The Iron Age 1911-06-22: Vol 87 Iss 25

THE TRON AGE | Published Every Thursday by the DAVID WILLIAMS COMPANY 239 West 39th Street, New York Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Sciesgeige. Frise, Unied Suites cad Mesieo, 95.00 per Annum; to Canada, per A to Other F. 10.00 per A nnum ; to oreign sa $ per Annum. W. H. Taylor, - . e ° ° President and Treasurer 1. A. Mekeel, - - ° . . - First Vice-President Harold S. Buttenheim, - - . - tees Vice-President and Secretary Geo. W. Cope, - - - - A. I. Findley, - Editors W.W. Macon, - ‘ * Branch Offices Philadelphia, Real Estate Trust Building Chicago, Fisher Building Pittsburgh, Park Building Cleveland, American Trust Building Boston, Compton Building Cincinnati, 807 Andrews Building CONTENTS. Idle Steel Mills Resuming Operations.............0ceeee0e 1497 ROCren.: SUMNOUNGIN, 868s a isn SU ks HER Sa wan ccledcsduewe 1497 Ol: SNE: SUOMRGONS ein bh tsar 4 KG bbe ound oedoddans sueah 1498 The Economic Crime of Increasing Productive Capacity....... 1498 The Two Influences in Machinery Buying................e+ 1499 Open-Hearth Furnace Capacities.........c.cccccecccccevcee 1499 NE SOON WM yn chic cc sawn ae tics o6b abe és bakaee 1500 OND © hee ae, wire ca cl weccnaleueey's os panei 1500 Coke Oven Gas in Open Hearth Furmaces...............0-. 1501 Direct Current of 1500 Volts for a Railroad.................. 1501 The Brussels International Conference........¢....see00e0 1501 The Philadelphia Foundry Foremen............0.....05- . 1501 The Iron and Metal Markets... ...05.cccccccucccccccce 1502 to 1512 The Mining Engineers’ Fall Meeting............ceceeeececs 1512 ODN cd sis cis oe beat Why cea R ais CYA i aA ode ediels dceceee 1513 PORR Mi oide's dios wha dha the COREA a Ce 1513 Geo. W. Jackson’s Fabricating Plant to Be Sold............ 1513 Judicial Decisions of Interest to Manufacturers............. 1514 POY ev o'2'0.5 5 28 bo oe bas CORMMa i bask va wci cee bhs 1515 A 30-Rem- Electtic’ Lorombambees ioc iis is ods obese cis co oe daece 1515 Forty ‘Years’ Progress in Pig Trotics s. 6660s. ccc cccccccuceus 1516 Mount. Savage Firebrick Plant to Enlarge................... 1517 Atlantic City Railway Convention Exhibits.................. 1518 Repair Equipment for Engine Houses..............0.0000e005 1519 Machine Tool Work Disturbed by Jarring of Other Machinery. 1519 SOS SCONE 55s ion cmw eb ew eR orem dn eae «accounted 1520 Edison Giant Roll Patents Sustained.......,...000..ee0eeees 1520 A New Punching Machine Control.......).....0cccscceees 1521 A Museum of the- Wire Industry: .......ccccescccsccvscecs 1522 CRG DORE ET a iis abn Chad awe waseDE aaa eON Eee ces 1525 Gary 60-inch Universal Plate Mill...........c.ececeeeeeess 1526 The American Boiler Manufacturers’ Meeting............... 1530 Promotion of Engineering Education...........-.0sseeeeeeees 1530 New Indicating Boiler Flow Meter. i. ......ccecececceecceees 1531 A Mechanical Cole Qwemchier .oo6 occ scccccc ccs pecvcssssecs 1531 The Steel Corporation Investigation...............ceeeeeeeeee 1532 Lake Superior Ore Explorations........+-..+++++4. gine Gee toee 1533 The. Kappers Gas Producer........-+.. Seasecesesdutwas aseoes 1534 Needed Standard for Sheet Steel..v.s.....eseeeeeees a tai 40 1535 Air Compressor Regiilation..........+.... Se oJ eidne Wesedees 1536 Lake Superior Mining Curtailment......... aaeganee Cowwe vente 1537 TRO 6g 66.ai6k'n 0's ae Oa SEN RAN swe AU ES b eeinge nele.e cane ewes 1538 The Ohio Workmen’s Compensation Law.......... edivibheve 1539 Safety Devices for Iron Mine Workmen.......... Ge nees cain Saee The. SipGhithary MAM. icccccstcscncvaseveccatoveute 1540 to 1547 GOVCTEMIREE POU ic kc saiss pcp estavencgivabapesenvceped 1548” Trade” Paine rs os ook ons oo ks eve Di, Mgt, «desedek MNO New York, a 22, 1911" VoL. 87: No. 25 Further Improvement Idle Steel Mills Resuming Operations Wire Products Reduced $2 Per Ton An improvement in demand is quite unusual in June and hence this year’s developments are highly gratifying. The volume of business is increasing, being larger in nearly every branch of the iron trade, in- cluding pig iron. The prices now being made are evi- dently proving attractive to buyers. The bookings of the United States Steel Corporation are steadily in- creasing, and this week its steel plants are operating to fully 66 per cent. of their ingot capacity, against 63% per cent. last week, being the best showing made for two months. A feature of the current pig iron market is the disposition of large consuming interests to buy under cover. This has been noteworthy in practically every iron center. The inference is naturally strong that the large buyers desire to avoid reports of their pur- chases becoming public and thus having an effect on prices, as the pig iron market is exceedingly sensitive and news of heavy buying would speedily cause sellers to ask more money. These consumers have won out in their long struggle to get Southern No. 2 foundry iron down to $10, Birmingham. The producers made a stubborn stand when $11 was reached on the down- ward move, and from that point they have given way very gradually, only a few cents at.a time. Other foundry irons have of course been affected to some extent by the settling of Southern iron. Prices of wire rods, wire nails and fence wire have been reduced $2 per ton, effective June 21. Prices in these lines are néwback to the level of last January. This readjustmefit brings prices of wire products more in line with the new prices of bar products. An indication of the imprgwtd, condition of the steel trade is shown in the starting up of the steel plant and rail mill of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Rail- road Company at Ensley, Ala., last Monday. The plant resumes operations with stfficient orders booked to assure operations until September 1, before which time other work will undoubtedly be secured. Next week the Carnegie Steel Cobthany’s rail mill at Youngstown, Ohio, will start on rails, which it has not made for several, months, and will roll open-hearth rails for export. The improved condition of the steel trade is further shown by the increase in specifications on contracts. The rail and billet sales department of the Carnegie Steel Company, for instance, reports orders for rails, billets and sheet bars sent to its mills for rolling up to and including Jiffie 20°exceeded the same period in May by 28,000 tons. Eastern Pennsylvania steel works are feeling the improved demand as well as those at Pittsburgh and further west. An interesting incident of the we¢k was.a contract = * Se ea tena ore ee , . 