The Iron Age 1918-08-01: Vol 102 Iss 5

Nes. York, August 1, 1918 The ebb Electric Steel Furnace A High Voltage Unit Developed and Operated by the Old Dominion Iron & Steel Corpora- tion—Low Carbon Steel for Engine Bolts _ has been the scene of interesting develop- ts and occurrences in the history of the merican iron industry. One of the oldest iron ompanies in the country was established there in 1830—the old Dominion Iron & Nail Works Co. Its sole article of manufacture originally was cut ails, made from puddled iron. In later years, how- pver, it abandoned its nail plant for other purposes. During the Civil War, the island was used as a prison camp for Federal soldiers, where as many as 20,000 prisoners were kept at one time. One of the bses to. which the old iron plant was put at that ime was the manufacture of certain useful iron amp utensils. Today the two extremes of the steel industry re represented in this plant. Puddled iron is still made in quantity which is rolled into bar iron for onversion into staybolts, engine bolts, etc. Three ears ago the manufacture of electric steel was ndertaken and to-day a modern plant is in opera- ion in which two electric furnaces are producing igh-grade low-carbon steel which is largely con- erted into engine-bolt steel and horseshoe steel. R ELLE ISLE, in the James River at Richmond, a \ The Ny ght “teel Plant of the’ Old Deminion Iron.& Steel Corporation, Richmond, Va. The inauguration of this department re ter the company changing its name to the Old D Iron & Steel Corporation. Where the Power Is Obtained Until a few years ago the machine: rf the plant’s various mills was driven by water directly coupled, the power being derived from the falls of the James River surrounding the island. In 1915, however, a hydroelectric plant was erected the mills moved to a new location and rearranged so as to secure the most economical results. Elec tric motors directly coupled to the machinery were installed. The plant consists of a puddle mill, twe merchant bar mills and a horseshoe factory besides the new electric stee! plant. Because only a part of the current available from the new hydroelectric plant was needed to op erate the company’s mills, it was decided to use the excess energy in making electric steel. Previous to this, the company had been purchasing steel billets from which to make certain steel products. The availability of the larger supply of current led to the decision to make for its own use a grade of steel vheel The two Webb furnaces are on the ick ef these .can be seen the transformers for the Gr-wall-Dixon furnace which is in the rear right hand corner of the building 257 oe nee we Rares 2 eee - atl» afles = - air: a 7 ~ ee tm —, r “ul Lia. -* ~ ‘ah “ 4% ’ a ba ™ ame “sage oy bi fi EF ; : a cae : f bs ee ; He | 6 A AMV ih ee ee 7 or ce x # tr a a ne ee wml ma Tack Fe =) Pail Ate Albee = * ar beh as os to take the place of the soft open-hearth steel it had purchased. Development of the Webb Furnace Contracts were accordingly let for the new stee! plant and for two 5-ton electric furnaces of the are type. These proved to be unsuited to the company’s particular requirements and it was therefore de- cided that the company’s engineers should design a furnace of its own. The result was what is known as the Webb electric furnace, the first one of which has been in operation since November, 1916, and in which over 1000 heats have been made. The aim of this article is to describe this new type of furnace. It is an interesting fact that the first furnace, as perfected and patented by John G. Webb, was made almost wholly of materials available at the works and was built and put in operation in seven weeks. Urged by the necessity to supply the com- pany with steel, Mr. Webb, who had had an ex- tended experience as an electrical engineer in oper ating other furnaces, developed a furnace which has amply supplied the company’s needs now for over two and a half years. Based upon the success of the first furnace, another one of larger carpacity of the same type has been built and put in operation. The new electric steel plant is shown in plan form by one of the illustrations. The two Webb furnaces are of 3 and 4 tons capacity respectively, and the third furnace is a 5-ton Grénwall-Dixon furnace which is still in installation. The three furnaces have a capacity of 75 tons of steel in 24 hr. process of Is Radical Principle of the Furnace The principle of the Webb furnace is radical. It has been the custom of engineers to design fur- naces to operate on low voltages. In most 100 volts or thereabouts have been found best. It has, of course, been realized that if a higher voltage could be used without sacrificing good working con- cases The Original 3-Ton Webb “ve ace Built Weeks and Put in Operation THE IRON AGE August 1, 193 ditions and results, an advantage would be gai); in the size and the consumption of electrodes 4, amount of copper necessary in bus bars, ete. , adjustment of the arc, and in general a less , bersome furnace. The fundamental princip| way in which the are is formed or fed in tran. ferring electrical energy to heat has not favors the use of high voltages in furnaces of fap % types, except the single phase furnac: using | single electrode, of which there are a numb) operation. The Webb furnace is supplied from a balanes 5-phase source of electricity. The voltage op the secondary side of the transformers is 280 at 4 maximum, but the arrangement is such that ¢) can be reduced when it is advisable to cut dowy th heat at the end of a melt. A single arc is forme among three electrodes and the bath, the are stro» acting as a conductor of electricity, forming multiple conductor with the bath or materia! t melted. This effect is described in detail in th letters patent granted Mr. Webb. The arc bein long, on account of the high voltage, automat control is not found necessary. Though an advap. tage in some respects, automatic controls get | adjustment and require careful attention. Many conditions govern the length of the ar an electric furnace, among which are the mate of which the electrodes are made, the temperature and the furnace atmosphere, but as none of t conditions are characteristic of any particular