The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-10 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

There was a quieter meeting to-day, and saki
were only effected with some difficulty. In th•
tiniehed iron trade there was a better deman
for galvanizers' sheets consequent on the arrivr6
.if the Australian mail. There was also a mon
cheerful tone in the trade for common unmarkeo
bars than has prevailed since quarter-day, aim
girder plates seemed to be more sought for. Nal,
rods were in fair inquiry, but as to hoops, strips.
ohain iron, and boiler plates the market wa,
• egieeted. So, of th,- leading houses in th
!-,cs: bar trade are doing tolerably well at thei)
lfficiat list price of £7 10s. Thin sheet maker,
keep hu.sy, and the value of tin plates is firm)
upheld at about 18a to 19s per box for cok.
uaiities. Pig makers secured a few orders for
torge iron, but there was a firmer tone among
be smelters of melting pigs Some of th,
itrger iroufounders in the town and district ar,
!;ecoming a little busier. Quarter.day quotations
emsio in force, and were a little steadier. Cleve.
and and hematite iron was very tittle offered.
hut cinder pigs were firm at 459. and Derbyshir
ron fetched from 50s to 52s 6d. Cokes wer
.0 less inquiry, whi:e for other fuel the demao,
as slightly increased since the redaction
• rice on the Dudley side. It is asserted thi•
nouie of the Cannock Chase firms are about t,
•,,niteence underselling iti order to secure som
of their old customers.

BIRMINGHAM, ThilrsdBy.

The market showed little indication of
svenient, and prices generally were in favtm.
toay,r6, except for the commoner qualities o
oig iron, the quotations for which are sustain. d
oy the firmer prices of Midalesbrotigh pig an.'
the lessened competition of the Cleveland district .
Finished iron was not in much inquiry, and th
principal requirements were specialities in plates
for the engineering firms. The demand fot
sheets for the Australian market has fallen off,
• 'ore is a corresponding increase in the de-
-limn qualities of bars. For IndfG
nand fcr specifiyations placed with
th. othfq. hand 14a,, • iv upon shouts f.
..cal firms are running - boiler an
iwa aagohlas Bud tlpfltl ihiEi Ur. • qeTATO
iiipouilding purposes, After is gad in ts
, eeks' duration the horse-nail Makers tu thr
iaiesowen and Dudley districts bat% accepted
the employers' terms', and resumed work on
hursday at the 3s. list, being a redaction j.l
ipon the wage 3 they have been receiving
.lune of last year. In the Sedgley district 1118
!iLployers are still paying on the advanced rate, ,
but they will no doubtquickly flow the exampie
of the other masters. There was some discu,,-
sion on 'Change as to the result of the ledg, 1
meetings of South Staffordshire and East Vtir,)r.
iestershire colliers in respect of the alternative
proposition of the colliery owners. The general
)-licf was that the men would decide to accept
reduction in wages, accc,rdiug to tte
.ingilam agreement, rather than consent to
.vOrk an extra to ir per day even at an advance
,t wages. There is no doubt, howeve,r,
, both men and masters will honourably comp 3
-LAI the terms of Mr. Chamberlain's award.