5 ee re a Meet eure eee ae petite one Sprite enema se pos x ae line rela ere Ln oa rhage | ¢: F 3 3 ce d ' ~ Pic pen os aK EE GR ot, PR ee : ieee eee a Poe ee ee 5 te we '> Ieee TE a ty } ie re H 1498 } THE IRON AGE for 50,000 tons of steel car material, consisting of shapes and plates, which was placed by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company with the United States Steel Products Company. It is stated that the Canadian company has orders for all the steel cars it can possibly turn out for months to come. Good orders have also been received from Canada by other American com- panies for skelp, billets, etc. About 10,000 tons of large ‘structural work has been placed in the New York district in the past week, including 2300 tons for the Cuylar Realty Building, 3500 tons for railroad bridge work and several con- tracts for apartment houses and other buildings. The Lackawanna Steel Company will furnish the 5000 tons of steel for the telephone building for which the fabri- ‘cating contract was placed some time ago. Among the rail orders for which contracts were taken were 10,000 tons of 9go-lb. open-hearth for the Great Northern and 4800 tons for the Kansas City Southern. The sale is reported of 500,000 tons of low-grade Lake Superior non-Bessemer iron ore to the Bethle- hem Steel Company for delivery extending over a period of 10 years. Pig tin has receded from its high point and is now 2 cents per pound cheaper, the market apparently re- turning to a more normal condition. In the past two weeks the sales of copper are reported to have been the heaviest in any fortnight this year. Lake copper sold up to 12.90 cents. Spelter and lead are both higher. Spelter has advanced $4.50 to $5 per ton within the week. ——_+e—___ The Business Outlook Confidence is expressed, even in conservative circles, that this fall will bring a decided change for the better. For some time the impression has been strengthening that the worst of the recession in business has been seen and that the shrinkage in consumption or in purchases is not likely to extend much further. Our market re- ports last week showed that even Pittsburgh, which has so long been in the depths of despondency, has begun to take a more cheerful view of the situation. In the steel trade the recent reductions in prices, instead of causing buyers to hold off for further concessions, have been accepted by important consuming interests as marking a fairly firm level on which to base their arrangements for not only immediate requirements but for some little time in the future. Looking beyond the limits of the iron and steel trades much has recently happened to give business men encouragement in forecasting conditions for the last half of the year. Our agricultural interests are in most promising shape. The wheat crop bids fair to surpass anything previously harvested. The prospect for corn was never better. The cotton crop appears likely to establish a new record. All other products of the farm, except possibly hay, are promising a most abundant yield. The acreage under cultivation in this country in every line is much in excess of that of any previous year, so that even though deterioration has been or may be experienced in some localities the total for the coun- try will be more than satisfactory. The great basis of the prosperity of this country thus seems to be well established. The railroads may. expect to have an enor- mous traffic in the transportation of agricultural pro- ducts, while the farmers will be assured of a retention of the splendid purchasing power which has made them June 22, 19): such excellent customers for all kinds of manufactu: of merchandise. That the country has steadily been getting better financial shape is shown by the very satisfact. condition of our foreign trade, our excess of expo: over imports for the eleven months ended with }\ standing at $501,759,316, which surpasses any rece period of eleveh months except that ended with Mav. 1908, immediately after the panic. Our credit abroad has thus so greatly improved that we are more likely to import than to export gold. Perhaps never before were our financial interests in better shape to handle the mar keting of the crops this fall and to furnish the necessar\ funds for the expansion in business which is expected to come. The great oversubscription to the $50,000,000 of Panama 3 per cent. bonds at a premium of over 2 per cent. is a magnificent testimonial to the financial strength of the country, as no other country has in recent years enjoyed such high credit. The political conditions are not overlooked in this connection, but they are not considered as of a sufficiently menacing character to warrant the fear of their disturbing the resumption of the march in the direction of prosperity which now promises to set in with the approach of autumn. —_—_—_.3--o———— The Economic Crime of Increasing Productive Capacity The American Metal Market attacks the Gary policy of cooperation for its encouragement of an increase in productive capacity. It claims that this policy, “which means maintaining prices and dividing the tonnage, far from curbing new erection in time of slack demand, or excess of capacity over requirements, actually encour- ages it. New blast furnaces, new steel works, new finishing mills are being built galore. Only a few days ago one of the important independent companies reached its: final decision to add a large open-hearth steel plant to its present Bessemer plant.” It proceeds to say “this encouragement of new erection under con- ditions existing for the past four years is an economic crime.” ; These are strong words, such as might be written by some stockholder of the United States Steel Corpo- ration who is not in sympathy with the management and who feels like