The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-30 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLN F itHAMPTON, it *ednesday.

,
The iron and coal trades' of South Stafford-
shire and East Worcestershire were well repre-
sented on 'Change hi this town to-day. Busi-
ness at the works was reported eta improving
slowly but surely. The progress gathers force
with the advance of time, the orders to hand to-
day being of wore worth than those received for
many we eks past. They relate to the lighter
kinds of finished iron, and are intended chiefly
tor export to the East. The advices delivered
this afternoon front the United States are of
very little value, customers hesitating to pur-
chase in the existing unsettledness arising out
of the tariff legislation now in progress at Wash-
tngton. bent:misters express great satisfaction
at the issue hitherto attending the discussions
on those portions of the bill relating to iron.
l'ig-iron is quiet; consumers are generally well
, stocked. The labour market is not over-sup-
plied, and emigration is going on somewhat
freely. The turn-out of hands at Cookley
Works is tending to increased activity at com-
peting establishments.

Quarter-day promises have hardly been re-
aimed as yet in this district, and the attitude of
the trade is still one of expectation. A certain
improvement has undoubtedly taken place as a
result of the orders placed at that meeting, but
relatively to the productive power of the district
the accession of business has been insignificant,
and many of the works are in no better position
than they were before. Instead of five days a
week, as recently estimated, we understand that
four days would more nearly represent the aver-
age working of most of the mills and forges, and
even this average is not attained by many emi-
nent firms. The fact is, that very few foreign
orders has e yet been given out for miscellaneous
iron. The I:fission and American spefieations
hitherto have been almost entirely for rails and
railway materiel, in the production of which this
district is only very slightely concerned; and the
manufactured iron in request by merchants and
manufacturers is mostly small as to sizes and
limited in quantity. Thursday's meeting did
not apparently add much to the orders in hand,
for, though well attended by ironmasters, the
onyers were few and cautious. The pig-iron
trade is a little better. Makers of "all mine"
pig have generally sold their produce for the
quarter, and the sellers of hteinatites continue
firm at their recent advance, though that step
seems to have had the effect of temporarily
checking business. From the estimate of fur.
nem in blast ia.t week I.,,ust now be deducted
•ine at Tipton, blown out within the last few
;aye. On t e other hand, some new works for
jroductm of ttespenier steel are said to be
• ,olire of yr.-I-lion at Darlaston. The new
si ri.ugement as to the earlier meeting hour on
Thursday does not seem to work very well at
present. It is observed only by is small minority
of the ironmasters, and the business of the day
is not practically commenced before three
o'clock. It is lunch to he desired that the mem-
bers would better support a rule so obviously
designed for their own benefit.

Those Ladies Wh. bye., Not yeT.Tis-ed the Glisofield
, arch sr. . er pn,tfully solicited to give it a trio!, and
rid.,y follow Ott the direct,-ms printed on every 'rom-
a- It I. eaten, Ill,re 11101011 a t -71 .ke than oth •
,•haLo.• tv,‘ ~e. y
Q .reu • i.auttklin,., that is the hue:, :stsich they
ever used. When you ask for the Glenftekl, see that you
get it.