The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-04
TIE IRON TRADE.
REVIEW Of LAST YEARS BUSINESS.
The General Condition Of thu Trade uasaiIIfaetory.
The Bottom Thought to lIIvs Be.nIlsreA.d. 2.
Prlem Of PIG Iron, Manufactured
Iron and Steel Rails. .-N

iron age, january Sd. s... ...... r- = .-... rt-
The condition OF the iron trade durinI
1883 has not been satisfactory. The vol
ume Of business has been large, but gener
ally at declining prices, and on bar
margin Of profit Orders have been small
and there has been adisquleting uncertain
ty as 10 the future. Still, tho average re
suit oil the years business IL not 80 bad as
the constant complaint would indicate, as
both manufacturers and dealers held them.
selves in readiness for every change tina,
has taken place. From first 10 last, lower
prices have been anticipated and 1t is
doubtful IL there was ever a time when 70.
duced quotations were made on market
so bare Of stocks as during the year OF
1883. There Is, therefore, this encouraging
feature to be noted, viz: That the trade
never descended to q position Of safety
more easily than On this occasion, and
while prices may rule low during 1881, pro.
ducers are in good condition to meet them,
although some classes Of goods have de.
cllned out Of proportion to others.
THE PIC IRON MARKET.
Pig iron has been steady during the
whole year, the extreme tluctuation being
within about 50 per ton. No. / foundry
iron openedin January at an average price
Of S25 per ton, declined until S2l was reach.
ed In June, became little stronger during
July and August when SD became nm
average quotation. Since tha! date the
changes have been slow, but all to lower
figures, the year closing with No. / foundry
at about S2l. Mill iraas haye moved In
sympathy with fouadry irons, but the
changes were not Us strongly marked,
although in few cases sales were made
below ordinary market rates. This NAV
also be said OF foundry irons, but In ordi-
nary transactions the extreme limits have
not been, moro than four dollars apart
within the year, and not more than half
that within The last six months. In regard
to prices during 1854 the indications point
towards steady market at about to.day's
quotations, say S2l for foundry irons and
SIS to SIS so for mill iroue, a!thcu ,h the
feeling is still feverish and unsettled.
From q general survey OF the field, the
Indications ara that values will bs main
tanned, unless consumption falls Off unex.
pectedly. This opinion is based on the
fact that stocks at the close OF The year are
estimated at about 100000 tons, say 10000
tons in excess OF the year previous. The
current output is probably much less than
it was at that time, however, SO that the
pressure to sell is no. likely to bo as ur-
gent, and especially 10 in view OF the s. or
81 per ton difference in price. Furnaces
that were competitors for business at S24
per ton may be entirely out Of the race at
$50. There is no reason to expect any fc-
titious support to pricea and sensitive
market may be expected Tor some time, in.
fuenced by the general financial condition
OF the country, reports as to seeding and
and later on, by crop prospects,
railway building, etc.