The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-10-17
THE IRON TRADE.
PROPHECIES ofa Busy winter, with Up.
uaFti prices. ,T1- ~ TCt

THE IRON TRADE.
Prophecies ofa Busy winter, With Up
ward Prices.
PHILADELPHIA, October 15.-The iron
men OF the State are congratulating each
other over the prospect that the prolonged
depression in their industry ispassinga away.
From every part Of Pennsylvania reports
are coming in that the consumption Is In
creasing, and that a busy winter may be
expected.
The improved condition Of affairs began
in the West, and even the Eastern manu-
facturers are already feeling the good
effects. In Pennsylvania the demand for
plates and tank iron Is very brisk, and,or-
ders for prompt delivery can only be
placed by paying full market rates, while
in some instances an advance Of s. per
ton has been paid on duplicate orders
given out In the early part OF the month.
in sheet iron are numerous
and heavy, and, Judging by present pros
poets, the large stock carried forward from
last year will be entirely marketed. hun.
In the bar trade, also, a better feeling
prevails, and the manufacturers are de,
manding q slight advance on the prices
ruling inrthe early part Of the month! An
encouraging feature is the fact that athc
demand from stores is weekly on hem
crease, and one iron firm reports that their
sales to storc-keepers last week were heay-
Ter than during any one month in the
present year. tsIi9'o aa". y.
The steel rail mills are employedto their
fullest capacity, and tho manufacturersre-
port numerous inquiries for large lots,
with the prospect Of large orders being Sc
cured. During the past few weeks a de-
mand for old rails for tho West has sprung
up, and the result is that the market has
been completely cleared, while in some
instances the prices have advanced fully
81 so per ton over average: quotations.
Well.infOrmed iron mon say that an active
time is in the prospective both in regard
to consumption and an upward tendency
OF prices.
90 THE ENfOhE IhADE.
The extent to which the iron industries
the country is now, orlikely to be, here
after, relieved by the export OF any OF the
products il a question to which the Asso-
GATED Industries OF the United States. has
for some time past given especial atten-
ton. With the view OF obtaining a def
mite and authoritative MISUNDERSTANDING,
Mr.. Lorin Blodget, has made a'personal
among n large proportion OF the
manufacturers OF minor articles Of iron,
and he has now presented his conclusions
in the form Of a report othe, Iron and
Steel Association. He declared that the
development OF the export trade In iron
Is Of tho most striking and re-
markable character, and that It already
represents fully thrce-fourths OF the entire
product Of Philadelphia, The export do
he adds, Is weekly on tho increase,
md everything points to q permanent
market for local iron productions,
These conclusions arc fully verified by
the statements in the report. Three local
houses engaged in the manufactured Of steel
forks, hoes and rakes have been compelled
Of late to increase thoir working force, and
three-fourths OF their productions have
been taken up in England and Central
Europe. A large demand for these arti-
clcs have come fromShefield, and English
manufactures are r%e:exporting them to the
as English wares. Five estah-
lishments arc full with foreign orders for
steel and iron tools, while six others ore
exporting shovels, spades and coal hods TO
Europe, South America and Australia.
One focal firm has made q fair commence
mont In the way OF exp0rtlngtable cutlery.
Disston's saws, files and levels arc being
made to order from every part Of the
and three other establishments are
doing a largo foreign trade In the same
class OF articles. Nails and spikes are he
ing taken In liberal quantities for South
America and the West Indies, and this
trade, according to the reports received by
The manufacturers, is capable Of very con-
siderable extension.
The last few months has developed an
export demand for bolts, nuts and rivets.
Six establishments have received ..,gC
LARGE Orders FOR ENGLAND, l,seL
the Continent Australia and South Ameri-
a, and the whole number arc actively en-
Several iron mills outside the
,ity have sent large quantities Of fencing
md other iron to Brazil, the River Platte
and Australia, and'an- order for a system
81 suspension bridges in Peru is daily ex-
Several large orders from Peru
ind Chill for sheet and roofing iron have
been filled, and a practicable opening *
for competition with England in the
OF the enormous quantity Of gal
and other sheet iron constantly
-equired in South America. Foreign or
iers for merchant bar iron have recently
appeared In the market for the first time,
and two shipments have been made to
Callao. Twelve establishments are re-
foreign orders for g~alvanised pipes,
ratings, icnceS and cemetery Enclosures!
The export trade in hardware has of
late advanced in a remarkable manner
and the business is already assuming enor-
nous proportions. The largest demand is
from EnEland, and the next from Ger
many, while Australia and South America
ire calling directly for quantities never
until recently thought possible to be sent
cut. Brass work and castings have par
.icipated in the export movement to Eng
and, tho Continent and Australia, the
more novel and elaborate forms in plumb
,ry. gas and water supply, being especially
demand. 1.o.l s4 2
In addition to these articles, Mr.. Blodget
lives q list OF manufacturers who are filling.
orders for railroad supplies and
machinery, sugar machinery, agricultural
Implements, mining shaftings, grain and
Hour mills. Altogether, not less than two
hundred local establishments are engaged
On orders for foreign markets. Many Of
.hese have their whole working force en-.
in this direction, and are compelled
refuse home orderss