The Iron Age 1911-07-13: Vol 88 Iss 2

New York, July 13, 1911 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. S Price, United States and Mexico, $5.00 per Annum; to Canada, nes saeceanaias to Other Foreign Countries, $10.00 per Annum. Single Copies, 20 Cents. President and Treasurer First Vice-President Second Vice-President and Secretary W. H. Taylor, - : 1. A. Mekeel, Harold S. Buttenheim, - Geo. W. Cope, |. A. Findley, W. W. Macon, Editors 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. Steel Companies Take a Vacation Important Discovery Regarding Oil Unfit Blast Furnaces Suiting Processes to Conditions Foolish The Iron Age Workmen’s eS CPE PETES Peg TEETER ET EE Vin dce en's Safeguarding Workmen in Small Steel The International Conference Personal une “I SE Sw Obituary “I ws eo wun wm « Customs DeCiSIGMB.§. .cisccedcccdecccserccssescascesdecesecsens ond Metal: Markets... 236. cckscisccaccbsceadaeeses 76 to Lake Ore Shipments for May Iron and Industrial Stocks Iron and Steel Expert Wanted Trade Standards of The Iron Co oo 0° wm Oa o'5.4 hike ce RA bee pew OR ee oie bh oa e OO ewete KS co GO o oO Safety in Relation to Machinery Furnace Slags in Concrete Metals, 1909 Agulteration - G6" Oblbs 5. 25 o.0:020s secct + oeesescbecsees Tl gh neh punches aoe e i nemiene wa.« o Tests of Detecting Lifting Pure Irons A New The Steel from the Open Hearth Furnace saltimore eee eee The Wheeling neaidins Company’s Catalogue Birmingham Notes Handbook Tune ( opper \ British for Iron PUCCIO: Ee TROON, 06 kon vc ck 08 ccc ehg av cee bees Ductility in Rail Steel Railroad Orders Mallet Articulated Locomotives on Ore Railroads The Manila Times Equipment New PUNE aa 0's we bc bade aed Cabat Vice cwebnetv acces vVeukl Lake The Sulphuric An Oil Gas Superior Mining News Acta Corrosion Test, iviicewcccscptctivetens faces Producer Sheet-Bar Mill Plain rhe Gary A Garvin Milling Machine Improved Tool and Cutter Grinder Shop System of Ferracute Machine Company New Parallel rhe. Federal Grinder Heater Company \utomatic Oiling System Sewage Disposal for a Hardware Works Markets DO as 0:5. sin0'n ng CER Na PEER Cea ERT RES SRS 123 [he Albree Iron Works Mesta Shipments Che Machinery Government VoL. 88: No. 2 Steel Companies Take Short Holiday Now Operating as Well as in June belief that the trade for the ing six months will show a considerable gain over the bookings of the Conditions continue to warrant the volume of business in the iron com- first half of the year. The steel com- panies have taken less time than usual this year for midsummer repairs and inventories, and this in_ it- from ers. The steel mills in the Pittsburgh and Youngstown districts are self strongly indicates a better demand consum- now operating as well as in or to The United States Steel Corporation is this week running slightly June, between 70 and'75 per cent. of their capacity. over 67 this per cent. of its entire steel ingot capacity and rate is shortly expected to be in- creased. The corporation gained only 11,000 tons in weeks ex- latter It has made its accumulation of pig iron in the dull and beginning of blast two tending over the period of the part of June July. a net gain of two furnaces in additional Ensley, Ala., to furnish The fact that its showed an increase operation, two stacks having been blown in at for the unfilled order statement for of 246,871 pig iron lennessee plant. July 1 further bearing on trade conditions. The increase is considerably more than had been expected. The week tons, compared with June has a decidedly favorable shows excellent finished in Chicago for 13,000 for structural be okings for products. tons of Orders were placed rails while contracts material tons. The awards in struc- New York comprised about 13,000 Negotiations are pending for substantial ton- nages of rails with Western and Northwestern roads, exceeded week’s tural tons. 20,000 material in and orders for steel cars are steadily increasing. An interesting episode of the the statement Washington, that contracts for 4100 tons of armor plate for an Italian war vessel had been awarded by the Italian Govern- ment to the Bethlehem Steel Company and the Car- Steel British, and week issued by the Department of State, was Company in competition with manufacturers. negie French German The pig iron situation presents some conflicting The Pig reports heavier decrease in June in stocks of pig iron held by its blast furnaces than in any previous month this phases. Eastern Iron Association year. Members of that association who have been tak- ing business at concessions have now practically with- one company being reported have sold within 30 days about 90,000 tons of pig half of ald most of which selling was done quietly or under cover. In the Birm- ingham district in Alabama in June an increase of only 1000 tons in pig irén stock was made, the moye- ment from furnace yards having exceeded expectations. Notwithstanding these rather encouraging condi- tions, pig iron ooh area ae pean tendency to Meee yj ta 4 7 vil Engineers, PITTSBURGH, Pa, drawn from the market, iron, which was basic, RR as ee ee ie ste ’ . a acti ia io aoe ae 72 THE IRON AGE been sold in eastern Pennsylvania at $14.25 delivered. Foundry iron is also slightly lower at Cleveland. Good sales of basic have, however, been made in eastern Pennsylvania at considerably above the price named and further buying is indicated. Large. inquiries for basic pig iron are reported in the Pittsburgh district. The belief is gaining wider acceptance that the pro- duction of merchant furnaces is now below the rate of consumption and that this fact will become more apparent within the next few weeks. Meanwhile the demand may continue somewhat irregular, according to the impression made on individual consumers or the improvement they find in their own business. ae Important Discovery Regarding Oil Adulteration \ notable contribution to science based on a dis- covery of very considerable economic importance