type of furnace and are a variable in all types, it ma be said that the length of the arc is proportional t the voltage and inversely proportional to the cur. rent for a given power input. If one works witha are normally 1 in. long and the electrode be moved a quarter of an inch, evidently the power input be materially affected, but if working with an a 6 in. long and the electrode be moved a quarter an inch the effect will be hardly noticeable. There fore, it is that while working with low-voltage ares automatic control] is necessary, whereas with high voltage arcs it is not so essential. One of the illustrations shows the original 3-t furnace, basic lined, which makes a heat in from 2 to 3 hr. The electrode and power consumption ar extremely economical. An interesting point ist so far as the arc is concerned, the voltage can le increased to values quite too high on account insulating troubles, etc., and still give good oper ating results. For several months the furnace wa run at 440 volts, using as a power supply a bank of transformers made by grouping a number standard General Electric pole type lighting tran formers. Raw Materials and Products Steel castings and ingots of varying and pre determined analyses have been produced commer cially, using for melting scrap the turnings from munitions factories, old rails, brake shoes and mis cellaneous unassorted scrap steel, iron and cast-ir0! accumulations, gathered from agricultural a domestic discardings from the South Atlant states. In order to produce soft steel of i™ quality from scrap of such varied and unknow analyses the furnace must be basic lined and care ful consideration given to every detail in refinitt each heat. Pig iron has been made from turnings and bor ings by recarburizing the molten bath with coke and soft coal. Also ferromanganese has been reduced from the ore by melting the ore in a suitable mixture of ground coke and lime, but the —_— was not designed for these latter purposes and the 1918 periments were simply made to secure data to be » of later on. ¢ the last two years the larger part of the this furnace has been sold to the rail- bars of various sizes for making engine [he material has been carefully inspected esentatives of buyers and has greatly ex- every particular the very exacting speci- of the railroads with whom the company business. That the material has proved ry in actual service is shown by the fact re has been no complaint of any kind and ness has increased in volume from month th. The chemical and physical properties teel required for this purpose are: Per Cent 0.12 0.50 horu 0.04 0.04 trenetl 5,000 lb. per sq mn i? ‘ tl 30% and over mit 60° of the tensile strengtt of rea 50 and over he original furnace will hold three tons and will nd refine the charge in from 3 to 4 hr., start- th a cold furnace, and from 2%, to 3 hr. after he furnace has produced a heat and is consequently hen charged. The current consumption varies, se the time to make a heat, within reasonable according to the quality of the scrap, the F- F-2 F-3 I = NOL > Ric SCRAP YAR os l il ‘) 1) y Wel urnaces x ted s | Dixor g | he melter has in obtaining the desired es and temperature, etc. The transformers ng the furnace are of 600 kw. normal rating. erage kilowatt hour consumption of the fur- while performing the work described is about 650. The electrode consumption, over an ory of three months, has been as low as 5!% ton charged. he hearth of the furnace was made by ram- rdinary sand or gravel next to the shell or until thick enough to form a good heat ator. Fire bricks were then placed on the bed nd and run up along the sides of the furnace ras the roof. Behind these bricks sand was filled in, thus allowing for expansion of the as the furnace was heated. On top of the fire and along the sides to within a few inches slag line bauxite bricks discarded from the of another type of furnace were laid. Two es of magnesite bricks formed the slag line which silica bricks were built up to the roof, mposed of silica bricks. The bricks on the were then covered with a layer of ground-up te and magnesite brick bats pulverized in an iry tumbling barrel mixed with a little tar rammed in tight. The furnace was then vt Th cr ‘ged with 4000 Ib. of shrapnel ends and turn- igs and the first charge melted in 6 hr. and No preliminary burning-in of in hour later. THE IRON AGE 259 ‘ot : > ‘ I ~ We t urna i g ke the bottom or heating of the furnace was done After operating from the middle of November 1916, to the present time it has not been found necessary to replace the hearth bricks, nor to re place the fire bricks along the furnace . sides. It is found necessary to patcl the hearth occasionally, after a heat poured, with a few shovelfuls of dolo . a mite. No magnesite has ever been it used in patching This method of ; building a hearth simple, inexpen sive and has proved satisfactor this instance. The silica bricks above ee the slag line and the roof must be re newed about once per month rhe seo §6=r roof and electrode mechanism is lifted off with the crane and set aside, allow ; ing the lining to cool rapidly. Some- ‘ F-2. th imes air is blown against the lining eG with an electric fan to hasten the cool ing so that another lining can be placed in the furnace. The company has been so well pleased with the results obtained with this furnace that a second o! the same type, except of 4 tons’ capacity supplied i Ela Tensil Klong I Ly t Strength ns \ (ff : Lb. p i Lb. per sq ‘ j 3 21 19.206 19 E 22 40 49.500 47.8 Y 33,2 49,300 48.9 5 34.50 49.500 ] 49 ; 34.201 49.400 ‘ 44.40 SO af 4 35.150 50.2 48 33,800 50.2 y j } } Elastic Tensile Elongatior Reduct L.irnit, Strenett in 8 ir of Area Lb per sq. in Lb per sq Per ¢ Per Cent 39,500 58.720 1 28 39.750 9 280 4 8 40,100 60,630 55 43,220 63,700 51.2 39.080 56,710 ? 