The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-15 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMPTON, WedHCSCiay

A better (one prevailed on 'Change thisafterno:r:
and th inquiries that were made appeared to be of
a more favourable character. Various flnishe I ivon
manufacturers notified that buyers were anxious
to secure good supplies before the commencement
of October. The pricvs this afternoon, howevor
fluctuated very much, p uticula-ly as to bars awl
hto s Some good orders were opened for common
,heets used by galvanisers, and fair lots of cheap
bars were in request by various merchants and
consul:a Ts, but t,.e prius quoted by manufacturers
were mostly such as would not allow of their
being accepted. In boiler plates there were a few
better export inquilie-4. and some of the best shet
m ntilacture s announced a more active business
The home demand for hoops was steadier, ard
s)ale large o,ders for this lase of goo is are under
execution. SdN a:al far sp ii a.tions were offered for
girder plates, common bars fetching about £6 10s.,
ad for common strip. The pigmakers had a very
dull time of it, limited pare le only changing hands
Prices were so.newi.at weak, and some of the makers
exprienced a diffiu'ty in maintain;ng their qucra •
tions. Minerals and thick oti were in more demand
and at some of the pits some good co :tracts have
hvea received during the past week Taken al-o-
gether, imw.3ver, the po-ition of this traie does not
look very hopeful for the autumn season.

BIRMINGH 133, THIJUSDIY.

Although the attendance on 'Change to-day was
above the average the business tone showed but
little improvement. The crude iron department
'as especially dull, and selea were confined to
small lots ranging from 23 to 200 tons. One or
tho of the local makers effected transactions up to
300 tons, but these were altogether exceptional ; and
certain of the NoAharupton and Derbyshire houses
did not effect a single sale on the market. Not-
withstanding the apathy of buyers, makers declined
to gibe way to prices, as the existing contracts will
keep them employed for some weeks to come.
Spring Vale all-mine was quoted at 658 a ton; the
mixed all-mine of Staffordshire and other districts
made by t'ei- tirm realised from 67s 6d to As a ton,
end their pm. t• mine 47s 6el to 20s. No, thatupton
pie wa; quoted at 47s 61 and Derbvshir 505, but
the sales were scarcely sufficient to test actual
prices. Cinder pi,g was in most request at 4').3 to
42-t 61 Minufactured iron was in healthy demeed,
being eldelly for immediate consumption, and prices
were well main mined all round, though without
quotable alteration on the prices of last week.
engineers were fairly good customers for girder
and gasometer plates and heavy sections, '
and ship-
building iron was in steady demand. Export re-
quirements were very limited, shipping businees
having fallen off very much of late. The demand
for sheets was rather below the average, but
suffieient to maintain quotations. Steel sheets and
best block sheets were freely disposed of. Nailreds
met with a good inquiry for the Eastern markets
Coil was in rather better request, and the rates
were steady for all descriptions ; furnace coal
re ilieed about 10s. 6d. a ton, but South Stafforl-
- forge coal c eild be bought at an average of
Bs. a ton, delivered into boats, and Cannock Chase
f ,rge cod at is. 6d. lees, though the cost of con-
veying it to the works in the neighbourhood of
Birmingham would add another is. a ton to the
coal non is pocl ("crawl fcsr Cauzawk Quo

house co,ll, and some of the leading producers have
intimated to their customers that prices will
probably be advancel Is. a ton on the Ist October.
At the present time best deep co, 1 is selling at Us.
a tun lit the pits, and the advance, if it comes into
effect, will raise prices higher than they have been
for a yeßr or two.