has been unselfishly made by Alexander E. Outerbridge, Jr. Others like-him have done likewise, but the in- stance of the successful outcome of the individual’s persistence and study is one thing and the generosity of giving to all interested the opportunity to utilize the fruits of the labors is another and the circumstance well merits this special word. Mr. Outerbridge’s dis- covery was given formal publicity in the shape of a paper read before the American Society for Testing Materials. It is that.minute quantities of adulterants of high-priced animal or vegetable oils lend the prop- erty of fluorescence to the entire mass of the oil and that even the percentage of adulteration may be gauged by ocular inspection. It is not the first public service the discoverer has performed in his now over forty years’ professional service. It is to him we owe our early knowledge that the tumbling operation removes the internal stresses common in cast material, and if memory serves rightly his name is closely linked with the use of ferro-silicon. This is not, however, the oc- casion to write an appreciative sketch of the career of a man who has apparently not yet stopped learning. The point respecting the adulteration of high cost oils, like linseed, is not only that one is sometimes pay ing far more than the product is worth, but the result- ant mixture does not really meet the requirements as well as the pure product. This is particularly true with the use of treated linseed in core making in the foun- dry. An equipment of precise physical apparatus for diverting for use the invisible or actinic rays of sun- light is not necessary, but the reflected light of an enclosed arc light in a room of otherwise diffused light serves to develop the fluorescence visible to the human eye. In short the method is intensely suited to daily use in the industrial establishment, requiring neither chemical analysis nor highly skilled operatives. A boy with a bottle of a suspected sample may ascertain the amount of adulteration by comparing the degree of fluorescence with a row of sample bottles of known adulteration. From the scientific side Mr. Outerbridge has intimated that the investigation in fluorescence may open up the study of the question of the true origin of mineral oils. He pointed out that both mineral oils and resin oils are hydrocarbons, but the one has not yet been rendered saponifiable, a latent discovery of high monetary value. ee Unfit Blast Furnaces In our issue of January 31, 1907, editorial reference was made to “The Lessening Number of Unfit Fur- naces,” it being pointed out that after a period of very high prices the development was that a much smaller July 13, 191 number than usual of furnaces normally unfit had bee: brought into the running by the exceptionally hig! prices. The majority of furnaces, it was observed, hac been improved and modernized, so that there wer¢ fewer normally unfit furnaces in existence than hac usually been the case in the past. Four years later the same observation can be mad: with emphasis as to the steel works furnaces, bu there is a sharp contrast between the steel works furnaces as a class and the merchant furnaces as a class. There are few steel works furnaces which are measurably inferior to the best in equipment and economy of operation, starting with the same raw materials, whereas there are many merchant furnaces far below the standard of the best. Such being the case, we may expect to see, in times of insufficient demand for merchant pig iron, many stacks remaining idle for long periods of time, while some furnaces which have passed to the inactive list only within the past few months may pass to the abandoned list with- out any further period of activity. The investment thus lost will be relatively small, for there is a very wide difference in cost of construction between the modern furnaces and those of the older types which still survive. Here, indeed, lies a compensation. Even the most modernly constructed furnace may be un- able to stay in the race, through shifting of the centers of consumption or through increasing difficulties in securing raw materials on advantageous terms. It must run almost continuously to make returns on the large investment and aim to retrieve this investment within a reasonable number of years. The old-fash- ioned furnace, on the other hand, can lie idle for a long period without losing much by way of return on its investment, and if it has to be abandoned altogether the loss is relatively light. It is not at all improbable that a number of furnaces which have been in opera- tion within the past twelvemonth will be found in the abandoned class in the next few years. The capacity of such furnaces, however, is a much smaller percentage of the country’s total capacity than was the case with the furnaces which the prolonged de- pressions of the seventies and nineties put out of the running. ——__—_.§--- Suiting Processes to Conditions The success which is being made in the production of pig iron by electricity in Sweden helps to illustrate the commercial advantage of suiting the process to the conditions. There has always been a disposition, prob ably too great a disposition, in the iron trade to run in grooves, for manufacturers all to adopt certain processes because they have proved successful under certain conditions. The iron industry has grown so rapidly that there has hardly been time for careful analysis of principles and selection and adaptation to local conditions. A large pig iron furnace at Trolhattan, Sweden, has been in operation since last November, starting out by producing three tons of pig iron per horse-power year, and doing better than that since then, and Prof. Joseph W. Richards, in a paper before the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, predicts that in from five to ten years all the pig iron of Scandinavia will be made by electricity. Professor Richards backs up his prediction by plain