The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-08 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERIIANTON, WEDNESDAY.
•
Only a very few instances could be reported
this afternoon in which more orders are in hand
now than a week ago. Amongst these exceptional
cases best boiler plates stand pre-eminent.
Makers of such goods find no difficulty in secur-
ing .£l2 a ton for all they are now making, and
at that figure they have booked more orders this
week than for several past. Transactions in
anything were, however, the exception, everyone
holding back till it shall be known what will be
the prices at Quarter day. There was a pretty
general Apectation that there will be a reduction
in finished iron at that time of £1 per ton.
Other authorities however, hold that no reduc-
tion will be declared by the markedhouses. The
iron workers mostly expect a drop in wages, and
the puddlers are generally at work this week
subject to the new terms to be agreed upon.
Less work has been done in the first two days
of this week than would have been the ease if
there had not been the interference of the spring
races at Wolverhampton. Of this interference
business men are loudly complaining; whilst at
the mills and forges in the aggregate no great
amount of inconvenience has resulted, owing to
the slackness of business; still there were in-
stances mentioned this afternoon as to which
there was much cause for complaint. And the
hardware manufacturers and other large employ-
ers of labour, some of whom are just now greatly
pressed to get work out of hand, did not fail to
speak very plainly about this new innovation in
the matter of holidays. Employers, who are by
no means averse to their work-people having
opportunities for recreation, declined to admit
that, with the great Easter holidays so near at
hand, it is needful that these spring races should
be held.

The news received in this district from the iron
districts of the United States does- not justify
the expectation of any speedy resumption of
activity at the mills and forges in that country.
Correspondence notifies the failure of two iron.
making firms. In one the liabilities amount to
600,000 dollars. In the first case the proprietor
owns one of the finest ironworks in Pittsburgh,
and he is privileged not only with the esteem of
his fellow ironmasters, but also with the very
hearty goodwill of his workpeople. These, who
number 300, have displayed that goodwill after
a fashion without frequent precedent in England
To a man they have offered to continue to work
for their old employer at half rates for three
months. Such a spirit by working meu claims
the widest publicity. . Ironmasters in Swill
Staffordshire w3uld desire that some of their
workpeople hereabouts were so ready to co-op-
erate with their employers at a time when it is
imperative that so much should be done by both
to re3tore contidene to the market. It is, how-
ever, at the same time noteworthy that, acting
as a body, the puddlers of Pittsburgh are de-
manding hiz,her vcea thao their employers are
prtard to (rive They are demanding 4 dollars
75 cents per ton.

The depression and disorganisation which
have prevailed for Room /eoliths past Hi th,
South Stafferishireliron trade show no symptoms
91 abatement yet. On the contrary, the suffer-
ing is increasing. Prices, it is trio, aro not
quotably lower; but a larger number cf firms
are now cpioting on the minimnm basis than
there were a month or two ago. Production,
too, has been and is still being curtailed by the
!eduction of hands and working days, the blow
ing out of furnaces,
and in many cases the tem-
porary closing of works. The few orders given
out at present being subject to quarter-day
prices must be quite unremuneratiye, in the
event of a reduction, unless and until the cor-
respond ing reduction in fat 1 ai.d labour comet
into operation. No definite conclusion has vet
been conic to by the leaders of the trade as to
the future course of prices, but it is generally
understood that, subject to a reduction of not
less than 23 per ton in coal bringing furnace coal
down to 113 per ton, there will be a fall of £1
pli• ton in finished iron, leaving marked bars on
a b tsis of £9 per ton. Some litle improverneil,,
hi been reported this week in the demand fur
boiler plates, but on the whole the wrouglit iion
trade is in a very unsatisfactory state, and with-
ont much present prospect of improvement. In
the pig-iron department there is little or nothing
doing. Pigs of first-class quality are firm, but
common pig-iron is almost unsaleable, even at
sacrificial prices. The coal trade, which has
been well arisiAdned hitherto by railway contracts
is much quieter. Few, even of the leading col-
lieries; a ein fall operation, and several are quite
at a standsid:l. There is, as usual in slack times,
a good deal of underselling by the non-associated
InatJters,