Although quarterly reports last year showed the evident strength and prosperity of the U. S. Steel Corporation, it was not until last week when the company's annual statement appeared, that its tremendously strong present position was generally realized.
During 1923 Steel's gross business expended almost half a billion dollars to a total of $1,571,414,000. Net income was $128,176,519, compared with $58,840,801 the year before. After interest, charges and preferred dividends, $83,487,387 (or $16.42 a share) was available for dividends in the common stock, compared with $14,433,778 last year, when the payment of common...