statements. Even in pig iron fur- naces (not “blast furnaces’”—there being no blast in an electric furnace) which were not working under con- ditions which can be attained the cost has been * tf 13, IQTI ‘erially less than in the ordinary charcoal furnaces. Norway and Sweden there are many water powers ailable, far from centers of population but near rich posits of iron ore, where power can be produced in -ge quantities at from $4 to $8 per horse-power year, | even at $8 per horse-power year there is computed saving of $2 per ton of pig iron over the charcoal ast furnace. The supply of charcoal in Sweden has become mited, owing largely to the requirements for paper ulp, but Professor Richards states that there is sromised a supply for years to come sufficient to make :90,000 tons of pig iron a year by the straight blast furnace process—charcoal made from wood which is not available for pulp. It is to be observed that a few vears ago the production of pig iron in Sweden was running above 600,000 tons annually, whereas in 1908 and 1909 it was much decreased, although of late con- siderable pig iron has been made with coke imported from England—clearly a temporary expedient. The argument is that as it requires only one-third as much charcoal to use the electric pig iron furnace as the straight blast furnace, and as there is much good ore and water power, the development will be rapid toward a condition of making say 900,000 tons of pig iron a year by the electric process, more cheaply per ton than 300,000 tons could be made a year by the old method. It seems perfectly clear that this will be the future of iron making in Scandinavia, for Professor Richards speaks from personal investigation on the ground, but it by no means follows that an argument is furnished that the process will come to be applied elsewhere, if conditions are different. All the estimates made of cost are comparative, and the limit of their application is apparent when it is observed that, while the electric furnace beats the charcoal blast furnace in Sweden, yet at the present time considerable pig iron is being made in Sweden with coke imported from England. That, then, is also a better way, but it is obviously not one which will be practiced indefinitely, for a still better way would be to operate the blast furnace in England and move the ore. Under other conditions the electric furnace would show up altogether differently. The reason for the economy is that power is extremely cheap and fuel dear. The low consumption of charcoal is due to the fact that it is used only for the chemical dissocia- tion of oxygen from iron in the ore, while in the blast furnace about two-thirds of the fuel is used to obtain the smelting heat necessary to melt down the iron and slag. Now, in other places, where coke is used but is dear, the tendency is to conserve the heat produced. The only part of the energy of the fuel which is, according to strict theory, irretrievably lost is the part which is used to effect the chemical dissociation of iron and oxygen. The rest of the heat goes out in various ways, and some of these flows can be harnessed and directed. The heat of the pig iron, for instance, is utilized at practically all the steel works in the United States which produce their pig iron, by the employ- ment of the direct metal process. There have already been proposals to utilize the heat of the slag, and prob- ably this in time will be accomplished. In the blast furnace the loss by the conversion of carbon into CO instead of CO, is retrieved quite well by the use of gas engines. The electric furnace, working perfectly, pro- duces CO, and practically no CO. When there is an attendant steel works with perhaps other industrial operations, most of the apparent losses of the blast THE IRON AGE . 73 furnace as compared with the electric furnace can be avoided, because they are losses only when the means of utilization are absent. It is well to take a glance at the proportions of capital required to product obtained. Water power developments in Scandinavia are spoken of as involving capital expenditures of $25 to $30 per horse-power year for the hydraulic-eiectric plant complete. At $30, and with three tons of pig iron per horse-power year, one -has $10 per ton of pig iron a year for the hydraulic-electric development, or $1,500,000 against a pig iron output equivalent to that of one of our modern blast furnaces. Power has a safe and permanent value, somewhat like gold in international trade, and $30 cap- ital investment for a horse power looks much smaller, when thinking of a power proposition, than $1,500,000 capital expenditure does when regarded as part of the capital expenditure necessary to produce 150,000 tons of pig iron a year, for in the iron industry, on account of its well-known vicissitudes, there must be promise of retrieving the capital expenditure in a moderate number of years. Such brief comparisons serve to illustrate the prin- ciple, more or less new in the development of iron making, that processes must in future be selected with strict reference to local conditions. Where fuel is cheap it may be unwise to adopt on a large scale all the economies necessary to regain all or the major part of the calorific value of the coal. Where it is more expensive it may pay to do this. Where power is very cheap it may pay to employ it in the electric produc- tion of pig iron. Development has already started along these lines. In the United States, at any rate, we see the greatest fuel economies at plants farthest from coal. On account of occasional suggestions of large prob- able development in countries other than Sweden and Norway of electric pig-iron making, it may not be amiss to draw attention to the proportions. What is a large development for Sweden, for instance, involving several hundred thousand tons of pig iron a year, is a small one as compared with the production of the United States. Taking the latter at 25,000,000 