holding it responsible for everything hap- pening in the iron and steel world which would seem to be increasing the competition with the corporation. From the standpoint of such a criticism there should have been an absolute cessation of all improvements in existing plants or additions to existing capacity or new construction from the time that the recession in the steel trade began. Apparently it would matter not whether a steel manufacturer who had his plans care- fully matured before the recession began should con- sider that it would be wise for him to proceed with the improvement during the period of slack business, be- cause he would be able to make more favorable con- tracts for construction and equipment than after the depression had passed. There would be no excuse for a manufacturer who needed some addition to his plant to balance either his requirements for raw material or his necessity for another finishing departments to work up his excess production in a cruder form. Such a critic would not admit the possession of any sagacity whatever by owners of unimproved resources or of 4 specially advantageous location to embark in the busi- ness of manufacturing pig iron, with the knowledge that june 22, IgII avorable contracts for construction and equipment ould be made and that the very reasonable certainty xisted that the depression could not continue in- lefinitely. It is an easy matter to look back upon the occur- ences of 1906 and 1907 and condemn severely those vho at that time decided to increase largely their pro- luctive capacity for the purpose of enabling them to neet the expanding requirements of their trade. This xperience was shared both by the United State Steel ‘orporation and by the independent manufacturers. It can easily be assumed now that every manufacturer should have known that the extraordinary demand could not continue and that like a flood it would speedily run itself out. But it then seemed to be necessary for every manufacturer who found himself unable to supply his ‘ustomers promptly to do what he could to relieve the situation. The great expansion which occurred in 1909 and 1910 was the direct result of the improvements which were decided upon or which were undertaken in that period of exuberant trade and unbounded confi- dence. The engagements made at that time had to be carried out. Even though the recession in trade proved more serious than any one expected, the contracts had to be completed. It may be said further that the strong though brief revival in 1909 seemed to vindicate the sagacity of those who had undertaken improvements. the extensive It must even be admitted that for a time the appearances were strongly in favor of the demand rising to a sufficient hight to absorb the entire output of the increased capacity of furnaces and mills. The strictures of the article in question are too severe, if not wholly unwarranted. The Gary policy of cooperation is by no means to be blamed for all that has happened in the expansion of our productive capacity. If the steel manufacturers had decided in 1907 that no new construction should be undertaken, or if any set of manufacturers had decided to make condi- tions so unsatisfactory that no one of their number or any outside interests could see any inducement for their enlarging old works or building new ones, it may well be imagined that within a comparatively brief period thereafter the time would have come when the produc- tion of this country would have been totally inadequate to supply the demand for iron and steel. That would have been a more serious economic mistake for the country than the present condition of the iron and steel industry. The.time will surely come, and possibly it may not be far distant, when the country will need every pound of iron and steel which its furnaces and mills can turn out. When that day comes consumers will have reason for thankfulness that the expansion of the industry was‘not completely checked in the period ex- tending from 1908 to IgII. i The Two Influences in Machinery Buying Machinery builders and dealers, in their complaints regarding “zig-zagging” or “sweating the bidders,” make a sharp distinction between the professional pur- chasing agent and the shop man. In the natural order of things the decision of the former as to equipment is largely governed by price. Just as naturally, the de- cision of the superintendent or works manager, or any other man who has an intimate knowledge of manufac- turing details, would be expected to be governed by merit or a special adaptation of some one machine to the work which is to be done. It often happens that two machines of absolutely equal excellence of design THE IRON AGE 1499 and construction differ in some essential feature, so that one would likely be chosen for a certain work in prefer- ence to the other..’ More often still, a decided difference exists between machines in that one is better than the other, and for that reason more expensive. Even when, the two machines stand upon an equal basis, the prices are usually different, The shop manager or superintendent is expected to fight hard to get the best machine for the purpose. His duty is to procure a required standard of product at the minimum of cost, and much, of his success must depend upon the wise selection of his equipment. The initiai cost of machinery is each year becoming a less conspicu- ous consideration in buying. Therefore, salesmen who have to deal with the shop official resent his putting aside every element in a transaction except that of money. They argue that he is not doing his duty by his company, nor is he weighing in the balance the several elements which should enter into his decision. The ma- chinery salesman and the purchasing agent are natural antagonists—usually, friendly, but nevertheless antagon- The latter stands between the salesman or the machinery house on the one hand and the shop on the other. Naturally then, when the shop man joins forces with the purchasing agent, with the one end in view of forcing down prices, the, machinery people can see no consistency in his position. In a communication printed in last week’s issue of The Iron Age, the strong. point is made that machinery houses should not put themselves in a position where they can be beaten down; they should make one price, which they could not be induced to shade under any stress of keen competition. This is theoretically true, and a large percentage of the manufacturers of machine tools adhere to the rule. But dealers cannot always af- ford to live up to a price list. Business reasons may make it an impossibility to do so, probably just as busi- ness reasons may make it impossible for many of the employers of purchasing agents and others having au- thority in the buying of machinery to maintain prices on their own products at all times in a dull market. ——--_.