41,470 59,330 28.0 97.3 42.320 59,820 29.5 $8.2 40.130 59,020 32.0 60.7 38.940 63,540 30.0 64.8 from 1000-kw. transformers, has been built and has fis g been in operation since February, 1918. Bie F An example of the working of the Webb fur- nace is afforded by the following record of three 260 heats made on May 23, 1918, in the original fur- nace: Charge, —— Ingots——— Kw. Hr. Time, Heat Lb. 6x6 74% x7% Per Ton Hr. 1 6,800 11 6 616 3% 2 7,000 12 6 583 31% 3 7,180 12 6 474 2 For a number of years the company has manu- factured high-grade bars from puddled iron for stay bolts, engine bolts and anchor chain and it has developed a special material for this. Iron, however, while satisfactory in every other par- ticular, has not been found altogether satisfactory for engine bolts, owing to the seamy nature of bars of large section, and for years locomotive builders BETHLEHEM STEEL CO. PLANS Extensive Construction Program Includes Blast Furnaces and Mills The Bethlehem Steel Co. had, prior to the time of the entry of our country into the war, formulated and had under way an extensive construction program with a view of providing a comprehensive and well-balanced plant and equipment for the manufacture of a large and diversified line of commercial steel products at its Maryland plant, Sparrows Point. The immediate necessities of the company at the outbreak of the war for the capital demanded for the increased business required in carrying out the Government’s desires for ordnance material made it necessary that this con- struction work for commercial steel production should be postponed. In view of this, all construction work, except such as was considered vital to the production of materials for Government use, or as was covered by existing contracts that could not be canceled, was suspended for the time being. However, the increasing demands of the Govern- ment for commercial steel products, as distinguished from munitions, have caused the War Industries Board to urge that the Sparrows Point construction program be completed. Arrangements have been accordingly made, with the co-operation of the War Finance Board, for the financing of the completion of the projected improvements that had been laid aside. It was also the desire of the company to do everything in its power toward supplying the Government with the ma- terials which are required in the existing emergency for shipbuilding and for other war purposes in which commercial steels are needed. By the recent successful plan of financing, just completed, the Bethlehem Steel Co. will be enabled to go ahead at once and complete its plant at Sparrows Point. This will include the extension of ore handling facilities, including an additional 17-ton ore bridge; the completion of coal handling and storage plant, together with coal preparation plant for the coke ovens; the completion of four batteries of 60 Koppers ovens each, together with by-product plant and benzol re- fining plant; the erection of two additional blast fur- naces with nine single gas blowing engines, gas washer, iron and cinder ladles, casting machine, etc.; the erec- tion and installation of four 3500-kw. twin tandem gas-driven generating units, together with switchboard, apparatus, transformers, etc.; the completion of duplex Bessemer open-hearth plant with ladle and bottom house, mixers, converters, open-hearth furnaces and gas producer house; the completion of 40-in. motor- driven reversing blooming mill with strippers, soak- ing pits, tables, shears and accessories, in tandem with 24-in. and 18-in. continuous billet and sheet bar mills; the erection of a 60-in. universal plate mill with acces- sories; water pumping and supply stations, together with pipe lines and sewers; yard tracks, rolling stock and miscellaneous appurtenances consequent to the above additions and extensions to the plant. This will make a very large construction program being undertaken by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at this time for service to the Government, because THE IRON AGE August 1, 191 have been seeking for a similar material mi) seams. The company believes that electri has met the requirements. The results of a series of tests taken from th company’s records, which show the proper the staybolt iron and the electric engine-bo| are given on page 259. The electric engine-bolt steel is all low curbo) receiving about 0.12 carbon, 0.50 manganese. Th» same steel is also used for horseshoe stock. The electric steel plant has been run o carbon steel since it was started nearly two years ago, but it is the company’s intention ultima make other grades of steel. the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Ltd., sidiary of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, h undertaken the construction of a 10-way ship} plant at Alameda, Cal., at the request of the i gency Fleet Corporation. This new shipbuilding plant will have 10 ship ways, and will include machine fabricating shops, and all the other manufa units to make a complete, self-contained shipbuildi: plant for the construction of large vessels. Steel Barges on the Mississippi Plans for the construction of a fleet of fifty steel barges and seven towboats—the first part of the Fed- eral Government’s program for the establishment of traffic on the Mississippi river on a large scale—as- sumed definite shape last week when A. W. Mackie, manager of the Mississippi River transportation proj- ect established offices at St. Louis. Mr. Mackie has been appointed by M. J. Sanders, president of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, who is general manager of the Mississippi and Warrior River transportation projects. Mr. Sanders announced at a recent confer- ence with shippers at St. Louis that $8,000,000 already had been made available for the project and that this was only a starter in Director General McAdoo’s plans for the utilization of the inland waterways for the relief of the railroads’ freight burden. It is expected that all or the greater number of the steel barges and towboats to be used on the Mississippi will be built at St. Louis. A company is being organ- ized for this purpose by E. A. Faust, president of the St. Louis Refrigerator Car Co. Movement to Economize in Power Plant Fuel In connection with the plan of the Fuel Administra- tion to save coal in power plants, a number of bulletins on engineering phases of steam and fuel economics are about ready for printing and undoubtedly these wil! be obtainable for the asking. They will cover the fol- lowing subjects: Boiler and furnace testing; flue ga‘ analysis; saving steam in heating systems; boiler room accounting