The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-26 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE

WOLVERHA3IPTON, Wednesday.

The market this afternoon showed signs of
bLtter bade being done in various departments,
paiticularly with regard to cheap bars, common
sheets, and hoops, the sales of which have in-
creased timing toe past week. Prices are a little
steadier. especially as to unmarked bars and work-
ing-up sheets. In the latter article quicker de.
iire.irea are now being asked for than was the case
earlier in the quarter.
.}:t2 12. T
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onexpdodi
rturancu-
the last fortnight, and manufacturers have noi•
sufficient work in hand to carry them on for an
other month or six weeks. Strips and nail rods
are selling moderately well, but makers complain
of the low rates at which they have to take their
coders. In the heavier branches the chief demand
is for girder plates and angles, the last mentioned
article Icing bought more extensively now by the
local railway carriage builders. Pius go off slowly.
The demand for best pigs is exceedingly limited,
but medium qualities, fetching from £2 10s. to
£2 155., are inquired for in lots up to 500 tons.
Some of the agents for outside brands announce
that they have received somewhat better inquiries.
This is notably the case as regards Northampton
and Lincolnshire, but for hematites there is a very
quiet demand 'the contracts for ironstone and
puddling ore are fully up to the average, but there
is scarcely anything doing in coal, sales of heavy
quantitit s being deferred until the settlement of
toe wages question, while the warm weather has
restricud the ale of household qualities,

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.

Operations have been generally resumed at the
mills and forges and blastfurnaces, and there is a
fair amount of cmployment. 0 wing to the sudden
and excessive heat, however, the puddlers have
been compelled to stop ivork at intervals at several
e tablishinents. Some of the manufacturers are in
a better position since than before the holidays,
a d consequently they are upholding prices mere
finely. Production of all classes of iron keeps
tolerably large, but prices are unsatisfactory in all
departments. A few more orders are coming to
hind from Russia, and the opening of the naviga-
tion i,eason in the Baltic will no doubt bring a large
accsuion of bu•ines from the northern portions of
that empire and from Scandinavia. At the same
taue a better demand for iron is likely to be ex-
perienced from the Unite,l States immediately that
the new tariff charges come into operation. The
iron market this afternoon was &Diet. and the
arbitrators' award in the coal trade maintaining
the present rate of wages until the Ist August did
not improve the position of the market, for although
Lord Dudley wilt continue to sell at the reduced
prices, some coal owners are getting the full prices
lronmasters, however, were hopeful of the iuture,
and the tendency of quotations was in the direction .
of increased illness. Certain of the m kers of
common bars, hoops, strip, and angle iron, who
have hitherto been underselling, have accumulated
a fair number of orders, and refused to take oilers
at the same unprofitable rate. A very large
business could be done by the manufacturers of
good merchantable iron if they would make slight
eoncesions to merchants and consumers. The fact
that they decline to do so is the beat. evidence of
the stability oh the trade. Several fairly large con.
tracts for conimm sheets were placed thia afternoon
but prices showed no rtcovery upon the very low
limit last reported. Sheets for gasholders were in
improved requirement. The demand for pig iron
was moderate, all-mine iron going off very slowly.
Northampton and Derbyshire iron met with a steady
inquiry, and medium Staffordshire pigs went off in
lots ranging up to 700 tons.

•
ALLEN & HANBURTS' "PERFECTED' COD LIVED OIL
"Is as nearly tastelesa aa Cod Liver Oil can be."—Lancet
"No nauseous erucations follow." Medical Pros
ITIONUM i waled bottles 014.