§-- = Open-Hearth Furnace Capacities The absence of any standard practice in stating the capacities of open-hearth steel furnaces is noteworthy. It is really remarkable that trade custom has not re- duced the nomenclatare of the industry to a basis per- mitting of a reasonably close estimate of the monthly output of ingots which may be expected from a plant containing a number of furnaces of a stated size. One hears very frequently of “5o-ton furnaces” and “6o-ton furnaces,” also of “so to60-ton furnaces,” but one’s respect for the phrase as a vehicle of information is greatly reduced by the knowledge that a so-called 50-ton furnace may be found to be producing 85 tons at a heat, while a 60-ton furnace may be producing 75 tons. Nothing can be simpler, of course, than to compute the capacity, in tons of steel, of the geometrical figure offered by the open hearth. The fault does not lie there. In the case of a blast furnace the conditions are differ- ent. The cubical contents of the furnace, or even of the hearth, is butwone factor in many, and the fact that the so-called “600-ton’ furnaces” of the late nineties did not really produce 600 ‘tons of pig iron a day until many years afterward was no disgrace. / It is difficult, however, to describe adequately the practice which fre- quently designates an open-hearth furnace as of 50 or 60 tons capacity and then makes it yield —, 75 or 85'tons of steel ingots per heat. ists. 1500 To state the capacities of open-hearth furnaces at the actual number of tons of steel which they are expected to produce per heat would relieve the industry of a sit- uation in which it confesses that frequently it says a certain number of. tons when a totally different number of tons will result in practice. That, however, is about all it would do, for the reason that even when the aver- age number of tons per heat is known the monthly pro- duction is not indicated. There is a wide range in the number of heats produced per week. Four general fac- tors, or groups of factors, enter: (1) Whether or not direct blast furnace metal is used; (2) the quantity and physical condition of scrap used ;,€g) the analysis of the pig, particularly as to phosphorus; (4) the works man- agement, esprit de corps, etc. To an extent, it may be observed, the design and con- struction of the furnace are made to conform to some of the above factors. The proportions of ore, pig and scrap to be used have an influence in fixing the contour of the hearth, while of course the question of direct or cold pig is important. Thus when the actual capacity of the furnace, or rather the quantity of steel produced at a heat, is known, the weekly or monthly capacity can- not be figured except by the use of considerable addi- tional information. The entrance of these other ‘factors into the problem of the actual capacity per week or month of an open- hearth furnace does not make it unnecessary that the carrying capacity of the furnace itself should be stated, with some approach to accuracy. Rather it makes it the more incumbent upon those who deal with these prem- ises, unless they desire to withhold rather than to give information, to state the actual furnace capacities. Otherwise the industry is putting itself in a position in which it confesses that it does not, even for its own use, wish to develop a system of indicating the potency of its tools. Obviously it is out of the question to develop a system which would express capacities in terms of total product per week or month. That would be the product of tons per heat by the number of heats. The latter factor can only be estimated, and may vary ac- cording to conditions. The former can be computed from the form and design of the furnace. If a furnace can reasonably be expected to make 75 or 85 tons per heat, there is no sense in persisting in calling it a 50-ton or a 60-ton furnace. —~++e—_____ Drafting Room Expense A manufacturer remarked recently that, in his judg- ment, one of the largest items of unnecessary expense is to be found in the quantity of detail work done in the drafting room of the average machinery building concern. Hours are spent in the preparation of elab- orate drawings which are intended solely for use in the pattern-making department and foundry, machine and assembling shops; whereas, with skilled workmen only the roughest kind of sketches are tiecessary, if they are so made as to be clearly blueprinted and have all of the dimensions accurately shown. His policy is to treat the foremen and skilled workers of his plant in such a manner that they are content to remain with him, year after year. The wages paid. are more than they can obtain elsewhere for the same line of work, and if busi- ness is slack they are carried along just the same. This means considerable extra outlay, but he figures that through their close acquaintance with the details of his operations and the skill which they have acquired in them he is able to eliminate a large percentage of the THE IRON AGE June 22, 19: expenses usually incident to such an establishment. states, also, that by having the men work from cv. paratively rough drawings they are taught to use th. heads, with the result that numerous suggestions for i: provements in designs, choice of materials, shop met! ods, etc., come to him each week without any bo: system or other inducement. SS SS Correspondence A Remarkable Boiler Performance To the Editor; We note with considerable interest an article in your issue of May 25 showing results of boiler tests