The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-08-19 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERIIAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.

Although an improvement has been noticed to
have taken place in the trade of this district
matters are still in a very depressed state. In
consequence of a slightly increased demand for
the lighter classes of finished iron, more iron has
been turned out during the past week than has
been for many previous weeks; but, still, large
manufacturing firms have no orders of any mag-
nitude on their books. There is little or no de-
mand for the heavier classes of iron. Orders for
sheets and plates for engineering purposes and
for ship-plates are very limited in number.
Many Staffordshire makers are wisely taking ad-
vantage of the present slack time to put their
furnaces—which are for the most part very old
—into a better state of repair, in order that all
the waste gases may be utilised, and the cost of
production thereby minimised. They will thus,
when the brisk season does arrive, be enabled
to ask such prices as will allow of competition
with Northern makers. On 'Change this after-
noon prices quoted were much the same as last
week. Branded bars could have been obtained
at prices ranging between .28 lOs and £9. Sheets
(singles) sold at ..t9 and £lO, according to quality
Boiler plates were on sale at prices,varying from
£lO to £11; hoops could be had at X 8 10s and
£9 103; all-mine hot-air pig iron, made from the
native ores, at from £4 5s to £.l 15a; and cold-
air pig iron at .R 5 10s. Cinder and part-mine
pigs wore obtainable at from £2.15s to £3 108
per ton. Inquiries were numerous, and the ex-
pectations that merchants would, seeing that
prices have reached bottom, begin to stock, are
being realised in some degree.
The coal trade of the district is as uneventful
as it has been for some time past, and coal.
masters have no inducement, from the present
nnremunerative prices, to keep their pits open.
Large nurebers of miners are now wholly or
partially unemployed owing, no doubt, in a great
measure to their disinclination to fall in with the
wishes of the masters and work nine or nine and
a half instead of eight hours per day. Advantage
would result toboth masters and men if the
latter were willing to remain longer in the pits.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.

The depression which has been experienced
in the iron and coal trades of this district for so
many months past, and which by not a few per-
sons was regarded as chronic, is gradually be-
wuning less severe, but the improvement is,
after all, very slight, and business transactions
are still on a somewhat limited, scale. There
seems little disposition to speculate, whilst in
many instances the trade actually carried on Is
such as leaves little doubt that, hoping for a fur-
ther improvement, and one of a more substan-
tial character, iron and coal masters are desirous
of keeping up their connection as far as possible
although their profits Lutist!' Ann, cud in many
cases nil. The excessively hot weather which
has prevailed of late has, to a large extent, re
striated operations at the various rains, and
puddlers and others similarly engaged have not
done more "turns" than have been absolutely
necessary. Ironworks being but partially em-
ployed of course materially affects the demand
for coal, and colliery proprietors have been doing
very little indeed for weeks; moreover, there is
not much coal for domestic purposes required
just now. The prices in respect of coal have
been reduced to a minimum, and the article may
be had at almost any price. At the weekly
meeting of coal and iron masters on 'Change
this afternoon there was a good attendance.
A little improvement in the state of anus was
reported. Merchant iron was a little more in
demand than has recently been the case, but the
accumulation of pigs is not much reduced Mar-
ked bars remain at from £8 lOs to £9; sheets
(singles), vary from £9 to .210. Quotations
generally show no variation from last week.
The prices of coal also remain about the same
as last week, and colliers are not employed half
time.