systems; saving steam and fuel in indus- trial plants; burning fine sizes of anthracite; boiler water treatment; oil burning, and stoker operation. It will be recalled that the fuel saving plan com- prehends the investigation under each State Fuel Ad- ministrator by a corps of inspectors of the general conditions existing in each coal-using power plant and that on the basis of the facts collected power plants will be given a rating so that the more wastefu! wi!! be the last to secure fuel. OveR-Way is the new trade name now being applied by the Richards-Wilcox Mfg. Co., Aurora, IIl., to its overhead carrying systems. This name will be used ™ connection with all types from the smallest made for shop or garage use to complete installations for larg¢ plants consisting of tracks, curves, switches, carrie? hoists, turntables, etc., for handling loads up to a max! mum of 4 tons. Rules Governing Priority Are Revised Changes Result from Experience—Petitioners Urged to Apply the Win-the-War Test New Regulations as to Iron and Steel Products NGTON, July 30.—A comprehensive revision and regulations governing priority in pro- as been completed by the Priorities Division Industries Board. Numerous important ve been made as a result of the experience six months, during which the supplies of ortant materials, the chief of which are iron have been so completely absorbed by Gov- equirements as to make preference in dis- matter of vital consequence. w regulations continue in effect class AA, nprises only emergency war work; class A, nprises other war work; and class B, which yrders and work which, while not primarily for the prosecution of the war, are of terest and essential to the national welfare wise of exceptional importance. In order to rating within these three classes, application ll be made to the Priorities Committee on furnished on request, save in cases where pro- made for automatic classifications, and the ; for procuring automatic classifications have rictly complied with. fundamental changes of great importance em- n the new regulations are: first, the addition D (corresponding to what was formerly class C) and the creation of class C, as a group entitled to lence; and second, the establishment of automatic ; governing direct Government orders and orders terials, equipment, or supplies for certain speci- irposes. These automatic classifications are of interest to the readers of the IRON AGE, owing fact that iron and steel enter as materials into duction of nearly all the articles covered by the issifications. The new regulations are as fol- Classes Prescribed \ll orders and work are divided into five general Class AA, class A, class B, class C and class subdivisions of class AA, class A and class B, d by suffix number, thus: Class AA-1, class te.; class A-1, class A-2, etc.; and class B-l, 2, ete. Class AA Defined lass AA comprises only emergency war work exceptional and urgent nature. Class A Defined ass A comprises all other war work; that is rders and work necessary to carry on the war, arms, ammunition, destroyers, submarines, nips, transports, merchant ships, and other water- irplanes, locomotives, etc., and the materials odities required in the production or manufac- ame. Oo} Class B Defined ass B comprises orders and work which, while irily designed for the prosecution of the war, public interest and essential to the national or otherwise of exceptional importance. Class C Defined ass C comprises all orders and work not cov- priority certificates issued by the Priovities tee or not taking an automatic rating, in ac- with the provisions of sections 7, 8 and 9 which orders and work are to be utilized in nee of one or more of the purposes embraced e “General Classification of Purposes Demand- erence Treatment” heretofore promulgated by the Priorities Board, as same may be from time to time amended or substituted; or which orders and work are placed by o1 utilized in connection with an industry or plant appearing on Preference List No. 1, promulgated and published by the Priorities Board under date of April 6, 1918, and all amendments or tutes therefor. No class C certificate are to be ibsti- ied. i > i Class D Defined 6. Cla D comprises all orders and braced in class AA, class A, class B or class C, and no certificates will be issued therefor. All orders for work or materials not covered by priority certificates or not taking an automatic classification, in accordance with the provisions of sections 8 and 9 hereof, and not taking a class C classification under the provisions of section 5 hereof, will fall within work not em class D. Automatic Classifications 7. Each order placed after June 3, 1918, by a duly authorized officer of the War Department or of the Navy Department of the United States, or of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Cor- poration, which falls within class A, as defined in sec- tion 3 hereof, shall, by virtue of this rule, upon the placing of the order, automatically be classified as A-5, provided said order carries an indorsement personally signed by the officer placing the order, reading: Unless rerated by expres order in. writir the Priorities Committee of the War Industries Board, this order is by authority of said Priorities Committee rated is Class A and its execution shall take precedence over ill your orders and work of a lower classification to the extent necessary to insure delivery according to the date specified herein, as prescribed by Circular No. 4, issued by the Priorities Division of the War Industries Board, of date July 1, 1918, and all amendments theret« 8. Each order for materials, equipment, or supplies for the purposes or uses hereinafter in this section mentioned shall, by virtue of this rule, automatically take a classification as herein prescribed, namely: (a) For the manufacture of turbines (all classes) A-4 (b) For the repair or construction of steam railroad locomotives for use on the railroads under the jurisdiction of the United States Railroad Ad ministration . A-4 (c) For the production of eléctrodes A-5 (d) For the manufacture of rope wire and of wire rope. A-6 (e) For the building of ships or other water craft for and under direct contracts with