made by William O. Webber, of Boston, Mass. As the efficiencies obtained in these tests are so exceptionally high, we would like to obtain further information. We would like to know what methods were used in weighing the feed water, the coal and the ash. How often samples of coal were taken from which the moisture content was determined, also an analysis of the coals used, if- such is obtainable, showing fixed carbon, sulphur and volatile matter. The highest rate of evaporation, and consequently ef ficiency, was shown in the test during which the coal having the lowest calorific value and highest moisture content and percentage of ash, was used. This is rather remarkable and if possible we would appreciate it if Mr. Webber could make some explanation. Further, if Mr. Webber has any drawings showing the arrangement of the boiler setting for the boilers tested we would appreciate it if you could publish it. We also note that the percentage of moisture in the steam is rather high and would therefore like to know at what point the calorimeter readings were taken and what type of calorimeter was used in determining this moisture content. C. F. Moore, Chief Engineer, United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Company. Satt Lake City, Utaw, May 31, III. To the Editor: Replying to the letter from U. F. Moore would answer as follows: The water of evaporation used was measured by a Worthington hot water meter, calibrated to pressure and heat by actual tests made by actual weights on a Fair- banks’ scale. The coal and the ashes were weighed by Fairbanks’ standard scales every 6 hr. The moisture in the coal was determined every few days. The coal was analyzed every few days and is fully shown in the tests in detail. The only explanation I can make why the coal hav- ing the lowest calorific value and the highest moisture gave such good results as it did is that it was the clearest and cleanest burning coal, and thé openings of the grate, I suppose, just suited that particular texture of coal. There is no question at all of the accuracy of the tests made, as they were carried on for too long a time to fake the results. In other words, a 60-hr. test is too long to allow many errors, and three sets of observers took the readings once every hour at least. I have no drawing showing the arrangement of the boiler setting for the boilers tested, but they were good, ordinary return tubular boilers, set in the ordinary man- ner, without any particular furnace arrangement and the cracks in the boiler setting had been all carefully plastered up and put in good shape so that there was no leak of out- side air. Every precaution was taken to make the brick work and the connection perfectly tight and reliable. The percentage of moisture in the steam was determined at a point just above the boilers in the main steam pipe, and was taken continuously and the amount determined every half hour by the calorimeter, the Carpenter calori- meter being used. The water meter reading was taken at the end of every hour, the coal and ashes weighed at the end of every 6 hr.. the feed water temperature once an hour, steam pressure once an hour, the pyrometer, damper, draft gauge barom- eter temperature of air, etc., all taken once an hour. The tests of the different kinds of coal were all made by June 22, I19II xactly the same apparatus without any change whatever, nd, as. stated, the readings were made by three sets of bservers, checked by the personal readings of the writer ior 8 hr. a day. Wm. O. Wesser, Consulting Engineer Boston, MaAss., June 10, 1911. —~~+-e—____ Coke Oven Gas in Open Hearth Furnaces To the Editor: In the issue of The Iron Age of May 8, page 1232, I have noted with interest an abstract by G. B. W.” of a German review of M. Trasenster’s article n the use of coke oven gas in open hearth furnaces. The ‘oncluding sentence in this abstract reads as follows: rhe results, therefore, notwithstanding the good ther- mal efficiency obtained in this case, are not altogether favorable.” This thought is nowhere expressed in M. [rasenster’s article which is under discussion, and has undoubtedly crept in through the double translation. I note that the review in Stahl und Eisen is less favorable to coke oven gas than M. Trasenter’s article, while The ‘ron Age has, in this respect, still further departed from the original. In the original article, which was published in the Revue Universelle des Mines in November, 1910, the paragraph in question appears substantially as follows: ‘Notwithstanding the favorable appearances, we will not risk prophesying a better efficiency in the heating of the steel bath by coke oven gas (meaning here the actual transfer of heat from burning gas to the melting metal), but we can at least depend on having equally favorable conditions in this regard, and consequently, as we have shown above, we can register an improvement of thermal efficiency from operating a furnace with coke oven gas when the air only traverses the regenerators, as compared with the same furnace operating on producer gas, and with both the air and gas preheated.” You will note that this gives a clear advantage for the use of coke oven gas, and in justice to the further de- velopment of American open hearth practice it seems important to correct the unfavorable inference in the abstract in The Iron Age of May 18. C. G. Turts. Syracuse, N. Y., June 6, 1911. Direct Current of 1500 Volts for a Railroad Among other large orders received by the Westing- house Electric & Mfg. Company in May, particular impor- tance is attached to contracts for the electrification of tw: sections of road of the Piedmont Traction Company in North Carolina and South Carolina, on account of the fact that this is the first railroad electrification in America to be equipped with apparatus for 1500 volts direct cur- rent. One section, 35 miles, extends from King’s Moun- tain to Charlotte, N. C., and the other, 95 miles, extends from Greenwood to Spartanburg, S. C., with a 10-mile spur from Belton to Anderson., The average modern direct-current railroad uses current of a maximum of 550 to 650 volts. Considerations of economy in transmission have led to the increase