OCR Text |
Show a.-- 0 V. . D OF U. . a "MWOP uWes CITY i j . f n mn LAKE VALIAX SMELTER BALT ntICBI LEAD, COFFER 0(m4:. ...sit... ...... GOLB ZINC BAM Jl.lHt BS.M . SILVER (per m. new miml) SILVER (per epet) u, S.?3e Il.n BIAS Features Mining, Oil, Financial VOL 14, NO. 23 Salt Lake City, Utah, June 4, 1943 $2.00 Year, $1.00, 6 Mos. U. S. War Effort Hangs In Balance As Coal Miners Remain Out On Strike Scrap (Prepared by Harold E. Carmony and William R. Frederick, unAmericas war effort was still der supervision of Thomas II. critically threatened yesterday, Miller, Chief, Metal Economics with coal miners throughout the out on strike under orders Division,- Economics and Statis- nation from L. Lewis, but a break John tics Service.) v."-- ' in the situation was expected moDomestic stocks of iron and mentarily and most observers ex- steel scrap at . consumers, sup- Jiected drastic action by the and the government which pliers and producers plants at the end of March, 1943, approximated G, 850,00(1 gross tons, representing a very 'slight increase from the 6,871, 000, tons reported on February 28, 1913, according to a statement released by the - . WESTERN MINERAL SUKVEX b BevetcS t the mining ani nil InBuelrln f Utah ml the Wni. A rwiimi mt the nntatnnBing In velopmente la carried each week. would set the mines to working again without delay. bituminous coal miners joined their conferees of the East in walking out of the mines when Lewis deadline rolled around on June 1, reversing their stand of a few weeks ago when the strike originally loomed and Utah-Wyomin- g when the miners of the West stayed on the job. An indication of the governments stand on the strike question appeared Wednesday, when the War Labor Board forebade negotiations between further Lewis miners and the coal mine operators, stating that it would . not approve any negotiated terms reached under stress of strike coercion. This indicated that the govern ment would not go into the Issues of the strike itself, such as pay, the week, charges against miners for equipment, etc., but would insist that the mines resume operations, after which the miners and the operators could resume normal negotiation on the points at issix-da- y portal-to-port- al sue. Bureih oft Mines, U. S. Department of the interior. This de- Certainly no other stand could be justified under present condicrease was occasioned by a detions, when the entire war effort cline of less than.-- l per cent in of the nation itself possibly even stocks held by consumers, despite the life of the nation itself bung a slight Increase in suppliers and in the balance while men stayed producers stocks. Thus, while out on strike. consumers' stocks on March 31, Sentiment throughout the west 1943, amounted to 5,517,000 tons was in harmony with that of the at tons with 5,544,000 compared rest of the nation: the end of February, suppliers The miners may have, and unand producers stocks were 1,333,-00- 0 doubtedly do have, some legititons and 1,327,000 tons, remate grievances and may be spectively. thoroughly justified in some of Consumers Stocks their demands, but they have no Estimates of consumers stocks on March 31, 1943, (February 28 right whatsoever, under any circumstances, to strike at this time figures in parentheses) are as foland tie .up the national war eflows: Purchased scrap, 4,010,000 fort. tons (4,027,000 tons); home gross tons 1,507,000 Typical comment of the man (1,517,000 scrap, on the street was: ' tons); total scrap, 5,517,000 tons , Ive got plenty of sympathy (5,544,000 tpns), and for the miners. Maybe they do tons (1,370,000 tons). have to work hard and find difThese figures represent decreases ficulty- living on- - the- wages-they-g- et cent, in -- the ofiless than-1-per with prices as high as they stocks of home and purchased are. But they have no business scrap, respectively, with stocks of President Roosevelt John L. Lewis striking, and if they dont go pig iron declining less than 2 per cent. back ..to work they should be A REAL SHOWDOWN between former friends Is now in the balance and before many days drafted into the army and sent Consumption of scrap in March, back to the mines tomorrow at 1943, amounted to 4,787,000 gross are past the issue should be decided between John L. Lewis and the administration. $50 a month as buck privates; tons, an increase of 15 per cent over the 4,178,000 tons ui?d in After all, the other boys are out on the firing line, fighting and February and at an annual rate of 7 per cent higher than that in dying at $50 a month pay and no 1941. group back home should get In March open-heart- h furnaces sway with endangering still fun ' consumed 56 per cent of the purther the lives of the boys in the : chased scrap, 73 per cent of the front lines over a question of home scrap, and 77 per cent of wages. the pig iron used. During the calMost observers considered the Despite various difficulties of ovens, each battery containing struction, resembles a fortress of coal strike endar year 1941 the percentages a final and definite row sentinels are steel ovens. batteries 63 These upon actually were 63, 71 and 76, respectively. construction, involving priorities, now at least 70 on showdown the wartime labor columns of steel per cent com- row of hundreds It is of interest to note that dur- shortages and other war-tim- e which in either the presiissue, across for the terrain The of the three stretching first s ing March, Bessemer "converters problems, Columbia Steel Com- pleted. a mile. dent or Mr. Lewis would be fimore of than furnaces each blast at Geneva, used 6.3 per cent of the total fer- panys Geneva plant will soon be an approximate capacity When the mill is completed, it nally and definitely beaten in rous materials (scrap and pig turning out vast quantities of the having tons of pig iron daily, is will be one continuous building this field, with the nation betting of 1,200 metal for the war .iron) charged to all furnaces, on the president to win in the and 3,750 feet long. completion with open-heart- h furnaces using effort within a short time, com- approaching crisis. size of Other indications the be should for ready operation, of Geneva can be 70.9 per cent. During the calen- pany officials indicated today. from if desired, in August. Certainly, if the president and gained dar year 1941 these percentages The Geneva plant will be by some 70 miles of his the fact administration win anything that inOne