tons a year, power development alone to duplicate such a pro- duction would call for a quarter billion dollars at the start, when total expenditures would be on a much larger scale. When the new process is proved feasible at a given point it does not follow that production will soon reach a large figure, judged by American standards. re Workmen’s Foolish Investments One of the responsibilities which is occasionally thrust upon the employer of labor comes from the foolish investments of his workmen. The prospectus which promises large and quick returns for money in- vested finds many victims among wage earners who have been thrifty and accumulated some means. The employer may be able to save something for the man out of the wreck of his speculation. Usually he feels compelled to make the attempt; it becomes a kind of family affair, for one of his people has been swindled and he is indignant. The promoter of dishonest schemes is naturally more fearful of an established name in the business world than of the poor man who has been led to partial or complete financial ruin. The workman rarely seeks advice from his su- periors in the beginning. The same employer whose a gts 74 | THE IRON assistance he asks in the crisis would have been glad to explain to him the probable danger of the invest- ment. In a recent instance an intelligent mechanic put all of his hoard of $1200 into a wildcat enterprise, dribbling the money a little at a time into the treasury of a palpably dishonest corporation until it was all gone. Then he sought the men whose knowledge would have prevented the catastrophe, and begged their intervention in reclaiming his funds. successful to some extent. It is a curious failing of human nature that the apparently most conservative persons, when lacking in business training or instinct, easily fall victims to the promise of riches, made by men entirely unknown to them, concerning mines and plantations and real estate developments, located in places inaccessible to personal investigation. They were They will yield up their savings until they are safeguarded by a paternal government. In Massachusetts a bill is pending before the Legislature compelling the registration of mining companies do- ing business in the state, with affidavits of the pro- moters as to the actual value of the properties and the requirement that no stock shall be issued except as it represents a value equivalent to the investor's con- tribution. The penalty for the promoter would be, on the face of it, severe, for perjury and criminal mis- representation of assets are serious offenses under the law, and the courts are quick to do their part toward the extermination of that class of swindlers who prey upon the earnings of the poor. Such a law should extend to fake plantation and farming schemes; in fact, to all advertised investments of the class. It would rid the community of a cause of dependency upon others of workers whose usefulness to industry and business has passed. Some employers have exerted a beneficent influ- ence in their works by their endeavors to keep.their employees out of this kind of trap. Possibly the effort could be systematized. However, the government's stamp of disapproval would be the best remedy, such as may be secured when a national corporation act is established. ——__—_.--e———————_ The Iron Age Index The index to Volume 87 of The Jron Age, January 1 to July 1, 1911, has been compiled and printed and A list of those who have received the index heretofore is kept in this office, and to all such the latest will be mailed Additional names will be will be mailed to subscribers applying for it. without notice from them. put upon this list on request. ———++@—-- — Safeguarding Workmen in Small Plants David S. Beyer, chief Steel & Wire “Standards of Safety in Relation to Machinery,” pub- lished elsewhere in this issue, urges strongly that small safety inspector of the American Company, in a paper on manufacturers give more careful study to the safe- guarding of his work against accidents to employees. At the same time he tells them that the United States Steel Corporation passes out freely the benefits of its experimental work to all, even including those who are in competition for the same lines of business. The magnanimity, or perhaps it had better be called the philanthropy, of such an offer will be appreciated by those who study Mr. Beyer’s article. With compulsory payment of damages for all accidents under work- men’s compensation, every manufacturer, large and July 13, 19 | AGE small, must for his own interest do everything possil - to rid his works of casualties. Otherwise, his charg. ; for compensation will be almost ruinously large, or, he insures against this risk, the companies will fit t premium to the conditions as they find them. ———~++e—__—_ The International Steel Conference The international steel conference held at Brusse!s, Belgium, July 5 and 6, appears to have been satisfacto to its projectors. The information which has been re- ceived in this country is that from 120 to 130 individuals were present at the conference, comprising steel manu- facturers of Austro-Hungary, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States. E. H. Gary, chairman of the United States Steel Corpo- ration, was elected to preside and proceeded to lay be- fore the concern_ng co-operation among the manufacturers of the world. He dwelt upon the idea that there should be established and continuously maintained a business friendship which compels one to feel the same concern for his neighbor that he has for himself. He proceeded to explain this as follows: “‘It is no less in principle than the Golden Rule applied to busi- ness. Is it possible? If it is, it will be certain to pay. True it is that sometimes, and too often, deceit is prac- ticed and that advantage has been taken by those who have been given confidence by others, but this fact should dis- hearten no one.” He described conditions