of direct-current voltage in rajl- road work and a number of lines are now operated on 1200 volts, but the Piedmont Traction system is the first one to contract for 1500-volt equipment, and the Westing- house Electric & Mfg. Company thus becomes the first in this field.. The power for both of the electrified lines will be purchased from the transmission lines of the Southern Power Company and fed to the line through motor-gene- rator sets in substations. a Oe Schimer, McGlynn & Co., Inc., Nineteenth street and Washington avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., expect to put their plant for rolling phosphor bronze, German silver and Monel metal sheets, rods and wire in operation about July 1. They will make a specialty of planished Monel sheets. H. M. Schimer is president; Wm. P. McGlynn, vice-president and general manager, and C. E. L. Hatch, secretary and treasurer. Edgar Allen & Co., Ltd., tool steel manufacturers, 434 \Vest Randolph street, Chicago, have opened an Eastern branch office and warehouse in Boston, Mass., located at 71 Kilby Street. It will be under the management of Harry B. Eaton, formerly of the Simplex. Tool & Supply Com- pany, THE IRON AGE 1501 The Brussels International Conference A considerable number of the steel manufacturers of this cunntry have either sailed for Europe or will leave some time this month to meet steel manufacturers from other countries in the international conference to be held at Brussels, Belgium, July''5 and 6. For five days, begin- ning June 26, the American steel manufacturers will be the guests of iron and steel manufacturers of Great Britain. It is the hope of those who have arranged this conference that a better understanding may be brought about between the steel rhanufacturers of this country and Europe, although it will 6f course be out of the question to attempt to make any ‘agreement as to the prices of steel products in the markets of the world or anything like a division of territory. Interest naturally centers on the impression which Chairman E. H. Gary, of the United States Steel Corporation, will be able to make upon the steel manufaeturers of other countries. Judge Gary’s policy of co-operation has been warmly and almost unanimously supported by American steel manufacturers and the world will look with keen attention for the re- sult of his efforts to win adherents to it from the European manufacurers who will attend this conference. ve earn Gh cease The Philadelphia Foundry Foremen.—The Associ- ated Foundry Foremen ‘of Philadelphia and Vicinity held their regular monthly meeting at the Manufacturers’ Club, Philadelphia, on the evening of June 13, vice-president James Whitehead in the chair. A new constitution and new by-laws were adopted, which provide for the adop- tion of a new name, The Associated Foundry Foremen of Philadelphia, also for the ‘elimination of the associate class of membership, the article on membership provid- ing a wider scope of elegibility and the admission of those previously classed as associate members to active membership. The office of treasurer was eliminated and provision made for the election of a.secretary-treasurer, who will perform the duties of both officers. Dues were fixed at $4 per year. Howard L. Warner, representing Frank Samuel, Philadelphia, was elected to membership. Adjournment was taken until September 12, no meetings being held during the summer months. ee Governor Marshall of Indiana has named the Commis- sion of Industrial Education created by the last State Leg- islature. State Senator W. A. Yarling, of .Shelbyville, Ind., is chairman, and John A. Lapp, legislative reference librarian, Indianapolis, is secretary. John L. ._ Ketcham, secretary-treasurer “Of the Brown-Ketcham Iron Works, Indianapolis, is @°member of the committee, as is also Frank Duffy, secretary of the United Brotherhood of Car- penters and Joiners of America. The other members are John G. Brown, Monon, a member of the Legislature; T.. F, Fitzgibbon, Columbts; F. D. McElroy, Hammond, and Prof. U. G. Weatherly, of Indiana University, Blooming- ton. The law provides that the commission shall investi- gate the need of education in the various industrial pur- suits and recommend the forms of educational effort that may be employed. Qemniediatdlimemnins The Indiana Steel Company, Gary, Ind., on Thursday, June 15, made a test of its new sheet bar mill. The trial was limited to the turning over of the motor and ma- chinery, and no steel was run through. This mill adjoins the billet mill and is driven ‘by a 6000 hp. motor, which is a duplicate of the rail/and billet mill drivers. ‘The begin- ning of permanent rolling will depend largely on the mar- ket demand for the output of the Gary sheet mills of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, which are already in partial operation. The Laclede Steel Company, St. Louis, Mo., the particu- lars of whose organization were given in The Iron Age of April 6, has bought a sité or the east side of the Missis- sippi River, between Madison and East St. Louis, Il, and will at once proceed with the construction of,a rolling mifl for the purpose of rerolling old steel rails into merchanta- ble shapes. Thomas R. Akin is president, and William E, Guy is heavily interested. Se as The Farris Engineering 1g Company, has has removed its fics 8043 Jen- from the Diamond National Bank But kins Arcade Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. SoS ge serene ee ep tae te ) . : a | of e > : The jlron and THE IRON AGE June 22, 1911 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, June 21 June 14 May 24 June 22 PIG IRON, Per Gross Ton: 1911. 1911. 1911. 1910. Foundry No. 2, standard, Phila- 0 ES EP eet $15.25 $15.25 $15.50 $16.50 Foundry No. 2, Valley furnace. 13.50 3.50 13.75 14.50 Soundry No. 2, Southern, Cin- UN ii iene es £4 8 Snes 5-0 2 5 S3.20,"" 48.50 . 13.73 . 24.75 Foundry No. 2, Birmingham, Ala. 10.00 10.25 10.50 11.50 Foundry No. 2 local, at furnace, DEE xb dha Up en's a Oh a 0 15.00 15.00 15.00 16.75 Basic, delivered, eastern Pa.... 14.50 14.50 14.50 16.00 Basic, Valley furnace.......... 13.00 13.10 13.25 14.50 Bessemer, Pittsburgh .......... 