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704 RECORD AND GUIDE October 18, 1913 ■MMMMi U. S. STEEL MILLS ON THE MEADOVV^S Building Material Exchange Hears That the Corporation Will Build Mills Here For Its Export Business — This Course Recommended By Former Government Expert A^LUivDl.XG to a report current on the floor of the Building Material H-xchange yesterday, the meadows lying to the south of Newark are being consid¬ ered by steel company oHicials as a possi¬ ble site for the location of its export mills now centered in Ohio. That a shift in location is considered is shown in the statement of Edwin C. Eckel, formerly of the United States Geological Survey, who, it is said, has made a special study of the United States Steel Corporation's strategic position with reference to the tariff to determine just what chance it has to compete with foreign steel with its plant so far removed from the Atlan¬ tic seaboard. His finding recommends the immediate removal of the giant ex¬ port steel plants to a point on the .Atlan¬ tic coast between Norfolk, \ a., and New York City. At the hearing this week in the Gov¬ ernment's suit to dissolve the United States Steel Corporation Mr. Eckel, as a witness, gave some startling informa¬ tion in which he stated that not only must the geographical center of the steel in¬ dustry be shifted to an advantageous point on the Atlantic coast, but that this change should be made before the spring of 1914 in order to keep the Germans froni getting most of the business now going to -American steel mills. Con¬ necting the reduction in the price of steel on Wednesday with the statement of Eckel before the investigation com¬ mittee, the story was given a semblance of probability, despite the statement officially made that the reduction had no bearing wdiatever upon the tariff situ¬ ation, but was made solely to bring out new business. The close relationship that exists be¬ tween steel and other basic building ma¬ terials, such as common and front brick, cement, fireproofing, plaster, etc., all of which are produced in the immediate vicinity of New York, makes sorne mem¬ bers of the Exchange believe that pos¬ sibly the steel company would be able to find a notable advantage in having its source of production so near to its consuming market, as well as being in a more advantageous position to make shipments abroad, or to protect its East¬ ern trade from invasion on the part of foreign steel makers. No one at the offices of the Steel Corporation in Church street would dis¬ cuss the matter, but it w-as learned that the company had no intention at this tiriie of moving its big plants east, ex¬ cept that a mill might possibly be estab¬ lished somewhere in the East, it is said, to take care of export business. Steel Plants Now on the Meadows. The vicinity of Newark on the Xew Jersey meadows is particularly available for mills of this sort because it is to all intents and purposes in New York harbor and at the same time offers cheap land with railroad facilities from all parts of the country. It offers excep¬ tional advantages for housing the vast quantity of labor required without actu¬ ally forcing it into New York tene¬ ments. The company has one of its large storehouses already located at Waverly, and it is building another storehouse in the Greenville section fac¬ ing the Kill Von Kull, where a large radiator company is also putting up a plant. In close pro.ximity to the meadows is the Milliken Brothers' fabri¬ cating plant facing Newark Bay, at its junction with Staten Island Sound, while just east of Newark is the big plant of the Crucible Steel Company ot .America, while to the south lies the big plant of the Hay Foundry & Iron Works. With the meadows already bounded by steel and iron-working plants of one sort or another, and with Newark, Eliza¬ beth, Bayonne, Jersey City, Kearney, Harrison and New York available for housing purposes and the Government planning extensive improvements to the navigation lanes approaching Newark, the chances for that site being selected in the event of the establishment of an export mill by the United States Steel Corporation were considered as being good. It was further pointed out that if the War Department should ultimately select the proposed Communipaw site for the location of the new navy yard, the close proximity of a heavy plate mill would not be a disadvantage. A large part of the cost of structural steel used in building erection in the metropolitan district is chargeable to freight rates, and some building authori¬ ties hope that if such a move is to be taken by the steel company it will in¬ clude the location of a rolling mill for structural shapes within this territory so as to give