in the United States and declared that Americans are anxious to co- operate with the’r European friends. Representatives of steel industries of other countries, especially those «who visited the United States last year, spoke with hearty sup- port of Judge Gary’s ideas. It is the expectation that an international body, possibly to be known as the In- ternational Iron and Steel Institute, will be formed on the same lines as the American Iron and Steel Institute. A committee of 30 was selected, of which Judge Gary is chairman, and W. B. Peat, London, is secretary, to work out a plan for such an organization and to report at an- other conference. In an interview with Judge Gary in Paris, which ap- pears in the New York papers of July 9, he is reported as stating that the “details of whatever was done or dis- cussed at Brussels will be printed in a few days and that all interested can have a copy of the report by applying to the secretary of the committee in London.” Judge Gary said that he terms the Brussels international meeting a conference of peace, and continued as follows: “Our efforts, in fact, have been in the di- rection of friendly understanding between all steel men, not for the purpose of killing competition, which I be- lieve is necessary, but to make it friendly and fair. For instance, the suggestion that each concern should keep competitors informed of all individual business has been carefully considered. This should put a stop to commer- cial war and individual attempts to oust a competitor from the field. “The era of this method of doing business, I believe, has passed. It is not to anybody’s advantage to injure a rival; on the contrary, everybody’s efforts should tend toward a loyal understanding, which, by making transac- tions eas-er, would necessarily result in better production and cheaper prices. “That American law does not allow agreements be- tween competitors is the first reason why a friendly un- derstanding should exist among all steel men and then to consider the best means to bring about improvements in manufacture, the betterment of the cond:tions of em- ployees, standardization, etc., in a word, to study all means tending to the improvement of the steel business. “This, it has been suggested, would mean ideal con- ditions. But why should we not let the ideal be our goal if a change meant general improvement? So far as the idea of establishing friendly relations among us all, it seems to appeal to everybody. Our daily intercourse at srussels, in both business and recreation, couid not have been more cordial, and there is no doubt*that the con- ference is a long step toward the realization of what | should term a scheme for the adoption of idea! business methods.” conference his views combined ly 13, 1911 Personal QO. H. Linton has resigned his position with the Niles- ment-Pond Company, New York, and has become asso- ted with Griggs & Holbrook, consulting engineers, 3 uth William street, New York, and will have charge of eir Canadian business, with headquarters at 23 Scott treet, Toronto. N. B. Ayers has resigned the position of chief engineer f the Dayton Power & Light Company and organized the \yvers Engineering Company to handle power plant engi- eering, with office in the Conover Building, Dayton, Ohio. Fritz A. Lindberg, electrical and mechanical engineer, has been admitted to the firm of Brill & Gardner, the firm ame, business and location of which will continue as eretofore at 1133 Marquette Building, Chicago. Mr. Lind- erg is a graduate of the Armour Institute of Technology ind has been associated with the office for some time. Charles Edward Lucke and Fred Ophiils announce the pening of their office as consulting engineers, under the name of Lucke & Ophiils, 30 Church street, New York City. The intention is to give particular attention to re- frigerating and ice-making apparatus as well as to the engineering of complete plants. Frank J. Vinson, auditor of the Brown-Ketcham Iron \\orks, Ind‘anapolis, Ind., was arrested July to charged th embezzlement. The shortage is said to be $60,000. J. W. Carrel, sales manager of the Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, has returned from a six months’ business and pleasure trip through Eu- rope. Wl Obituary HeENrY BoL_Lter PANCOAST, a well-known iron merchant of Philadelphia, Pa., died at his home in Cornwells, Pa., July 2, after an illness of several months, aged 68 years. He was born in Philadelphia, was graduated from Haver- ford College in 1863, and then entered the employ of Mor- ris, Tasker & Co. In 1870 he formed a partnership with Francis I. Maule, under the name of Pancoast & Maule. In 1892 the style of the firm was changed by the retire- ment of Mr. Maule, the business being continued by Mr. Pancoast under the name of Henry B. Pancoast & Co., and in 1909 was incorporated as the Henry B. Pancoast Company, with Mr. Pancoast as president. He leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters. FRANCIS SCHUMANN, for many years prominent in the foundry trade, died June 29, at his home in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., aged 67 years. Born in Thuringia, Sax- ony, Mr. Schumann came to this country when a young man. In 1887 he founded the Tacony Iron & Metal Com- pany, Philadelphia, of which he was president for a num- ber of years. Later he became connected as president and general manager with the Pennsylvania Iron Works Com- pany. Some five years ago he suffered a stroke of paraly- sis and has not been actively engaged in business since; a recurring stroke’ caused his death. He was the first pres- ident of the Philadelphia Foundrymen’s Association and ilso the first president of the American Foundrymen’s As- sociation, a past president of the Engineers’ Club and a member of the Franklin Institute and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He leaves a widow and a son, CyrRUs CHAMBERS, JR., president of the Chambers brothers Company, Philadelphia, Pa., died