15.90 15.90 15.90 16.40 Gray forge, Pittsburgh......... 13.90 13.90 14.15 14.90 Lake Superior charcoal, Chicago 16.50 17.00 17.00 18.50 COKE, CONNELLSVILLE, Per Net Ton, at oven: Furnace coke, prompt shipment. 1.40 1.40 1.45 65 Furnace coke, future de.uvery. - 1.60 1.60 1.75 80 Foundry coke, prompt shipment. 1.75 1.75 1.75 2.15 Foundry coke, future delivery.. 2.05 2.05 2.00 0 BILLETS, &c., Per Gross Ton: Bessemer billets, Pittsburgh.... 21.00 21.00 23.00 25.00 Forging billets, Pittsburgh..... 26.00 26.00 28.00 31.00 Open hearth billets, Philadelphia 23.40 23.40 25.40 28.50 Wire rods, Pittsburgh.......... 21.00 29.00 29.00 31.00 OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross Ton: Ivréin veils, Chicago... .2... 2025 14.00 14.00 14.50 17.00 ‘Iron rails, Philadelphia........ 16.50 16.50 16.75 19.50 Car Wheels, Chicago.......... 12.50 12.50 12.75 15.50 Car wheels, Philadelphia....... 13.00. 13.00 13.00 15.00 Heavy steel scrap, Pittsburgh... 13.00 12.75 13.00 = 15.00 Heavy steel scrap, Chicago..... 10.25 10.25 10.25 13.00 Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia. 13.00 13.00 13.00 14.50 FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents, Cents. Bessemer rails, heavy, at mill... 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 Refined iron bars, Philadelphia. . 1.27% 1.27% = 1.27 1.47% Common iron bars, Pittsburg.... 1.25 1.25 1.30 1.50 Common iron bars, Chicago.... 1.20 1.20 1.22 1.45 Steel bars, Pittsburgh.......... 1.25 1.25 1.40 1.45 Steel bars, tidewater, New York. 1.41 1.41 1.56 1.61 Tank plates, Pittsburgh........ 1.35 1.35 1.40 1.45 Tank plates, tidewater, New York 1.51 1.51 1.56 1.61 Beas, Pittsburgh.............+- 1.35 1.35 1.40 1.45 beams, tidewater, New York.... 1.51 1.51 1.56 1.61 Angles, Pittsburgh............. 1.35 1.35 1.40 1.45 Angles, tidewater, New York.... 1.51 1:51 1.56 1.61 Skelp, grooved steel, Pittsburgh. 1.25 1.30 1.30 1.50 Skelp, sheared steel, Pittsburgh. 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.60 SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, ss a ci Per Pound: Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Sheets, black, No. 28, Pittsburgh 2.00 2.00 2.20 2.40 Wire nails, Pittsburgh7........ 1.70 1.80 1.80 1.80 Cut nails, Pittsburgh]...... oes 1.60 1.60 1.80 1.75 Barb a galv., Pittsburgh]. . 2.00 2.10 2.10 2.10 METALS, , ; . Per Pound Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Lake copper, New York....... 12.75 12.75 12.37% 12.75. Electrolytic copper, New York. 12.50 12.50 12.12% 12.50 Spelter, St. Louis............: 5.55 5.32% 5.20 5.00 Spelter, New York..........+. 5.75 5.55 5.50 5.15 Se ee EB ova oct a0sscces 4.35 4.30 4.22%, 4.22% Lead, New York.... 225.0040. 4.50 4.45 4.274% 4.37% Tin, New York... c.ccssesdi 44.8742 46.87% 44.60 32.60 Antimony, Hallett, New York. 8.75 8.75 9.00 8.12% Tin plate, 100-Ib. box, New York 3.94 3.94 3.94 3.84 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, t1c.; Cleveland, toc.; Cincinnati, 15¢.; Indian- apolis, 17¢.; Chicago, 18c.; St. Paul, 32c.; St. Louis, 22¥%c.; New Orleans, 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, 1.35c. to 1.40c., net; I-beams over 15 in., 1.45¢. to 1.50c.; net; H-beams over 8 in., 1.50¢. to 1.55¢.; angles, 3 to 6 in., inclusive, % in. and up, 1.35¢. to 1.40¢., net; angles over 6 in., 1.45c. to 1.50c., net; angles, 3 in, on one or both legs, less than % in, thick, 1.4 plus full extras as per steel bar card effective Septe ber 1, 1909; tees, 3 1n. and up, I.40c., net; zees, 3 in. and up, 1.35c. to I.40c., net; angles, channels and tees unde: 3 in., 1.40c., base, plus full extras as per steel bar card of September 1, 1909; deck beams and bulb angles, 1.65c. to 1.70c., net; hand rail tees, 2.45¢.; checkered and corrugated plates, 2.45c., net. Plates.—Tank plates, 4 in. thick, 6% in. up to 100 in. wide, 1.35c. to 1.40c., base. Following are stipula- tions prescribed by manufacturers, with extras to be added to base price (per pound) of plates: Rectangular plates, tank steel or conforming to manufacturers’ standard specifications for structural stee] dated Siebraery 6, 1903, or equivalent, 4 in. thick and over on thinnest edge, 100 in. wide and under, down to but not including 6 in. wide, are base. Plates up to 72 in. wide, inclusive, ordered 10.2 Ib. per square foot, are considered %4-in. plates. Plates over 72 in. wide must be ordered }4-in. thick on edge, or not less than 11 Ib. per square joot, to take base price. Plates over 72 in. wide ordered less than 11 |b. = square foot down to the weight of 3-16-in. take the price of ° “in. Allowable overweight, whether plates are ordered to gauge or weight, to be governed by the standard specifications of the Asso- ciation of American Steel Manufacturers. Gauges under \%-in. to and including 3-16-in. on thin- NR OO, WER is aa a cca c davies tabakac cr ehes des $0.10 Gauges under 3-16-in. to and including No. 8......... «15 Gauges under No. 8 to and including No. 9........... .25 Gauges under No. 9 to and including No, 10.......... .30 Gauges under No, 10 to and including No, 12........ 40 Sketches (including all straight taper plates) 3 ft. and on ee OE AP er ee, ET) = vole J Complete circles, 3 ft. in diameter and over.......... -20 ees wee (ROMS . CORR. a's rs pias nes bbb Bee caw '.ag noes -10 “A, B. M. A.” and ordinary firebox steel............. .20 EEL DONOR DUNNE: ic Fa emseda eee cetss nia ag hs Vetoes oa .30 MSGO BOE 5 o.5'o'es'n'c hdd oR beEE Sab haTSEh I Ae .40 Locembters Green: MO 66s ide 0 Lis ks awdki Cosndawes «ae ‘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 WOGtes OVO 200 Ui 6ccen ox pes te s0hds bh 00.00 eae 1.00 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 3 ft. to 2 ft. TRCIUMMS 0000 ksh w 0 Kee K8 ba es bee wen teeth tees ae .25 Cutting to lengths or diameters under 2 ft. to 1 ft., MCUUREVE 550 bccec de swh hob as'ss 6d sea S CMe ae . Cutting to lengths or diameters under 1 ft........... 1.55 No cate for cutting rectangular plates to lengths 3 ft. and over. Terms—Net cash 30 days. Sheets.