builders the advantage that cheaper freight rates would afford. ELECTRICAL EXPOSITION. Commercial and Industrial Exhibits— The Government Represented. A number of departments and bureaus of the national government have joined with the local corporations and firms to make the electrical exposition and motor show at the Grand Central Palace unusually interesting this year. The U. S. Mint initiates the public into the mystery of money-making. The model of an anthracite coal mine ex¬ hibited in operation by the Bureau of Mines is an exhibition in itself. The Bureau of the Forestry Service, the -Army, the Navy, the Reclamation Ser¬ vice, the Bureau of the Census, the Isthmian Canal Commission and the Biireau of Standards all contribute some¬ thing of particular interest. The New York Edison. The Bureau of Illuminating Engineer¬ ing of the New York Edison Company has a display of lamps, including the four new "Nitrogen Lamps," the most powerful in the world, of 5,000 candle- power each, which hang in the rotunda. On account of their extreme brilliancy, these lamps are lighted only at inter¬ vals. The Advertising Bureau of the New York Edison Company has a display of Cooper drawings, those queer little men who do all the wonderful things by electricity, and who have become in¬ separable from the New York Edison Company. The Educational Bureau is showing the work that is being accom¬ plished by employees in the schools of the company. Thc many exhibits of the United States government are main¬ tained in co-operation with the New York Edison Company. The Brooklyn Edison. The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn occupies a space 112 feet long on the 46th street side of the exposition building and has arranged an exhibit of unusual interest and prac¬ tical value. In the center of the space a small model home has been construct¬ ed, completely furnished and electrically equipped. The building is 3Z feet long and 15 feet deep and comprises parlor, dining-ropm, kitchen and hall, all dec¬ orated and furnished modestly but as completely as such a home should be. The Brooklyn Edison Company has been advertising for some time that for $49 it will equip the living rooms of any Brooklyn home for electricity, in¬ cluding the installation of weiring, fix¬ tures, reflectors and lamps, and this exhibit shows a sample $49 installation. The purpose is to indicate how cheaply electricity may be installed in a modern home, and the company announces that it is prepared, in connection with this $49 plan, to accept five payments—$9 upon signing the contract and $10 a month for four months thereafter. A feature of this display is that the method of electrical equipment—wires con¬ cealed in floors and ceilings—is clearly shown. In the other section is a similar ex¬ hibit made of small power applications, and it is astonishing to note how much can be obtained at a small cost through the utilization of these devices. United Electric. The United Electric Light & Power Company's exhibit this year is located along the westerly wall of the main floor of the building. The exhibit consists of a modern electrical kitchen showing the many electric cooking devices that can be used in the home. These appli¬ ances are actually and practically dem¬ onstrated by competent representatives, who cook and serve dainty dishes to visitors. The center portion of the booth is devoted to a large reception room, handsomely furnished for receiv¬ ing and entertaining guests. Another portion of the booth is devoted to the demonstration and exhibition of the private residence campaign now in progress, consisting of wiring the living- rooms of a private residence for the sum of $69, including installation, fix¬ tures and lamps complete on a partial payment plan; also the exhibition .of the 500-watt Mazda unit wdiich the company will furnish, free of charge, to all free renewal customers, for both inside and outside lighting. This portion of the exhibit will be the company's head¬ quarters and oflice where there will be a force of competent representatives on duty continuously. The New York & Queens Electric Light & Power Company, supplying electrical energy to the Borough of Queens (the largest of the five bor¬ oughs in Greater New York), is illus¬ trating the choice locations and many advantages open to manufacturers and suburban residents in Queens, by means of charts, illuminated colored pictures, slides, flashing signs, and the stereo- motorgraph. —The Northwestern Bronx Property Owners' Association is requesting an appropriation for the drainage and filling in of the sw-amp land at the southern end of Van Cortlandt Park, east of Broadway, for the purpose of extermi¬ nating mosquito breeding areas.