The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-09 00:00:00

xEmo.

- -
THE IRON TRADE.

The downward movement in iron foreshad-
owed on Friday last has since become an accom-
plished fact, and mith inure or less hesitation all
the list houses have now accepted a reduction of
.L 2 in bars. For other descriptions of iron prices
vary considerably, according to the engagements
of particular firms, and the quality of their iron;
but the following may he regarded as the aver-
age quotations by leading houses for the staple
descriptions of manufactured iron : Bars, £l2;
hoops, £l3; plates and sheets (singles), £l4.
Messrs. Bradley and Co. (Foster), however,
quote for sheets £l6 10s; Messrs. Brown and
Freer, £l7; and Messrs. Bloomer, .£l5 ss.
Lord Dudley's bars, as usual, are 12s Gd above
the standard quotation. Second-class bars stand
now at about £ll, and other descriptions at front
1:1 to £2 per ton under the leading quotations
given above. Pig iron is nominally unchanged,
at £7 to £7 5s per ton for hot-blast native all.
mine, 17s 6d for cinder, and other kinds in
proportion; but the prices are practically Is to
lOs lower. The fall in this class of iron would,
no doubt, have been more marked but for the
continued firmness of fuel and ironstone, and
the great curtailment of production which has
lately taken place by the blowing-out of furna-
ces in different parts of the district, which is
still extending. As yet, the fall in iron has not
been productive of much new business. A few
of the leading firms report some additional orders
for sheets, bars, and angles, chieflrfor export,
but the general position of trade is rather worse
than before the alteration, and in a few cases
works are absolutely at a standstill for orders.
Of those which are in operation the majority are
making barely half-time, and the result is that
at the present high rate of wages the workpeo-
ple are considerably worse off than tinder the
old scale. Whether this flatness is due more to
failure of demand or to the temporary holding
back of orders in the hope of still. lower prices,
it is difficult to determine, but there can he no
doubt there are many good specifications in the
market, and then when merchants see lit to place
them, a considerable accession of business will
, result. Meantime thoy declare that prices are
still too high, and will only give out orders to
satisfy immediate requirements.

The British Journal of Health, states that " out of 27
" samples of black tea, collected from grocers' shops, six
"were genuine, 20 were more or less adulterated, and one
" contained, as far as could be discovered, not a single
'leaf of genuine tea. Of eight specimens of green tea
"examined, every one was more or less painted or eclat-
" tented." This evidence of the Unwholesome character
of the tea ordinarily sold, cannot but convince consumers
of the great advantage secured by purchasing tea impor-
ted without the usual ortificial facing of injurious colour
—by this means not only is wholesomeness guaranteed,
but inferior leaves cannot be passed off—to this is attribu-
table the great strength and delicious flavour of Honai-
man's Pure Tea, sold in packets, by Chemists, &c.,
throughout the kingdom.
DIBRA.R. OF THE CHM CURRI.—From M. I'. Wile.,
Market Deeping : Your valuable Wafers are very eth-
cleat for chest diseases. I have tried them myself, and
recommended them to several friends, and proved their
! beneficial effects," Dr. Locock's NW:ionic Wafers give
instant relief to Asthma, Consumption. Coughs, Colds,
Bronchitis, and all disorders of the throat, breath, and
lungs. In Hysterical, Nervous, and Heart complaints,
and in Rheumatic and Nervous pains, they act like a
charm. Nothing else gives such a soroal, refreshing
night's rest. They taste pleasantly. Sold by all drug-
gists. laud and 2. 9d per box.
II TIMM ARR ANY LADIES who bete not, yet used the
OLIMIBLD STARCH, they are respectfully solicited to
give it a taialt and carefully follow out the directions
printed en every package, and if this is done, they will
say, like thi• Queen's Laundress, it is the finest Starch
they eV, need. When you ask for GI-ENFIELD STAIWY
bee that you get it, as inferior kinds are often substituted
for the sake of extra profit. Beware therefore of spur-
ious imitations.