— Makers’ prices for mill shipments on sheets in carload and larger lots, on which jobbers charge the usual discounts for small lots from store, are as fol- lows: Blue annealed sheets, Nos. 3 to 8, U. S. standard gauge, 1.40c.; Nos. 9 and 10, 1.50c.; Nos. 11 and 12, 1.55c.; Nos. 13 and 14, 1.60c.; Nos. 15 and 16, 1.700. One pass, cold rolled, box annealed sheets, Nos. 10 to 12, 1.65¢.; Nos. 13 and 14, 1.70c.; Nos. 15 and 16, 1.75¢.; Nos. 17 to 21, 1.80c.; Nos. 22, 23 and 24, 1.85c.; Nos. 25 and 26, 1.90c.; No. 27, 1.95¢.; No. 28, 2c.; No. 20, 2.05c.; No. 30, 2.15c. Three pass, cold rolled sheets, box an- nealed, are as follows: Nos. 15 and 16, 1.85¢.; Nos. 17 to 21, 1.90c.; Nos. 22 to 24, 1.95¢.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2c.; No. 27, 2.05c.; No. 28, 2.10c.; No. 20, 2.15¢.; No. 30, 2.25c. Galvanized sheets, Nos. 10 and 11, black sheet gauge, 2c.; Nos. 12, 13 and 14, 2.10c.; Nos. 15, 16 and 17, 2.25¢.; Nos. 18 to 22, 2.40c.; Nos. 23 and 24, 2.50¢.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2.70c.; No. 27, 2.85c.; No. 28, 3c.; No. 29, 3.10c.; No. 30, 3.30c. All above prices are f.o.b. Pittsburgh, terms 30 days net, or 2 per cent. cash dis- count 10 days from date of invoice, as also are the following base prices per square for painted and gal- vanized roofing sheets, with 2%-in. corrugations: Gauge. Painted Galvanized. | Gauge. Painted Galvanized. 29 $3.50 ane $2.40 23 $2.40 28 $1.40 2.55 22 2.60 3.70 27 1.55 2.60 21 2.80 4.05 26 1.65 2.65 20 3.05 4.35 25 1.85 3.05 oe 4.05 5.70 24 2.10 3.15 16 4.90 6.50 Wrought Pipe.—The following are the jobbers’ car- load discounts on the Pittsburgh basing card on wrought pipe, in effect from October 1: Butt Weld. ——Steel——, 1 -——Iron—— Black. Galv. Black. Galv. Lge DG PR ccd dedaccwenece “x 49 43 % Ron bd agiaicean é 2 eeae 7s 63 i a. UU Chik cans ctGaneu 9 69 5 SOO SMe sek cn baa éaeenere 80 70 76 66 Lap Weld. oe OM, sc sekaee evita & odeue baa cee 66 72 62 SEE eS Micdiica owvegnaaeen 78 67 74 64 ERE OR gadebe cae 77 67 73 63 7 OO TE Mists sa vcs (0G nu tage ee 59 71 55 eS See | pe edi Dine Butt Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card weight. » My PR Woscs x n'csnuscsunae ae 59 65 55 OB sb 20> das cendes oxen 68 64 96 00: 136 Fee kisses aha see 72 74 68 2 We BD Miss ceixscsiuascee 79 73 75 69 une 22, IQII THE IRON AGE 1503 THE IRON AND METAL MARKETS 2 iMevntbn sede vkscegeh cb bbewe 69 5 2% te.O Mis dic wdc ewcks hes 77 71 73 67 456006 BS ask aa tered 76 70 72 66 7 Op Biden ck cecukieasaeates 69 59 65 55 9. 90. Es evi toda o's Hao Te 64 54 60 50 Butt Weld, double extra strong, plain ends, card weight. ee APE Tay eae AF Pee ope 64 58 60 54 ve Wed, ig Pe eee ee ey 67 61 63 57 2 te Ba aa ics aed necscassue 69 63 65 59 Lap Weld, double extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 2 Meshes bs te beeeakedaceees 65 59 61 ry GN Se eee ee ee 67 61 63 57 S35 Ba BO ikawns ada bas baie 66 60 62 56 7 SAE DR oo beth ahd a ble desea s oie 59 49 55 45 Plugged and Reamed. , 2to 3 in. Butt Weld f Will be sold at two (2) points lower basing (higher { price) than merchants or card weight pipe. Butt or 2, 2% to 4 in..... Lap Weld (lap weld, as specified. The above discounts are for “‘card weight,” subject to the usual ariation of 5 per cent. Prices for less than carloads are three (3) ints lower basing (higher price) than the above discounts. Boiler Tubes.—Discounts on lap welded steel boiler tubes to jobbers in carloads are now as follows: Steel. 6 TOE Bee BIE ao 060 Uo hia via sc Sha ceeds oo oltiewawes seks 5 Oe MSs 34s Fat 5 0.0 aacdeeanbeed peaeke bikeunais bans 67% . ae ee ee eee eee eee ry ee eer ere 70 SH Bee lke on hc RG ak a CR en he cred aebes 72% S bee We ss ob 0 lb wh Shae i hn eke eee tuk beac bees 65 7 CE SR. Wis in ca neacs bod & SER Ree he ecacia 62% Less than carloads to destinations east of the Mississippi River vill be sold at delivered discounts for carloads lowered by two points for lengths 22 feet and under; longer lengths f.o.b. Pittsburgh. Usual extras to jobbers and boiler manufacturers, Wire Rods and Wire.—Bessemer, open hearth and hain rods, $27. Fence wire, Nos. 0 to 9, per 100 Ib., terms 60 days, or 2 per cent. discount in 10 days, car- load lots, to jobbers, annealed, $1.50, galvanized $1.80; carload lots, to retailers, annealed $1.55, galvanized $1.85. Galvanized barb wire, to jobbers, $2; painted, $1.70. Wire nails, to jobbers, $1.70. The following table gives the prices to retail mer- chants on wire in less than carloads, including the ex- tras on Nos. 10 to 16, which are added to the base price: Fence Wire, Per 100 Lb. No. 0to9 10 11 12&12% 13 14 15 16 Annealed ....$1.65 1.70 1.75 1.80 1.90 2.00 2.10 2.20 Galvanized .. 1.95 2.00 2.05 2.10 2.20 2.30 2.70 2.80 Varket and Stone Wire in Bundles, Discount from Standard List. Bright and Annealed: F SR BOONOOE ga aid oi hae. <4 40 eke ReRe ay brie Shakes Leven 80 LOR RE a6 avkeskivnnad ce oc cduaah fina ake eb ke 80 and 10 BD Oh ils as cS SUS whee s bbe gn 6 enmbees 80 and 10 and 2% BT BO Bk bb ooo PRs ery fo ode etek be.sstieenmueks 80 and 5 Galvanized: DF GH BOOTOOT . . sac de ecvsabecdcesduaweye vanes 75 and 10 1D OO EG i oi cd civic da Feivtcd pee sbiuswereesronues 75 and 10 12 te OB diag cc wok Ce ce re na ene an neues 40s thas 72% and 10 SY 0B. Bis 6.4. St ead ae ORE aa deh eee tae 72% Coppered or Liquor Finished: FTO ONENESS ok is boo aeee he Web aga Wn cKO a 75 and 10 1@ Oe Bin 0 ik 0 ich en sesh 60s oan ce Peke see een es 75 and 10 OF DENS CRvicid nn nin ds bed obs 2 Kee Wane 70 and 10 and 5 Tinned: GWT iss f asiioceeen Shin ceeek dee 75 and 10 and 10 Pittsburgh Park BuiLpinc, June 21, 1911.—(By Telephone.) Pig Iron.—Inquiry for pig iron is more active than at any timefor some months. One buyer asks for 5,000 tons af basic for shipment over the last half of the year and other basic inquiries range from 500 to 2000 tons. A radiator company at Johnstown, Pa., is asking for 3000 tons of No. 2 foundry for last half, a local foundry for 1000 tons, and another consumer for 500 tons. A large inquiry is pending for maleable Bessemer from a Western consumer. There is no demand for stand- ard Bessemer, while stocks in the valleys are very heavy. Basic iron secured in exchange for scrap is still being offered at low prices, in some cases below $13 at furnace, but most of the Valley furnaces are hold- ing basic at $13.25 at furnace. We quote as folo