The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-05 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

Mr. Samuel Griffins, in his circular dated Wol-
verhampton, Sept. 3d, says :—The demand fur most
kinds of Staffordshire iron during the whole of the
past month, has been considerably in excess of the
corresponding month of last quarter. A consider-
able impetus was given to the trade in August, by

the demand from Canada for nail sheets, boiler
plates, and angle bars, more especially the former
kind, which kept several of the second rate works
fully occupied during the greater part of the month.

The demand for the home trade, the East Indies,
and Australia, has likewise been considerably over
the average, running upon hoops, thin sheets,
angle bars, best bars, and a few small orders for
boiler plates. Considerable quantities of nail rods
of known brands have also been slit in the district
for China, and a fair average weight of common
rods for consumption in our own district have
changed hands. The demand for superior horse
nail rods for the Belper district has likewise been
satisfactory, and a contract has been entered into
by a firm in the neighbourhood for 3,000 tons of
Staffordshire rails. On the other hand, the orders
from the United States have not come up to the
expectations of the best informed parties in the
trade. During the whole month the specifications
arriving here by each successive vessel have been
small, and even by the last packet the same feature
prevails with regard to the orders received. On
the whole the trade may be considered decidedly
more healthy and the demand satisfactory, being
entirely for legitimate consumption. Late prices
are well maintained, and for all kinds of finished
iron the turn of the market against buyers. The
market for pig iron during the month has been
good, and several large contracts have been entered
into in the early part of it by some of the leading
manufacturers for hydrates and first-class all mine
-brands, which continue firm at prices below.
Nevertheless the market has, during the latter part
of the month, assumed a quieter tone, and con-
siderably less business has been done during the
last fortnight in pig iron, and the sane feature
prevailed to a greater extent during the last week
—more especially with regard to pig iron of
second and third-class quality. The importations
into these districts have very much fallen off,
owing to the demand for finished iron now running
upon best qualities, which require our own native
hydrates and all mine brands for their mix-
tures. Shropshire and Forest of Dean are still
arriving ; and in favour with the manufacturers.
Melters, Nos. 1,2, and 3, have been in good re-
, quest during the month, and more than an average
amount of business done in them at full rates.

Good qualities of puddled bars have been much
sought after, at slightly improved prices, and refined
metal has found a much better market at current
ates.

The official list of prices of finished iron is as
follows :-Common Staffordshire bars, 71. 10s., at
the works ; best bars, 81. 10s. ; sheets, 9/. ; doubles,
101. 10s. ; nail sheets, 8/. 10s. ; lattin, 121.; boiler
plates, 9/. ; best and best best in proportion , com-
mon rods, 71. 10s.; hoops, 8/. 10s. ; Canada plates,
121., and all other sorts in proportion.
Current prices of pig iron, Staffordshire cold
blast, 4/.105.; best native hydrate pigs, 3/. 15s. to
4/. ss. ; first class all mine grey forge pigs,3./.75.64,
to 31. 15s. ; good mine pigs, with. a modicum of
flue cinder, 31.55.; mine pigs, deteriorated b 1 cinder,
price.s ainm el) lvi icteh,
2/. 12s. 6d. to 3/. ; Melters, Nos. 1,2, and 2/.175.
6d. to 3/. 2s. 6d. ; superior makes of all mine melting
iron, 3/. 10s. to 4/., according to make
. and quality.
The Glasgow market for Scotch pigs " has been
comparatively firm, with a lair demand both for
speculation and shipment.
525. 3d. cash, but a steady advance followed to
535. 9d . , on the 1Ith ult . , which
slight reaction, since then, the price of mixed Nos.
warrants has fluctuated betwtyentiens)hnuewfesomassr2s. 6d. and 535."
odirott
satisfactory.
littlea32hts,
ie9.
sofm6a6bdea
uitroosk Copper-Thein.renyst
.eassg against
iprompt;n yesterdaymisentxagi6p:klira(l:6s
dresfploodtnraroai
correspond-
ing month of last year, which must be considered
although ug gi
giving
n tgh e
wsatyo'c
whenk s of
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an
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ared .
as
thheavy,reainebeda .
or
barrier
business is done, the English. smelters are endea-
vouringseEnrtdnrtgaoil
lass 1 riheradesmu
dcateiicnolsni
ntihende
to uphold fixed rates, alleging the present
moTdienr-ateThdeemp
being now worth 36/. to 37/. Banca, 1445., no-
thing doing in the latter.
Tin plates, the demand less active, manufacturers
tolerably well off for old contracts.