July 9 at his home at Overbrook, Pa., aged 78 years. He was born in ennett Square, Pa. and developed inventive talents at n early age. His most noted achievements were the in- ention of paper-folding and clay-working machincry. He s almost totally blind at the time of his death. He ‘ves a widow and three daughters. _ Harry F. Fronman, Cincinnati, Ohio, one of the best nown men in the foundry trade, died suddenly July 5 rom heat prostration, aged 43 years. He was born in neinnati, was graduated from the Hughes High School started with the S. Obermayer Company, foundry sup- es, in 1886. He attained the position of secretary and asurer with the old company, and after its reorganiza- he was elected treasurer and general manager, hold- ef THE IRON AGE | 75 ing this position from 1901 until he died. He was a mem- ber of the Cincinnati Business Men’s Club and the Cham- ber of Commerce. He leaves a widow. ——_—_.3 + We have received a copy of the Far Eastern Review, a monthly review of Far Eastern trade, finance and engineer- ing, published at Manila, P. E., and treating of matters in China, Manchuria, Japan, Indo-China, Siam, Straits Settle- ments, Malay States, Burma, India, Malaysia and the Phil- ippines. Among the articles of interest may be mentioned that on the West Siberian Railway, with illustrations; a very full account of the Taal disaster—the eruption of the Taal volcano—with 16 illustrations, and an_ illustrated article, “The Maine: Thirteen Years After.” Henshaw, Bulkley & Co., San Francisco, who were ad- judged insolvent several weeks ago, have filed their sched- ule of debts and assets, showing total liabilities $429,067 and assets $463,000. Of the liabilities $101,354 are on notes and bills which other parties ought to pay, and do not rep- resent debts of the firm other than as sureties. They have petitioned the court for appointment of a trustee, who will probably be named July 20. Walter O. Amsler, Wabash Building, Pittsburgh, fur- nace engineer, has completed plans for the erection of a continuous heating furnace for the Seattle Steel Com- pany, Seattle, Wash., manufacturer of merchant bars, etc. The furnace will have a capacity of eight tons of steel per hour and is similar to one in the plant of the Franklin Rolling Mill Company, Franklin, Pa., formerly used by M. Laughlin, general manager of the Seattle Steel Company. The Clinton Iron & Steel Company, Pittsburgh, is mak- ing more extensive improvements in its blast furnace than stated last week. It is rebuilding the furnace, putting in new trestles, gas washer, and ore unloading machinery. All will be finished the latter part of September. The re- built furnace will have a capacity of over 350 tons per day, when running on foundry iron, and about 400 tons on Bessemer. The Republic Iron & Steel Company put in operation July 10 its Atlantic blast furmace at New Castle, and is making preparations to blow in Hall furnace at Sharon, Pa. Customs Decisions Wire Bound Hose The status of oil-resisting hose bound with wire is set forth in a decision made by the Board of United States General Appraisers in a test case brought by the Whitney Supply Company. The customs officials exacted duty at 45 per cent. ad valorem under the provision in the act of 1909 for manufactures in chief value of metal. The contention of the importer was for a rate of 30 per cent. under the paragraph in the law for flexible metal tubing or hose. In overruling the claim, the decision by General Appraiser Fischer says: “The proof offered in the case does not warrant a disturbance of the assessment in question. The only claim in the protest is that the hose is classifiable under the provision for flexible metal tubing or hose. It is clear that a cotton canvas hose bound with wire is not of that description. The protest is overruled, and the decision of the collector affirmed.” Wire Drawing Plates The C. Newman Wire Company and others have suc- ceeded in having the board reverse the customs authori- ties in their assesment of duty on wire drawing plates and wortles. Duty was assessed at the rate of 45 per cent under the provision in the law for manufactures in chief value of metal. The claim made and sustained is that the goods are dutiable properly at 35 per cent. as forgings of steel. Alcoho! Smoothing Irons In denying a contention raised by the Emery, Bird, Thayer Dry Goods Company, Kansas City, the board holds that self-heating alcohol smoothing irons are dutiable prop- erly at the rate of 45 per cent. as manufacturers of metal and not at 8/10 of 1 cent a pound as “cast iron sadirons,” as claimed by the importer. — THE IRON The Iron and 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. July 12, July 5, June 14, July 13, PIG IRON, Per Gross Ton: 1911. 1911. 1911. 1910. Foundry No. 2 standard, Phila- delphia $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 Foundry No. 13.50 13.50 13.50 Foundry No. cinnati Foundry No. Ala. Foundry Chicago* Basic, $16.25 ‘alley furnace 14.25 outhern,. Cin- 13.25 13.50 10.00 10.00 10. 15.00 14.25 13.25 15.90 13.90 16.50 15.00 15.00 14.50 14.50 13.25 13.10 15.90 15.90 13.90 13.90 16.50 17.00 delivered, Valley eastern Pa... furnace Pittsburgh forge, Pittsburgh Lake Superior charcoal, Chicago Basic, Bessemer, Gray COKE, CONNELLSVILLE, Per Net at Oven: Furnace coke, prompt shipment. Furnace coke, future delivery. . Foundry coke, prompt shipment Foundry coke, future delivery... Ton, 1.40 3355 1.80 2.05 1.75 2.15 BILLETS, &c., Per Gross Ton: Pittsburgh.... Forging billets, Pittsburgh Open hearth billets, Philadelphia Wire Pittsburgh Bessemer billets, 21.00 26.00 23.40 27.00 OLD MATERIAL, Per Gross) Ton: Iron rails, Chicago 14.00 14.00 Iron rails, Philadelphia 16.75 16.50 Car wheels, Chicago 12.50 12.50 Car wheels, Philadelphia 12:75 y 13.06 Heavy steel scrap, Pittsburgh.. 