the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation A-5 (f) For the building of all cargo water craft (but not pleasure craft) save such as are under construc- tion by or for the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation os .. A-6 (zg) For the manufacture of machine tools for working both metal and wood: of machinists’ tools, of small tools, of hand tools, and of mining tools machinery and equipment.. A-6 (hi) For the manufacture of steam railroad materials equipment and supplies (other than locomotives) for use on the railroads under the jurisdiction of the United States Railroad Administration B-1 (i) For the manufacture of locomotive cranes and trav eling cranes ‘ ‘ eben - B-1 j) For the manufacture of electrical equipment other than turbines (but not electrical supplies as d tinguished .from equipment) taba B-2 (k) For the manufacture of farm implements B-2 (1) For the manufacture of textile machinery B-2 (m) For the manufacture of tools, implements, machin ery, and equipment required for the production, harvesting. distribution, milling, canning, and refining of foods and feeds... Pe . B-2 (n) For the manufacture of binder twine and rope.... B-2 261 a ee a eS ee." -~ ae ; : 262 THE IRON (o) For the manufacture of oil-well supplies or equip ment—by which is meant supplies for the pro- duction of petroleum and natural gas—but not including pipe lines, storage tanks of 1000 barrels capacity or over, tank cars, or refineries. B No order shall take an automatic classification under the provisions of this section 8 save where the person intending to use the materials, equipment or supplies ordered states under oath in writing that they are to be used for one or more of the purposes mentioned in this section and for no other purpose; which affidavit shall be indorsed on or attached to the order and shall be in the form following: Unless rerated by express orde1 writing by the Priorities Committee of the War Industries Board this order is by authority of said Priorities Committee rated as Class inder and by virtue of subdivisior of section & of Circular No. 4 issued by the Prioritiec Divis of the War Industries Board of date Jul 1, 1918 ind al amendments thereto For the purpose of securing ng | Sweal (t) That I have taken and filed whatever pledg« re quired by the War Industries Board fror he ndusti which I an i member; and (2) That the materials, equipment or ipplie overed by his order are intended for use ind will be ised, for the purpose or purposes mentioned in the said subdivisior o1. subdivision of id sectior , and for no other purpose 9. Each order for materials, equipment or supplies for such purposes or uses as fall within Class C as defined in section 5 hereof, will automatically be classed as Class C; provided the person intending to use the materials, equipment or supplies ordered shall file with and as a part of said order an affidavit in writing in the form following: Unle rerated I express rdet vr Prioritic Committee of the War In tries Be t order is by authority of said Priorities Committee rated Class C under and by virtue of ectior i of Circular No sued by the Priorities Divisior ff the War Indust: Board of date July 1 918, and all amendments theret« For the purp f sé ring the sa i I s n wear 1) That I have taken and led whatever pledge s re yuired by the War Industries Board from the dustry of which I am a member and (2) That the materials, equipment, o1 ipplie covered by this order are ntended for 3 and will be used, for the purpose or purposes mentioned and referred to i tion 5 of said circular, and for no other purpose 10. Where the party placing an order under sec tions 7, 8 or 9 hereof conceives it to be in the public interest that the order should take a higher classifi- cation than the automatic classification prescribed herein, then in such event an application for such higher classification, setting forth the reasons therefor, may be filed and same will be considered by and promptly acted upon by the Priorities Committee. No such application should be made, however, save in cases where the automatic rating will not secure de- livery on or near the date required, and such applica tion must disclose facts evidencing that the public interest requires an earlier delivery of the order than can be secured under the existing automatic rating. The application must be made on the regular Priorities Committee application form PC 15. Class D Orders 11. All orders save such as are automatically classed under the provisions of sections 7, 8 and 9 hereof shall be automatically classed as class D, unless covered by certificates or other written directions issued in accordance with the rules and regulations embodied in this circular or amendments thereto. Precedence of Classes 12. Orders and work in class AA shall take prece- dence of orders and work in all other classes; those in class A shall take precedence of those in classes B, C and D; those in class B shall take precedence of those in classes C and D; those in class C shall take AGE August 1, 19) precedence of those in class D; all irrespective of +, dates the orders were placed. Orders and work in class AA-1 shall take preceden, of orders and work in class AA-2 and all lower clasco:. those in class A-1 shall take precedence of thos class A-2 and all lower classes; those in class pB.) shall take precedence of those in class B-2, etc. ete. Where work is in progress on several classified oy. ders, the rules of precedence set forth in sections and 14 hereof will be observed. Orders in Different Classes 13. The classification of an order simply means that it shall be given such precedence over orders of a lower classification as may be necessary (and on) such as may be necessary) to insure delivery on the date specified in the order. It does not mean that work should cease on orders of a lower classification, or that the order should be completed and delivery mag in advance of orders taking a lower classification jf this is not necessary to effect delivery within the ting specified. The one to whom a priority certificat directed or with whom an order taking an automati classification is placed should make his own productior plans, so as to get the maximum of efficiency out of his