| Show Tons of Essential Steel This past week according to the American Iron and Steel Institute the steel industry poured its ton of steel for 1951 N Never ever before has so much steel been produced in any calendar year Already steel production is more than three million million mil mil- lion tons ahead of last year and it is likely that about another five million tons will be poured before the end of this year Total 1951 output will be some tons more than we produced 10 years ago It is about four times what Soviet Russia produced last year Our industry is operating at such top efficiency efficiency efficiency ef ef- ef- ef that we are actually exceeding in production rated capacity In November November November Novem Novem- ber for example the furnaces operated I at an average of 1024 per cent capacity Despite this superb record steel for many civilian purposes is still short Governors of the various states were told by mobilization officials in Washington Washing Washing- ton the other day that steel for schools highways and hospitals will remain scarce through most of 1952 Here in Utah it is feared the shortage will delay some essential highway projects More steel by some tons this year compared with last more steel by some tons compared with 1941 and 1941 and yet a steel shortage How come Of course the answer is Korea and the rearmament program Part of the answer too is that the scarcity applies only to certain kinds of steel Some steel users claim there is plenty of steel steel steel-of of certain types Biggest shortage seems to tobe tobe tobe be in structural steel Actually except for such spotty scarcities the industry has done an amazing job of turning out steel steel and and turning it out in sufficient quantities to fill both military and domestic needs The Atlantic Monthly recently analyzed analyzed analyzed ana ana- the steel supply situation to determine determine determine deter deter- mine whether our free enterprise steel industry was meeting the country's needs It reported the industry would have a capacity of about tons in 1953 at which time lime some 12 tons would be required for military production leaving a steel producing pro during capacity of tons more than total output this year which should be sufficient to satisfy all domestic domes domes- tic demands The Atlantic Monthly concluded The figures prove that Americas America's competitive competitive competitive com com- enterprise system produces steel capacity in proportion to firm orders for steel products A planned expansion would be neater but it wouldn't work as well if other countries are an ex ex- ample Of course one should qualify any prediction prediction prediction pre pre- diction that there will be enough steel with a few ifs One if is that there is no big steel strike Negotiations are arenow arenow arenow now going on between the C CIO I 0 United Steelworkers Union and the United States Steel Corporation If no agreement agreement agreement agree agree- ment is reached and there is a strike I all bets would be off on the question of steel supply not only for civilian purposes purposes purposes pur pur- poses but for military purposes too Another if is an adequate supply of scrap Low scrap reserves at many mills are now a source of serious concern to many steel companies In an effort to get more scrap the National Production Authority has just ordered inventory report on car units and loose scrap in inthe inthe inthe the hands of wrecking auto companies and scrap iron dealers Another if is isan isan isan an adequate supply of iron ore ore but but the industry itself is doing a good job of developing new ore sources in Liberia Venezuela Labrador and Quebec as aswell aswell aswell well as working out new processes to use low grade ore in the Range in Minnesota Steel is the most essential raw material material material ma ma- of both war and peace Without enough of it we cannot win a war or build a prosperous and progressive nation It is therefore good news th that t the American steel industry has poured more than tons of steel this year year year- and good to know that conceding those few ifs there will be enough steel for both purposes |