13.00 12.7! Heavy steel scrap, Chicago 10.50 2 10.2: Heavy steel scrap, Philadelphia 13.00 13.00 FINISHED IRON AND STEEL, Per Pound: Cen Bessemer rails, heavy, at mill.. d Refined iron bars, Philadelphia. Common iron bars, Pittsburgh. Common iron bars, Chicago.... Steel bars, Pittsburgh Steel bars, tidewater, New York Tank plates, Pittsburgh Tank plates, tidewater, New York Beams, Pittsburgh Beams, tidewater, Angles, Pittsburgh Angles, tidewater, Skelp, grooved steel, Skelp, sheared steel, 21.00 26.00 23.40 rods, 29.00 — ee ‘ Ah, b» YO Nnpouwnm sa YIimoo ur ~ bo _ = Cents ~ - = Vinay wv WN WNT UA New York... WiNnWinwinw BM \Ydoboe WrIMBWUwWiUw RMON dY, wu Ue Ue Ue Ut te td Un bw Un te in te MO WNM hh OOH Ue Ue Ue OM OUISIOD MU Ole Oe Ue UT Pittsburgh SHEETS, NAILS AND WIRE, Per Pound: Cents. Sheets, black, No. 28, Pittsburgh 2.00 Wire nails, Pittsburgh? 1.70 Cut nails, Pittsburgh? 1.60 Bark. wire, galv., Pittsburgh?.. 2.00 METALS, Per Pound: Lake copper, New York Electrolytic copper, New York. Spelter,> St. Louwise.....<.ssece Spelter, New York Lead, St. Louis Lead, New Tin, New York . Antimony, Hallett, New York... 8:12% Tin plate, 100-lb. box, New York $3.94 Cents. Cents. 2.00 2.00 1.70 1.89 1.60 1.60 2.00 2.10 Cents. Cents. 87% 62% -60 80 35 50 45.40 8.12% $3.94 $3. “ents. 12.75 12.55 5.60 5.80 ot pet & &UIUT DO bo — tt ~} + COALAUIUNDOE NDAWUIWUISI wv wn wmenmrauruit &WMSTUOUN Ow f> *The average switching charge:far delivery to foundries in the Chicago district is 50c. per ton. ; +These prices are for largest lots to jobbers. — Oe 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, 11c.; Cleveland, 10c.; Cincinnati, 15c.; Indian- apolis, 17¢.; Chicago, 18c.; St. Paul, 32c.; St. Louis, 22%4c.; New Orleans, 30c.; Birmingham, Ala., 45c. Rates to the Pacific Coast are Soc. 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-beamis and channels, 3 to 15 in., inclusive, 1.35c. to 1.40¢.,-net; I-beams over I5 in., 1.45¢. to 1.50c., net; H-beams over 18 in., 1.50c. to 1.55c.; AGE July 13, 191) Metal Markets angles, 3 to 6 in. inclusive, 4 in. and up, 1.35c. to 1.40¢. net; angles over 6 in., 1.45c. to 1.50c. net; angles, in. on one or both legs, less than 4% in. thick, I.40c plus full extras as per steel bar card effective Septem ber 1, 1909; tees, 3 in. and up, I.40c., net; zees, 3 in. an: up, 1.35¢. to 1.40c., net; angles, channels and tees unde 3 in., 1.40¢c., base, plus full extras as per steel bar car of September 1, 1909; deck beams and bulb angles, 1.65c. to 1.70c., net; hand rail tees, 2.45c.; checkered and corrugated plates, 2.45c., net. | : Plates.—Tank plates, % in. thick, 6% in, up to 10 in. wide, 1.35c. to 1.40c., base. Following are stipula tions prescribed by manufacturers, with extras to bi added to base price (per pound) of plates: Rectangular plates, tank steel or contort. to manufacturers’ standard specifications for structural steel dated February 6, 1903, o: 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 ©. per square root, are considered 3%-in. plates. Plates over 72 in. wide must be ordered % in. thick on edge, or not less than 11 Ib. per square foot, to take base price. Plates over 72 in. wide ordered less than 11 Ib. per square foot down to the weight of 3-16-in. take the price of 3-16-in, Allowable overweight, whether plates are ordered to 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- nest edge, : Gauges under 3-16-in. to and including Gauges under No. 8 to and including No, 9..... Gauges under No. 9 to and including No. 10 Gauges under No. 10 to and including No. 12 Sketches (including all straight taper plates) over in length Complete circles, 3 ft. in diameter and over Boiler and flange steel “A, B. M. A.” and ordinary firebox steel Still hottom steel. «..c.ceccccesesvesvescnssscoccaveen . y » inclusive up to .» inclusive up to in., inclusive up to 125 in., inclusive............ to 130 in., inclusive Widths over 100 in, Widths over 110 in. Widths over 115 in. Widths over 120 in. Widths over 125 in. Widths over 130 in Cutting to lengths or diameters under 3 ft. to inclusive ‘ Cutting to lengihns or diameters under 2 ft. inclusive . haeeapeu i Cutting to lengths or diameters under 1 1.55 No charge for cutting rectangular plates to lengths 3 ft. and over. Terms—Net cash 30 days. Sheets.— Makers’ prices for mill shipments on sheets in carload and larger lots, on which jobbers charge the usual discounts for small lots from store, are as fol- lows: Blue annealed sheets, Nos. 3 to 8, U. S. stand2rd gauge, 1.40c.; Nos. 9 and 10, 1.50c.; Nos. 11 and 12, 1.55¢.; Nos. 13 and 14, 1.60c.; Nos. 15 and 16, 1.70c. One pass, cold rolled, box annealed sheets, Nos. 10 to 12, 1.65c.; 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, 1.95c.; 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, 1.85c.; Nos. 17 to 21, 1.90c.; Nos. 22 to 24, 1.95¢c.; Nos. 25 and 26, 2c.; No. _2.05c.; No. 28, 2.10c.; No. 29, 2.15c.; No. 30, 2.25c. Galvanized sheets, Nos. 1o 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, 2.50c.; 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 aoe $2.40 $3.50 2 2.60 3.70 27 2.80 4.05 3.05 4.35 26 25 4.05 5.70 4.90 6.50 24 Wrought Pipe.—The following are the jobbers’ car load discounts on the Pittsburgh basing card on wrought pipe, in effect from October 1. 27; A Ne eee —HOnAus CouUMmuo ONAN ‘ WWD bot Butt Weld. ——Steel——, ——Iron——, Blagk. © Galv. 4 Galv. =* 43 : 63 71 59 % to 1% in 69 75 65 2 to 8c 70 76 66 66 62 l 67 64 4% to 6 in 67 63 7 to 12 in 59 55 - * 1 to 1% in y 13, 1911 THE IRON AGE THE IRON AND METAL MARKETS 3utt Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 69 4, Wy iM. eeeeees geeuevons 59 65 5 Lin, cecseaseees thee eee 74 68 70 64 %, to 136 IMs. dswsiineceviews 78 72 74 68 2 to 3 Maeadentinsieaciicse 79 73 75 69 Lap Weld, extra strong, plain ends, card weight. ion wc cae eben Cbdb hee ea een ets 7 9 71 65 23% to 4 Albvnsskcsteneeeeawe 77 71 73 67 41, 00 6 iden ccceccdsesdntels 76 70 72 66 7 to 8 IQrsrcviasacd eas sales 69 59 65 55 9 to 12 Be. cc vcccaescgye sew 64 54 60 : 50 Butt Weld, double extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 1, ime ce néess Ow a6 PSN nee is = a 58 60 5 M00 196 Be wie ccnics we ewes 67 61 63 57 2 0g 8 Si ise bk ved vedas thats 69 63 65 59 Lap Weld, double extra strong, plain ends, card weight. 