operations, making all deliveries at the times contracted for, if possible, and where this is not possible, giving } precedence to the orders taking the highest classi cation. Orders in Same Class 14. As between orders in the same subdivisior a class (as A-1), save where otherwise specifica); requested by the Committee, the date of delivery co tracted for will control unless this will operate delay the delivery required by an earlier order of the same class, in which event the earlier order will hav precedence in delivery. For example: Two orders, Order X and Order Y, are both covered by A-1 cer- tificates. Order X is dated Oct. 1, 1918, and calls for delivery Feb. 1, 1919. Order Y is dated Nov. 1, 1918, but calls for delivery Jan. 1, 1919. As between thes two orders preference will ordinarily be given to Ord Y, because it calls for an earlier delivery date. If however, such delivery will delay the completion of order X, then preference should be given order X, be cause it is the earlier order. If possible, both orders will be completed on the delivery dates called for. The dates of the certificates are not controlling. Doubtful Cases 15. In case of doubt as to which certificate or order should have precedence, the matter should be laid before the committee by correspondence or in con- ference, so that the committee may give specific in- structions. Applications 16. Applications for priority certificates must be made on the form of application prescribed by this committee. Who May Apply 17. Asa general rule, where an application is neces sary, it should be made by the one intending to use the materials, equipment and supplies. United States Government 18. If the order has been placed by some purchas- ing officer of the United States Army, Navy, Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, or any other branch or department of the Government, the appl! cation should be made by and in the name of the de- partment or official for whose account the order has been placed. Allied Governments 19. If the order has been placed for export the territory of an allied Government or for delivery to an allied Government or to some person for accoum thereof, the application must be made to the ©om mittee through and with the written approval of the War Mission which is representing said Government * states and also with the written approval 4 | Purchasing Commission. 4 Government Contractor who has a contract with the Government Allies, and who needs priority assistance he materials, commodities, or work to fill t may make application direct to this com- some instances, the committee will have ied a priority certificate against such con- - directing him to give priority to the filling of } . nrent contract or contracts. In other in- h certificates will not have been issued. =o event, however, one who is working on Gov- ntracts may make application direct if he , rity assistance. While it is not necessary or sucl plications to be made through or with the the Government official placing the con- lesirable that this course should be pursued ere | not involve substantial delay. Where this ourst t pursued, such applicant’s connection with he Government work and the correctness of his repre- Bontat vill be verified and checked by the com- Government Subcontractors se who may be one or more times removed r ect contractor with the Government or with he Allies, but who are furnishing materials, supplies, ties to be used in connection with the ful- ich direct contract, may make application the committee for such assistance as they to obtain such materials, commodities or Such applications need not be approved by her the principal contractor or by the agency of he Government or the Allies placing the original order, t the representations of the applicant will be verified the mmittee. Applicants Not Engaged Directly or Government Contracts Remotely on One who has placed an order for any material, or supplies which fall within class B, as section 4 hereof, and who requires priority procure reasonably prompt delivery there- make application direct to the committee. In the paragraphs in the application seeking t information with respect to the applicant’s with the Government or Allied contracts may ar led. \gainst Whom Applications May Be Made plications for priority should be made actual producer or manufacturer. The will not—save in exceptional cases, where ce of a certificate will clearly expedite the an important order—administer priority bers, brokers or middlemen. Premature Deliveries placing orders, care should be exercised in the date that delivery will actually be (he contractor should not ask to have de- before he will be prepared to use the \ rigid adherence to this rule will greatly mely deliveries of urgent orders and prevent terferenc. The application must state the very promised by the producer. Priority Certificates hen the committee shall approve an appli- give it a rating, it will issue a priority The one to whom the certificate shall be rected will, in fulfilling the contract or order men- the certificate, give to it such precedence or Tor it may be entitled to under the classification Shia the certificate and the rules of this cir- Priority Classifications Supersede Other Instructions Priority classifications, whether evidenced by or automatic ratings as prescribed in sec- and 9 hereof, shall supersede any and all gust 1, 1918 THE IRON AGE 263 previous instructions, by whomsoever issued, with re spect to priority in production and delivery of the contract or order covered thereby, except commandeer ing orders and special priority pursuance of section 28 hereof. directions issued Execution of Certificates 27. Certificates or other documents signed by order of the Priorities Committee (printed) and countersigned in person by any person whose name appears thereon as one of the persons authorized to countersign shall be deemed to have been authorized by said committee, the Priorities Commissioner, and the War Industries Board. Special Priority Directions 28. That unusual emergencies may be prompt met and cases of great urgency provided for, the Pri orities Committee may, by an order in the form of a letter, a special certicate or otherwise, signed person ally by