Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-28
IN TRADE and COMMERCE.
The Weekly Review OF Iron and
Other Metals
FIRM IN ALL DEPARTMENTS.
General Operations Ruling Moderate c
Increased Expectations of
Pig iron-No New Features
In Groceries.
The Hus;ness World.

ket has been the exportation Of pig iron, sew
eral transactions in this respect being re-
ported during the past week. New York re-
ports say that the Thomas iron company has
made a sale of 500 tons of pig iron for export
to Mexico, the shipment of which Is already
under way. The same company has been ne
gotiating for the sale of 1000 tons In Eng
land, and, it is said, would have succeeded
ere this but for inability to secure freight ac-
commodation on the regular line steamers.
Several lots of Ohio pig are said to have been
sold in Canada in competition with Scotch
iron. The general outlook is stronger, the
home demand for both foundry and mill pig
ruling active, revealing anxiety on the part
of many consumers TO have orders booked
now that a general advance ia prices.
to take effect next month, is found to be a
certainty. Sellers who have first-class
article to deliver within the next seventy
days are very Indifferent and refusing to sell
at less than SlS for No. X, Sl7 for No. 2 Y,
or sl6 for grey forge. Some southern brands
are quoted at 5Oc9sl under those prices, but
the makes that consumers seem content to
take are extremely difficult to obtain for de-
livery this year, and the Kinds that are of
fered at the bottom figures quoted are
buyers have no alternative than to put up
with that class of iron. Some contracts have
been made for certain of the most popular
brands for 1890 delivery at the advanced
prices.
Dealers here say that the demand for pig
iron is much better now than il has been be-
fore this year. Most of the leading
makes of Ohio iron are now practically out
of ~. al, h,,
to sell. Offerings of Pennsylvania
grades are also light and buyers can
only pick up limited quantities. Dealers say
that not only do they have trouble in buying
supplies, but they also find 1t difficult to get
their form er purchases delivered The fur
naces are busy, and Notwithstanding the
tact that the output this year will be the
largest ever known, it now looks as though
this large production would be completely
absorbed, The fact that the competition
with Scotch iron is now done away with,
owing TO the high prices ruling abroad,
makes the demand for American iron so
much greater, while the fact that an outlet
for our iron abroad is opening up makes the
outlook much more favorable.
Bar iron is still meeting with a quiet de-
mand, although the strong tone and higher
prices asked at the producing centres of the
west causes values to be neld firm. The
siderable iron, but no one has yet attempted
to 90 in very heavy in their purchases. The
market is in such "a delicate position at pres
ent that large order would undoubtedly
start prices up very materially, but in the
quiet ways that buyers are operating, they
are able to get supplies at last weeks rates
Swedish iron is firm, and with conditions
showing still more strength abroad, the out
look is for a still further advance in values
here. Dealers only quote on specifications
pnO at civ
piping and plumbing supplies generally are
in firm position with the mills well sup.
pied with orders. Boiler tubes also hold
steady.
All branches of the steel market are firm,
and eastern buyers have to pay higher rates
on some grades than even week ago. New
York reports say that the steel trade, while
not displaying quite the degree of excite
ment that prevailed last week, is still active
and prices are very strong all along the line.
Some contracts for moderate quantities Of
rails have been closed at S32 t. o. b. at east
crn mills, but large buyers seem rather hesi-
tant about closing, although having options
on round lots. despite the representations of
manufacturers regarding the extent to
which the capacity vf the mills is under the
control of orders and the extreme high cost
of crude materials generally. In the Pitts
burg market billets and slabs are up to S34
(035. wire rods to SO and other productions
relatively as high, whilst prices at mills in
other localities employed on those com mod
tiles are Of corresponding level.
Tank plates are quoted higher from the
mills and the general situation for both steel
and iron paltes is stronger. Sheet iron holds
firm and sales are active at full prices.
Blacksmths' supplies are steady.
Old rails are still in nominal condition,
with no transactions reported. There Is a
fair quantity of rails held by several of the
eastern roads, but the views of buyers and
sellers are still too far apart to result in any
business. The roads nominally ask S25,
while with bar iron at its present price mill
men are not bidding above $3.50. Old scrap
IRON is quiet, but the mills are picking up lots
from time to time, with prices ranging as to
quality.
The nail market continues firm with the
tendency towards still further advance.
The high price of wire nails makes the.out-
look for cut nails more favorable, and the
trade look for greater share of the demand
for the latter. The low prices which were
forced by the heavy competition OF the past
two years, have now disappeared, owing to
the advance in crude material, but even at
the advance which has already been made in
nails, the cost of production is not covered.
Tie trade feel that it Is high time that a
living profit was obtained by nail manufac-
turers, and so anticipate still further ad-
vance.
The copper market is steady with a large
movement reported. This season of the year
is the one when copper is most freely used,
and the price for this metal is on sufl-
GENTLY low basis to induce free use of the
material. Tin is quiet and steady, but tin
plates are active, and prices have been still
further advanced in sympathy with the
higher prices abroad. Lead is quiet and q
shade easier, with no change in spelter and
zinc.
The dry goods market holds in a steady
position, with the volume OF business fair.
Tho call from iobbers foots up fairly liberal
for the season, and considering the free sell
ing which was done by them in August and
September, retailers are meeting with good
distributing business aud conditions are
favorable for steady fall business. Cotton
goods hold steady with agents, with some
makes of both brown and bleached goods
we'll sold ahead. Colored cottons remain
quiet and steady, while cotton fiannels are
being freely taken from iobbers, with manu-
facturers also busy in delivery of former
orders. Prints continue quiet, although
speclalties in wide goods yet move well and
hold steady. Ginghams are ia light demand.
Dress goods are steady ana iobbers are
still receiving orders from day to day for
seasonable styles. With manufacturers
business is slow, the season being well over
so far as fall goods are concerned. Foreign
dress goods are firm, while silks and velvets
also show more strength. Flannels are
quiet with manufacturers, but jobbers are
still selling fair lines. Blankets also meet
with good demand, with values steady.
Cassimeres continue quiet but steady, while
worsteds are moving fairly in the delivery
Of former orders. Overcoatings hold quiet
but steady.