2 if. occadsanonxbessneoeenay 65 59 61 55 2% to 4 i..cccscececvvaece 67 61 63 57 4%, to 6 ii wi ac iveee eens 66 60 62 56 7 to 8 if. ose bes pan eeeee 59 49 62 56 Plugged and Reamed. { will ba sold at "se {2) F . > r oints ower asin (higher 1 to 1%, 2 oe 3 in. Butt W eld. cetaas than merchants or , 2% to 4 im..... Lap Weld card weight pipe, Butt or lap weld, as specified. The above discounts are for “card weight,” subject to the usual iriation of 5 per cent. Prices for less than carloads are three (3) oints 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 13 o 334. tes. cs bs hada bin k dashed ecg eawreearernen 65 21 in Ee b4ce tw ¥s chbsw pA s \ 0a NE eee eee abies ae 67% 2% 20: 33G Ihecs. ccecgccbewe sweet cee cab asivee scenes 70 3H 00. S96 Fes 4 oc 0:2 5 note e Weds saab ae we teens oe 72% 5 to 6 Te nah knsid’ 4004s aenkte bata ete ieesnes hue eee 65 2 P to 13 Mas ccs ive sockte ver cheneeehnbe nies wemnees 62% Less than carloads to destination east of the Mississippi River will be sold at delivered discounts for carloads lowered by two points for engths 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 chain 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 Market and Stone Wire in Bundles, Discount from Standard List. Bright and Annealed: 9 and COGTORT. 00 cccdnccccceddisedukapak enna eeueewe 80 10 6 BB ik can dh vcasdcaedesa ¥008ae ec rneternes 80 and 10 19 6 Bi dn cdicd duced et ea sabes we entation 80 and 10 and 2% 27 tb -SBioic ha vic hack es ae asmis kiana recente eee 80 and 5 Galvanized: 9 and COmrale s <5 ickde abalas ede chun cee neet tease 75 and 10 10 to 16is < ss:0 bas eceS ied we CONNEC OCC ROE ED Ae 75 and 10 17 to. BB... e sciv a whose hbase eee es tata Cte 6e 72% and 10 7 tO 36a. wit bk ccidowenie eb 7 06000 004 o0ee4 ss ee 72% Coppered or Liquor Finished: 9 and Coaraet sc isewdawbiba) 6s ce wets eu aawewe ea 75 and 10 10 to 26. . ask ce dwen psd buns sad Ree eee nal 75 and 10 sagt PORN EP a) eh 70 and 10 and 5 Se Said cee hee eee tee hoe 75 and 10 and 10 Pittsburgh PirtsBuRGH, Pa., June 12, 1911.—(By Telephone.) Pig Iron.—In basic pig iron the market continues to reflect the higher price of $13.25 at Valley furnace quoted last week. There is tentative inquiry for about 00,000 tons, but some of this is not very serious. The most likely inquiry is for 6000 tons for a steel works on the Ohio River in the immediate Pittsburgh district for delivery over the last five months of the year. Considerable uncertainty exists as to what price would be done on a large biock of basic, but no quotations are being made at less than $13.25, Valley furnace, and we note sales in the past few days of 150 tons for rompt delivery on this basis, the delivered price, Pittsburgh, being $14.15. Bessemer iron ‘is. firmer since the sales recently reported of: odd lots at con- essions, and we note a few sales of one carload each this week at $15, Valley furnace. The Westinghouse lectric & Mfg. Company is inquiring for a supply of sundry iron for its Allegheny and Cleveland works ' the seven months of September to March inclusive. ‘e quote as follows: Bessemer pig iron, nominally, “15; malleable Bessemer, $13.50; basic, $13.25; No. 2 undry, $13.50 to $13.75; gray forge, $13, all at Val- ' furnace, the freight rate to Pittsburgh being 9oc. er ton. Steel—Specifications on sheet-bar contracts for de- t | livery this month are slightly ‘greater than those for last month, which month showed an improvement over May. Billet specifications, are;dgirly good. Very lit- tle business is being done in the open market, con- sumers being well covered by contracts. Since the furnaces have been quoting higher prices on basic’ pig iron it has been difficult for middlemen to put through conversion deals. We quote Bessemer and open- hearth billets, 4 x 4 in., and up to but not including 10 xX 10 in., $21, base, and sheet and tin bars i® 30-ft. lengths, $22; 1%-in. billets, $22; forging billets, $26, base, usual extras for sizes and carbons—all prices being f.o.b. Pittsburgh or Youngstown district, with freight to destination added: (By Mail.) _ While the flow of orders for finished steel products is not altogether as large thus far this month as the average for June, it is in excess of the average for May, and this, considering the season of the year, with a number of plants closed for inventory and repairs and many men away on vacations, is regarded as very favorable. One of the largest steel interests reports that its bookings last week exceeded its shipments by a very considerable margin, and the holiday is believed to have affected orders more than shipments, so that the showing is an excellent one. The steel mills are oper- ating at practically as‘good a gait as in June, or on an average at between 70 and 75 per cent. of capacity. The recent activity has occurred with practically no assistance at all from the railroads, and this scattered buying is expected to continue, while the railroads are regarded as certain to be much larger buyers in the next few months than they have been lately. Active inquiry for cars totals up about 15,000, from over half a dozen different systems. This includes some 3800 cars for the Erie Railroad, bids on which were ‘opened last Saturday, but awards have not yet been announced. It is believed that all the business will be closed by about August 1, and that if freight tonnage increases the same roads that are buying now will have to buy again. The Pennsylvania, for instance, is understood to have 4500 vacant numbers, but is figuring on buying only 2000 or 3000 cars at present, and it is likely there- fore to be a purchaser later. Altogether the outlook is for a moderate degree of activity in the next few weeks, with a decided improvement thereafter, mak- ing the second half of th