The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

The business transacted on 'Change this after-
non was of an extremely quiet character, very few
orders indeed being distributed. Numerous com-
plaints were made as to the quietness of trade and
as ta the increased difficulty experienced by many
an inufacturers in getting specifications for the exe-
cution of old orders. Several of the principal
Louses have received some fair inquiries ior second-
class bars and common sheets, but for best
sheets and tin-plates there is a re-
mirkably dull demand. Strips and nail rods have
been in moderate request during
.the past week,
chiefly, however, for limited quantities. The prices
rule at about late rates of X 7 10s. for best bars,
while the commlner classes of b trs fetch from £5 5s
upwards. In pigs the trans ictions are of a meagre
character, the contracts handed out this week
being in nearly evet y met tnee to meet only moder-
ate wants. Secottd-class iron sells at about 50s.
per ton, wftile the tnajor.ty of sales of common
cinder (pant es have not realised over 40s. her-
als sell 1 s; briskly, but a fir amount of activity
prevails for hou-e ,old fuel, particularly among
de.ilers tra•iing with toe i;annock Chase district.
For iron-making fuel trade see Ins to be more languid
and is likely to continue so, es a great tn4oy of the
ironworks will not me started next week.

I IRMINGYIAM Thursday.

' The iron market here this artvrnoon was en, irely
devoid of a.,i.tat ioa, and there was incleas d
wea,kaes• in qa t .Coas tor all but list non. Not
only were a w or.ters difficult to be obtained, but
specifications ia regard to existing contracts were
equally hard to secure, as cust,aners were only nis-
pect to specify fer their requirements up to the
end ut the wees, as LIIOAL of the works will be

c. seu the greater part of Christmas week. A few
coatracts were given out for plain rolled sheets
and there was a tnederate inquiry for best bar and
rivet itou. Marked bars were qur)ted steadily at
Ei 10s and common bars from Xi upwArds. Pig
ron was in very slow s tie, mid irin for foundry
purposes being in m ist request at about 50& a ton.
Coal was in rather languid demand for all descrip.
tons most manufacturing consum-n.s having SUP..
pl ied their requirements till at ,r the holidays,
waile the mild weather does not tlnd to stimulate
the domestic consumpti in. The colliers threaten
to renew their agitation for an advance of wages
ifier the holidays, but with the present depressed
state of trade they have little chance of sucess

rbad to worse in toe Belgian market. Pig-iron
his succumbed to the pressure exerted bi the fi dished
product and has fallen about 2fr.soc. per ton Stocks
of pig are accumulating. The prices in the recent
contracts for roll ng stook for the Belgian state
railways are nearly 25 per cent below those tendered
at eighte:m months ago. In the French iron
market also matters are not looking up. Although
forges receive plenty of orders buyers are noc press-
ing fol early delivery. Certain works therefor.;
which are desirous of keeping up their production
are accepting lower terms with a view of securing
early orders. At the meeting of the forgemasters
of the Nord onDecember 13 no chang,. was made in
official quotations but the fact is the Nord is being
tinders dl. Thus whilst in the former department
iron-masters are still quoting 165 fr, for laercoaat
iron, some forges are selling iron at 155 fr. franco
Paris, in other words, at 145 fr. at works. There
has been no change in the German iron market,
and none need be anticipated this side of the new
yea-2. Consumers adhering to their former reserve,
only buying for immediate wants, quotations re-
main weak The American iron market is quiet
and unchanged. Scotch pig is dull. Steel and
finished iron are not improving. The discharge of
workmen and lowering of wages continues,