the Priorities Commissioner, direct that a pa ticular contract or order shall have priority over othe: contracts or covered by or automatic ratings, or orders certificates same manner re existing may in the classify or regrade existing contracts or orders covered by outstanding certificates or automatic ratings Delivery of Certificates 29. Unless requested to the contrary, the Priori ties Committee will forward applicant the original and one copy of the certificate, if issued, that the applicant may send the original to the on to whom it is directed, retaining the copy for his file If the applicant desires, and certificates, if whom directed. Should the committee decline to ap prove the application, direct to the $0 expressly states, the issued, will be forwarded to the one to prompt notification of such actior will be sent direct to the applicant Scope of Work 30. The committee undertakes where nec¢ iry to administer priority in the production of all raw mate rials and finished products save foods, feeds and fu Fuel $1. The production, supply and distribution of f is under the supervision of the United States Fuel Ad ministrator, who, in the distribution of fuel to indu tries and plants, is guided by the list in so far as it classifies such industries and plants accord ing to their relative importance. The preference list is compiled and promulgated by the Priorities Board, of which the Priorities Commissioner is chairman and H. G. Phillips is secretary. While the mittee does not administer priority of fuel, should those engaged on orders covered by priority certificates, automatic classifications or special priority directions experience difficulty in securing a fuel supply to the extent of interfering with the pro duction covered by such priority, they may apply for a place on the Preference List on application form PL-1, which will be furnished to them by H. G. Phillips, sec retary, on request. Such applications will be inve tigated and appropriate recommendations will be made to the Fuel Administrator, to the end that all orders to which this committee has accorded priority in pro duction may not be unnecessarily delayed for lack of fuel. preferer ce Priorities Cor the product or The committee will also consider applications by fuel producers for priority assistance to procure mate rials, tools, equipment or supplies required for the pro duction of fuel. Foods and Feeds Excludad 32. The committee does not distribute foods or feeds, over the production, supply and distribution of which the United States Food Administrator has super- vision. The committee, however, will consider applica- tions from producers of foods and feeds for priority assistance to procure materials, tools, equipment or supplies required for their production. Transportation 33. This committee does not administer priority in transportation. The United States Railroad Adminis- ea a ; 5% wt ‘se % | 264 THE tration in furnishing transportation service is guided by the preference list mentioned in section 31 hereof, defining the relative importance of industries and plants. Should those engaged on orders covered by priority certificates, automatic classifications or special priority directions experience difficulty in arranging for the transportation of materials, equipment or supplies to the extent of interfering with the production of said orders, representations to this effect addressed to the Manager of Inland Traffic, War Industries Board, Washington, setting forth such facts in detail, duly verified by affidavit, will be carefully In proper cases considered and certified to the United States Railroad Administration to the end that all orders to which this committee has accorded priority in production may not be unnecessarily delayed for lack of transportation. Special application forms for this purpose may be secured from the Manager of Inland Traffic, War h dustries Board. This committee will also consider applications of transportation companies for priority assistance cure materials, equipment or operations. to pro supplies required in thei Export and Import Licenses Excluded 34. The committee does not issue export or import licenses. All applications for such licenses addressed to the War Trade Board should be , Washington. Prices and Purchases Excluded 35. The committee does not fix or assist in fixing prices. Neither does it make or assist in making pur- chases. Regrading of Schedules 36. When it appears that a large per cent of the capacity of any plant is covered by certificates or auto- matic ratings of the same subdivision of a class, the Priorities Committee will, when it appears desirable so to do, arrange, through conference between it, the authorized representative of such plant, and those plac- ing the orders covered by such certificates or automatic ratings, for the reclassification thereof or the rearrange- ment and regrading of the schedules within each sub- division of a class, so as to insure the most urgent orders having precedence without unnecessarily inter- fering with the efficient management and operation of such plant. Attention is called by the Priorities Committee to the fact that save in very exceptional cases priority assistance is only required where the demand exceeds the supply. This is now the case with regard to so many leading commodities, however, that the new reg- ulations are of vital interest to practically every im- portant industry. In outlining the principle upon which priority will be administered, the committee says: The paramount priorities is the selective mobilization of the products of the soil, the mines, and the factories for direct and indirect war needs in such a way as will most effectually contribute toward winning the war In requesting priority, the petitioner should join with the committee in applying the test To what extent, if at all will the granting of this application contribute, indirectly, purpose of directly or toward winning the wai and if at all, how urgent is the need? Vigorous denials are entered by the United States Shipping Board of reports attributed to German prop- aganda, and described as “furtive stories to the ef- fect that more men are being killed and injured in our shipyards than in the trenches.” The Department of Labor statistics show that the accident rate in ship- yards from 1912 to 1916 is approximately 21.8 for every 1000 men. It will be noted that these figures cover a period previous to the enlarged shipbuilding ectivities in this country. At Hog Island, which has been ‘built and organized from nothing, the average force of men in May was 20,497. The number of acci- dents which caused loss of time was 107, which gives a frequency rate of 6 as compared with the rate of 21.8 for the period from 1912 to 1916. IRON AGE August 1, 191 DECLARED UN B LE Employers Dissatisfied with Decision in (yy. troversy at Waynesboro, Pa WASHINGTON, July 30.