The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-25 00:00:00

,Stourbrke ettseriyer,

SA.TURDAA. OCTOBER 25th, 1884.

THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

WITHIN a very few weeks the attention of
of the British public will be fixed upon the
desert of the Nile, and all will be eager to
hear the very latest piece of intelligence
concerning the advance of the expedition
towards Khartoum, Tt
jis bat natural that,
where such great issues are involvea, so keen
a desire should be felt to know what our
soldiers are doing in the Delta,and yet those
who will daily take up their newspaper pre-
pared to throw it down in disappoinment if
it does not contain some startling item of in-
formation, might do worse than give a
thought to the difference which exists be-
tween the facilities afforded to-day for the
traesmission of intelligence, and those which
were obtainable even a very few years ago.
The "special correspondent " and his work
are by this time well known to the general
public, and no grudging meed of honour is
due to the men who, at the peril of life and
limb, undertake to glean news of the battle-
field for the :instruction of those who sit at
home at ease. But it is not merely that in
these days the quality of the information is
so much superior to the suaps of intelligence
which of old time were all that could be pro-
cured; but the speed with which it is cir-
culated throughout the country is such as
could not have been dreamt of until a very
recent date. It often puzzles the reader of
histery to account for the disemination of
news in by-gone centuries, and it is certain
that, however diseminated, the process must
have been very slow, but to go no further
back than seventy or eighty years, it is won-
derful to see the change. During the Pen-
insular war, for instance, some of the re-
moter portions of tne kingdom received the
intelligence of the important operations then
proceeding in Spain and Portugal only by
; fits and starts, while one borough which re-
ceived through what was known as its
patrms a copy of the Times daily, was ex-
alted Aove its neighbours, to whom it was
the obje,zt of considerable envy. So valuable
was the prize accounted that the local chief
magi 4rate‘,, to whom it was addressed, caused
jit to be passsed around to each member of
the Corporation in order of seniority, the
messenger waiting while it was being perused
during the fixed time which was allowed,
and then carrying it to the next in order.
The ordinary inhabitants of a town thus
favoured knew nothing of what was going
on, save that which could be gathered by
heresay from those who were privileged to
have a sight of the paper, but on very im-
portant occassions, such as the battle of
Waterloo, for instance, the mayor, clad in
all the dignity of his office, would proceed
to the more prominent portions of the bor-
ough, and there declaim the most note-
' worthy information to an excited crowd.
Even thirty years after the great struggle
j which ended in the overthrow of Napoleon,
the means for rapidly circulating news were
Jso limited that the Times, eager to outstrip
rivals, despatched a number of four-horse
catiet es to the farthest corners of the country
with the announcement of the division which
sealec,. the fate of the Corn Laws. At this
day, wlten a battle proceeding in the wilds
of Africa or the interior of China, it is re-
ported hour by hour, during its progress to
interested watchers all over the world, it is
• difficult to entirely realise such a state of
thrn as has been described, and if it be
asked wither any benefit accrues to people
generally because of the improved circulation
of intelligence, e-ne fact may be taken as a
sample of a number which could be given in
answer. -Within the present century many
hearts have had to endure in England the
keenest suspense because no list of private
soldiers killed or wounded was readily ob-
tainable; now, even if the saddest news
comes, it comes speedily, and heartbreaking
J suspense is known no more.!

THE' IRON TRADE.
Wolverhampton, Wednesday,

There was not much new 6usiness offered this
afternoon. Trade has become quieter in the past
three weeks, especially in the crude iron depart.
inent. In the finished department, likewise, there
is less pressure at the sheet mills. Certain high-
class I.:ar firxrisi have recently receired a few more
crde-s. while rnwliurn and minimum bars are 1, ss
neglec.ted than just before quarter day. Messrs.
l'addo;:k Brothers, of the Phirrmix Ironworks, Crad-
' ley, have purchased the lower Cblarch Lane Iron-
works, Tipton, which have been idle for over two
years, It is intended that bars of all descriptions
shall be made there, together with angles and tees,
gas strips, and special spokes for railway wagon
wheels; while the firm will continue to manufacture
chain iron at their Cradley Works. Medium bars
were this afternoon quoted £6 10s, and common .to
15s. Sheets £7 upwards for singles, .£7 10 upwards
• for doubles, and .£1 additional for trebles. Com-
mon plates were .R,7 to £7 10s, and boiler plates £8
to 10, and £9. Part-mine pigs from outside
districts were easier by, in some cases, fully Is per
lon, compared with three weeks and a month ago.
Native pigs were without change. Coal was in
plentiful supply at easier rates than before the
strike closed.

BIRMINGHAM, THITUSDAY.

There was somewhat less animation observable
at the iron market to-day than at the last two or
hree meetings, a feeling of uncertainty and want
of confidence existing, largely attributable to the
political agitation in the country. Demand was less
active for all denominations of iron than a mouth
auo, and the upward tendency of prices seems to
have been checked. Still, with the present volume
of demand, business would be profitable but for the
I,rge amount of underselling that prevails. Itt
many cases manufacturers are barely paying their
working expenses, but they keep employed for the
purpose of saving the dad charges, which are es-
tiunited at aboot 7s fid a ton on finished iron, and
also for the sake of retaining their custorne, a. Well-
managed Mans, woo are fortunate in escaping losses
through bad debts, are carrying on business at a
moderate profit, but the bulk of the local ironinas-
ters at the present time are either losing money or
merely just covering the ccst of production. The
margin in price is teo small, indeed, to cover the
ordinary risks of trauing. Lattens were sold to-day
Lt XS 10.3 a t 71, a., compared with £9 lOs and £9
1.3 s a ton twelve months ago; singles being lOs a
ton weaker, and doubles 203. The saving in the
cost of production, owing to cheaper raw material,
fuel, and labour, does not represent more ti•an Os a
ton, so that the difference is direct loss to the sheet
makers. Good merchant bars Lire ,elling at -tr, 15s
a ton, though commoner qualities can be obtained
at 5s less, and best unbranded iron rdngps in value
up to ..t,6 5s a ton. Pig iron was slow of sale this
afternoon, and prices were not quite co firm as at
the quarterly Meeting. Cinder pi,; sold at 37s 6...1 to
395, and all-mine hot air 55•3 to 60s, Lei bysiiire
realised 445. The coal market was without vi!ality,
and the long contracts entered ioto with Cannock
Chase and other outside districts have greatly cur-
tailed the requirements for South :,taffordshire
coal. Expressions of satisfaction were general on
'Change at the more favourable turn which the af-
fairs of John Bagnall and Sons Limited have un-
dergone since the company went into liquidation.
A profit of nearly .212,000 having been earned
during thq past year, the liquidators suggest the
resuscitation of the company, and many will be
gratified if this old-established concern can be
kept from being broken up. Lis clear from the re- I
port just issued tha the company is not one of
those which is ruining the iron trade by selling 1
under cost price.

ITIIROAT.IRDITATION AND Couou —Soreness and 11 r
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sold by
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