The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-07 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVE'RIIAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.

The near approach of quarter•day is unfavour-
ably affecting the iron trade of this district.
Both makers and consumers are uncertain
whether there will be a change in prices at the
quarterly meetings, although the prevailing im-
pression on 'Change this afternoon was that
they will remain in stata quo, or that if any
change were made it would certainly he in an
upward direction. Marked and unmarked bars
maintain their regulation prices of £9, 9 12s
Cl, and £7 per ton respectively. Makers of
pig iron reported this afternoon that the demand
for that product had much improved, some of
them even selling the whole of their produce.
All-mine cold-air pig iron is ~*5 lOs per ton, and
hot-air from £4 lOs to £4 14s, and even 15s.
House coal is in increasingly better demand,
and a meeting of the Cannock Chase coal-
owners will probably be held in Birmingham
to-morrow (Thursday) to consider the advisa-
bility of again raising their prices at the
quarterly meeting. A meeting of sheetmakers
will also probably be held in Birmingham
to-morrow to receive a proposition for raising
special qualities. It is for the Cannock Chase
owners and for Lord Dudley that the manufac-
turers in this district are waiting, before
declaring themselves on the subject of prices.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.

There was to-day a large attendance of iron-
masters and merchants on Change, and the iron
market was decidedly better than last week.
Sellers on nearly every class of iron were asking
more money, ond were by no means anxious to
boow orders at late rates. Buyers , however,
are still unwilling to consent to any increase in
prices, and though it is probable prices will be
even a little Inner at quarter-day (next Thurs-
day) than they have been to-day. it seams pretty
generally understood that there wLI be no de-
clared advance upon the present list prices.
Nor is it probable that there will be any increase
in the price of coal, though the actron of the
coal trade is still being watched with interest,
if not anxiety. There have been rumours to
the effect that the Eaal of Dudley intended to
raise the price of forge coal, following up the
advance in the Cannock Chase district, and it
was even said that the colliery owners in the
latter district contemplated a further advance
of is. per ton, but little credence was to-day
given to any of these reports. The Cannock
Chase coal masters seem inclined to let well
alone. Laat week they arrived at no decision
on the subject, and though they held a meeting
in Birmingham to-day the question was not even
discussed, the meeting being for an entirely
different oaject. It was, in fact, lo consider the
sliding scale of payment to the men, notice being
given to terminate it in its present form with the
view, if possible, to an alteration. At present
the scale is based upon the prices of deep coal.
which is quite a speciality, and there is a desire
to make it apply to both deep and shallow ;
but whether thrs will be agreed to is quite an-
other question. At all events for the present it
is pretty well settled that there will be no ad-
vance in Cannock coal, for althoug the demand
is certainly better there is nothing to warrast
any increase in price. It was generally under-
stood, too, that there will ba no alteration in the
price of forge coal, and this was a Bourse of con-
siderable satisractton, for it was felt that any ad-
vance in furnace coal would be very prejudicial
in the present state of the iron trade. It is
satisfactory to note, however, that the demand
for all classes of finished iron is steadily increas-
ing, there being a :greater disposition on the
paat of bxpers and especially home merchants
to fill up their stocks at present prices, makers
having moae oreers on their books than for come-
time past. The stocks are not being replenished
at advancek ratee, orders doing in most cases
subject to existing rates. There is a good de-
mand for galvanaised sheets for export, and as
the shipment to Russia is drawing to a close
there is r fair inxuiry for roofing sheets for that
market- This is contrary to general expectation
for it was thought there would be little or no
demand, but owing to the excitement which has
been created the makers are in receipt of good
orders. Prices are nominall as follows :—Com-
mon bars, £7 and upwards; marked bars, £9;
sheets (singles), common, £9 to £9 10s. ; good
merchrnt sheets for working-up, £10; boiler
plates, from £9 10s. to £lO 10s. ; hoops, £8 10s
to 09; wire rods, £lO ta £ll ; fencing rods,
£9 to £10; cinder pig, from £2 7s 6s. for very
common to £2 15s ; partimine, £3 to £3 ss; all-
mine, £3 15s to £4 10s. ; Lincolnshire pigs, .23
to £3 2s 6d with the usual allowance of is 3d
for mottled and 2s 6d for and 2s and 6d for
white ; Northamptonshire, £3 ; Derbyshire, £3
to £3 2s. 6d; forge coal, from is to Ss per ton ;
fine slack, from 23. 6p to 3s ; rough, 4s Od to ss.