—The National r Lal Board has rejected an appeal from a group 4 turers in Waynesboro, , for a review of recent decision in the controversy between ers and workers in eight metal manufacturing ») in that city, a decision that fixed a new wage ¢ fas n advance of the demands of several cl: , men involved, and included an increase of hea; per cent in the rate paid for common labor. rave as its reason for refusing to hear th r3 that they had not put the decision into effe: According to a statement made by the Labor Board, its decision granted a general increa vapes to all of the workers, 3000 in number, and ordered thg a system of collective bargaining be established and ¢} an administrator be sent to see that the aw: AS eh. forced. This representative of the board, Stiles Pp Jones, has reported that “the men are prepzred to operate with him in every way, have accepted the & cision in toto, and are anxious to come together with the employers on some plan for its administra The employers, however, complained against the awarj on the ground that it was unworkable, opposing in par. ticular that clause in which 40 cents was fixed as th minimum hourly wage to be paid to any employee ip any classification, including the common laborer. Pay for common laborers up to date has gone as low as 2 cents an hour. They refused to meet with represents tives of the men to develop a plan for giving effect to the award. Mr. Jones reported also that the situation has led to a feeling of unrest among the men that threatens to culminate in a repetition of the strike which brought the case first to the attention of th board. When Mr. Jones’ report was received by the boari, according to the announcement made by its secretary, the following motion was offered by Loyal A. Osborne, vice-president of the Westinghouse Electrie & Mfg. Co, and was unanimously adopted: “Tl move that it is the sense of the board that inas much as the manufacturers in Waynesboro agreed # abide by the decision of the board, and the decision har- ing been made, we expect the decision to be put im effect. We are not willing to give any further hearing in the matter pending the putting into operation of th decision.” The board also ordered that Mr. Jones be instructed to go to Waynesboro at once, taking with him assis ants properly qualified to put the award into full fore and effect, and report to the full board, at as early! moment as possible, the result of communicating to bo employers and employees the action of the board ths morning and of notifying them that there will be ™ further interposition by the full board until the awarl is put into effect. The concerns affected by the award are the Frit Co.; Emerson-Brantingham Co.; Landis Tool Landis Machine Co.; Bostick- Lyons Bronze Co.; Shearét Machine Co.; Victor Tool Co. and the Cashman Tool © One of these companies, the Bostick-Lyons Bronze did comply with the award in every particular. " others did not. Explaining the allegation of unworkabi ity, the employers stated that they could not work © ith proper system of classification on the basis of ™ award. In order that they might be assisted in work! a out such a system and still abide by the award, board has authorized the employment of a techni ca assistant to advise with both sides. ton.” The Connellsville Foundry, Machine & Stee! (* ings Co., iron and steel castings and special machine has discontinued the sales office formerly mainte" ned at 901 Park Building, Pittsburgh. All correspondent regarding orders should be addressed to the office at Connellsville, Pa. genertl 1918 THE BAND MUSIC IN SHOP CAFETERIA Workmen Is Stimulated and Saloon Tr Patronage Cut Down ng the lunch hour in a manufacturing nnovation that has been tried out by the ( filling Machine Co., and has proved suc- acting employees to its general dining me ago a shop band was organized, and At noon each day this band diners in the restaurant with both pop alled classical selections. The half hour s work is donated to the employees by as the members of the band are allowed p time. to attracting the employees to the dining nch a noticeable improvement in the zest rkmen display in resuming their afternoon een reported from all departments. urant is conducted on the self-service is operated directly under a shop com- nted by the men. The company furnished 26 pieces. Effect of Music Supplied By the Sho int Cafeteria Has Been Quickl) Zest With Which the Worker ernoon Task and in the Re- Patronage. The stage and r are at opposite ends of om. The single row of isy passage stands for all and As all supplies are purchased equipment, d for food. e quantities, the very best tained at reasonable prices. ng menu will give an the ' the food served at the present time: 13c.., and salad ns 3c., squash 3c., potatoes watermelon 5c., ic., coffee, iced or milk 3c the workmen were compelled to either vn lunches or to patronize the saloons rants in the vicinity of the plant. As ‘rom the prices given above they are able of a much better quality and prepared ng way, at a much cheaper rate than vet it on the outside. Another advantage g the shop restaurant is in the arrange- ompt service, about 550 persons being passed the dining room with their trays contain- id selected, within an average period of 9 s accomplished by having three cash regis- perators of which have an assistant at hand ut the amount due from each diner. a workman desire to bring his own lunch, sponsor market the idea as to roast beef cold meats brown natoes 35c., ice cream 4c., tea IRON AGE ~65 he is extended a we on the where he is provide