The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-30
Iron and Coal Interests.

PHILADELPHIA, October 2.-The
iron trade never had better pros.
pect in this state than now, according
to Information from all sources.
Within the past week no less than
one hundred establishments engaged
in some branch of the manufacture
of iron, and articles made of iron,
have been put in operation in differ
ent portions of the state. Iron-ore
tracts, which have lain idle for years
past, have again been put under de-
velopment, and considerable Of the
equipment of railroad companies is
being used to transport the imported
ores to the interior points. Prices
for iron were never better maintain.
ed, and within the past month there
has been an average advance on all
grades of iron of fifty cents per ton,
while the past eight months has wit
messed an advance of 81 per ton on
the first-class irons. There is an urg-
ent inquiry for material, and this
points to the probability of a still
further advance in prices.
The railroad companies have ex.
perienced no dimlnutiOn in the de-
mand made upon them for transport
tation facilities, and the Pennsylva-
mia and Reading Railroad companies
are reported to be refusing local
contracts, which require a specified
number of cars daily. The ear com.
panies are all busy turning out equip.
ment, and are reported to have more
orders than they can fill. The Penn,
sylvania Railroad Company will give
orders this week for one thousand
additional cars, making nearly four
thousand cars that have been con-
structed within the past eight months
for that cOmpany's account, and in
creasing the number of cars employ
ed in that company's system to
$4,000. The Baldwin Locomotive
Works are also busy in every depart
ment, and are tuning out an average
of thirteen locomotives per week.
They employ 5000 hands, and last
week, to meet urgent demands, male
sixteen locomotives.
No better evidence of the prosper.
itv of the country is furnished than
the enormous demand for fuel. The
introduction of natural gas into Pitts
burg. which was great coal-cOnsum-
ing market, and the use of other
artificial! fuels. have not diminished
the demand for c;,al. Bituminous
and anthracite are being sent 10 mar
ket as RAPIDLY As possible to meet The
demand for them. and so active is
| the demand for coke that new ovens
and the syndicate controlling this
article of fuel has ordered off all re.
strictiOns in its manufacture. and the
ovens will be operate TO their great
est capacity. The anthracite pro.
ducerS have been compelled to in
crease their output for the present
month Ivy $50 600 tons. Their is no
restrictive combination in hituminOuS
coal, AMI the fuel tonnage of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company
this year will he 2,000.00 tons in
excess of that of last year. The
greatest needs of equipment with the
railroads is in the transportation Of
| fuel.
The combination of steel-rail max
ers find that the purpose for whirh it
was organized oyer a year ago at
Long Branch, viz to restrict the
manufacture of rails 10 the actual
requirements of demand, has teen
made almost unnecessary by the ex.
traOrdinary demand for rails. The
large amount of railroad building
now in progress, and the still greater
amount in prospective, places the
StttI-Idll tIhut III q SdIt anu tib'St tiI"
couraging position. The price has
steadily advanced to S26 so per ton
year ago to S34. so per ton now as the
lowest for large contracts, while for
smaller lots as high as S36. so and S37
per ton has been obtained. Large
orders have been placed in Western
and Pennsylvania mills for spring
delivery. These orders are reported
TO amount to so. 600 tons. Next spring
will, undoubtedly, witness gleat nc
tiviiy with the steel-rail makers. as
Il number of Western roads will then
be in the market for supplies.
A Novel Theory.