25 13.00 OQ o 3 oo Cents. Cents. 2 oe + 3 os Dp rails, heavy, at .25 32% .25 32% .56 .40 Nhs we No Nw Tank plates, Pittsburgh New York.. -40 56 -40 Beams, tidewater, Beams, Pittsburgh Angles, tidewater, -56 Angles, Pittsburgh ' Se .40 Skelp, grooved steel, Pittsburgh i . 1.30 Sxelp, sheared steel, Pittsburgh. . 7 , 1.35 SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, Per Pound: Sheets, black, No. 28, Pittsburgh 3 Wire nails, Pittsburgh? ‘ 1.80 Cut nails, Pittsburgh 1.60 d 1.60 Bark wire, galv., Pittsburgh7... 2.10 2.10 METALS, Per Pound: Lake copper, New York Electrolytic copper, New York. Spelter, New York SE ore Lead, New York Lead, St. Louis 4.2214 Tin? "New York