building alone, which were 5.5 and 71.4, respectively. far the largest integrated steel dicates conduit pipe are becoming part but a clear cut, decisive, 100 per the of the g immensity furnaces (open-heart- mill west of the Mississippi of the slabbing and rolling mills. cent victory, the whole future Bessemer and electric) River. Total cost of construc- project, is the continuous plateof the nation will be imperiled. connow See GENEVA on Page 4 mill. This under mill, accounted for 69 per cent of the tion, carried on by Columbia (U. purchased scrap, 83 per cent of S. Steel subsidiary) under orders the home scrap and 89 per cent from Defense Plant Corporation, Alaska of the pig iron consumed in will be in excess of $150,000,000. March. The remainder was used Primary purpose of the big steel Work Is Postponed . g in furnaces, princi- mill is to help supply the e treFive-Billio- n pally the cupola. Compared with mendously Increased war-timFairbanks, Alaska The U. S. the calendar year 1941, when the needs of west coast shipbuilding Smelting, Refining & Mining Co. not plan to operate any of percentages were' .71, 78 and 86, concerns. The Securities ' and Exchange 4.3 billions, again constituted the does While a number of the units or any of its thawing its respectively, these', figures show dredges of individuals an increase In the use of home comprised in this gigantic plant Commission today made public largest component or stripping plants at Fairbanks From the beginning of scrap and pig iron, with a con- are ahead of schedule, other its quarterly analysis of the vol- saving. the season of 1943, says during of to 1942 the end 1913, B. sequent decrease in the use of phases of construction are behind ume and composition of saving money' in the hands 'March, Roy Earling. vice president of of the public g the original schedule, due primarpurchased scrap in the and general manager company United and demand in the individuals deposits) (currency furnaces. of its Alaska operations. ily to difficulty in obtaining by the increased unprecedented by There were minor changes In equipment, when desired, because States covering the first quarter A crew of 15 or 20 men will, of 15.5 billions, an increase the proportions of total scrap of stringent priority regulations off 1943. This survey shows that sum be employed during tha however, 50 cent more of since than per and pig iron charged to various and the need for similar .articles total saving declined somewhat summer to ' take care of the dredg1941. In December, types of furnaces in March com- in other government war projects. from the high point reached es and stripping and thawing reflectIn view of the magnitude of pared with the calendar year This priority situation has been the fourth quarter of 1942, income to maintain a and equipment to be it well in the re? decrease h a small item, 1941. Open-heartmay furnaces which improved recently through the ing small of Dawson flow water in.thc in 1941 used proportions of 19.3 efforts of the War Production after taxes. However, after pay- call that additions to cash- on and middle ditches to prevent accounts ilo to hand and in bill checking history, per cent purchased scrap, 29.1 Board. Another factor which has ing the largest tax damage to them during the shutsame constitute the in the not first individuals to in. Geneva three saving cent home work at slowed 51.6 per up scrap and in holdings of down, he says.' per cent pig iron, in March. 1943, some extent has been a shortage months of this year added 4.8 bil- sense as increases work, preference will showed proportions of 17.5, 29.2 of labor. Unless further delays, lions to their cash and deposits, securities or saving in other be For this men over 55 years of to given forms. While in of and the liquid and 53.3 per cent, respectively, not now foreseen, are encoun- largely cash on hand part no men will be offered and which indicated an increased use tered, the Geneva plant should be checking accounts; 2.6 billions to growth in currency and demand age who are working for employment of pig iron and home scrap, with completed, ready for operation, by their holdings of government deposits undoubtedly represents ' or government the government of a form 800 to their millions equity bonds; a' resulting decrease in the use of the end of this year. relatively permanent or contractors and' life saving engaged In any another part provision In spite of these obstacles, the in private Insurance, mostly milpurchased scrap. Also, Bessemer work other 700 directly of for future off payment currently with the war effort. connected converters, which in 1941 used tremendous size of the Geneva insurance; and paid mortaccruing taxes, there remains a proportions of 1.2 per cent pur- mill with its lofty smoke stacks, lions of debt other than The companys shops, garage considerable portion which repothchased scrap, 5.0 per cent home towering blast- furnaces and gages. and the upper floor of the main accumua of resents most feature The only temporary from 93.8 structures significant scrap and protuding per cent pig iron. er office of not earmarked for the funds lation of building were leased to the In March showed proportions of the landscape over some 1,600 the pattern saving during last December for the In as time, at investment government that of any 1943, may now first 3.8 prior 95.0 and quarter 1.2, per cent, respec- . acres, is apparent today, use Northwest Service the of and into be diverted the unusually high consumption tively, which indicated an in-- that many thousands of tons of quarters, was the District EnCommand conand If funds such income channels. which of other erectthe been creased use of pig iron, with a structural steel have proportion the and curto to power plant at rate, gineers, put into Ad- tinue grow at the present tendResulting decrease in the use of ed to form the numerous build- public continued to be operFairbanks will continue of control the demand and inflaMonary home scrap, while the use of ings. deposits. rency to wilh them ated to on become hand and will encies to heat, cash ditions supply increasingly have will Geneva The plant purchased scrap remained , coke checking accounts, amounting to difficult. light and power, h stated. lour batteries of pig-iron- - - Geneva Steel Plant To Be Fully Completed By End Of This Year , two-third- nt . Steel-makin- h, U. S. iron-makin- Placer Saves Nearly After Taxes steel-makin- - - . ct |