The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-15
TILE IRON TRADE,
Prospects frightening sOm0WhAt-A Care
full View Ut thO sltuAlisn'

Prospects Nflghtphlhg OuloN"A Se'S
full View OF the situation
Philadelphia Record NJ Saturday,
No general improvement has taken
place in the iron trade. Crude and FIN
ished production is kept within safe
limits. Statesmen soliciting summer
trade report excellent prospects for u
heavy demand at an early day, They
also report stocks moderate ut mills, fur
naces, warehouses and stores, Us well rs
among consumers yards, Conditions
are %ripeniug for a better improvement,
and manufacturers are not, therefore,
anxious just now to load up with orders
for summer deliveries at the present ex-
trGmely low prices. Southern irons are
threatening Northern markets very serl-
ously, but consumers are gratiiied with
the prospects OF buying all the iron they
want at shadings from the lowest mar
ket quotations at home. Southern char
coal pig is making its mark IN the North,
and is giving general satisfaction, Quo
tations for Southern forge are Sl4 %;
Northern $l5 % TO $l5 50i No. foundry
SIS to SIS so; for Southern, $l7. Stand
ard brands are moving in small way for
special orders, hut mill irons are very
weak, and makers prefer to let stocks Nc-
cumulate rather than accept the bids
made by those who are inclined to an
ticipate requirements at bargain prices.
A good deal OF attention is being direct
ed TO the possibilities Of Southern iron,
and while this is the case only moderate
orders will be placed at home, Muck
bars are quoted ut S26 90 to $27 80, with
A good many buyers at so for ordinary
makes, 4 good many buyers have been
purchasing charcoal blooms and anthra-
cite. Quotations are $2S for steel blooms,
$50 for charcoal, $i2 for anthracite. Bar
iron mills through the interior and the
city have very little business on hand
Several owners contemplate shutting
down next week. Prices are nomlnallyIi
Lose for common and l,S5C for refined
Stores are selling better than the mills
but the aggregate OF demand is trItIng
AS compared to what II was
twelve months ago. Manulac-
turers assert that a compensatlng
demand cannot be delayed much
longer. Skelp iron is l.75c. to l.R5G, for
Crooved and sheared. The demand for
rails is better, Us a restriction is now as
sured and stocks will SOon I'll down.
Boiler tubes are ingood demand in West
ern and Southern markets. Pipe Is also
under active inquiry, aud orders have
been placed within a few days in West
ern Pennsylvania for over 5000 tons
Plate and tank is very active, contracts
for the past few days aggregatinG, accord
ing to estimate, upward OF 5000 tons
A great deal OF additional business is
pressing forward, but 1t Is on a basis OF
the lowest quotations that have been
ruling for the past ten days, namely
l.00c. for ordinary plate and tank, 9.lOc,
for Universal plate, 2.40C. for shell and
3.5Oc. for flang0. The same favorable re-
port comes from bridge iron makers.
Tees are 9.40c. angles, l,05c. beams and
channels, 2.S0C. \ great deal OF rail.
road bridge work is coming along, and
the structural iron makers will
very likely have plenty OF work for
the rest OF the season. The sheet
iron mills are also gaining business
The capacity is little in excess OF any
probable demand, and for that reason
the downward tendency in prices is moi
encouraging. The steel rail makers arc
still growing about the backward de,
mand. Quotations, S27 70 $2S. Small
lots only were placed this week. There
are n good many rumors about 5000 and
lO,0OO.tOn lots that are to be placed very
soon, but no definite action is available
at this point. Rumors from New York
are to the effect that contracts for somt
$4,000 or 10, 900 tons will be placed there
next week, but where and who by does
not t%anspire. 1t is known that scvera
Of the railway companies in the South
ern States are wanting material for thell
lines, and their demands, il they come,
will certainly help the market. Through
out the West there is a generally i'm
proved condition. At Cincinnati there
Is but little effort to sell. Southern No
foundry is being held very firm. a
Louisville an attempt to advance mill,
iron quotations have been made and
failed.