The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-09

A New York dispatch says OF the cut
made by the Thomas Iron Company:
This Is the lowest regular trade price
ever know for pig iron In this country.
The general impression in this city Is
that It will cause quite extensive
blowing out Of furnaces, as there are
many which cannot make profit at
these figures. 1t Is believed that the
older Lehigh furnace, which have ad.
vantages In ore, can make iron and
deliver II at tide at an average cost OF
$l9 Is per ton for the three grades.
Some OF the smaller furnaces cannot lay
down iron at tide for less than $40 per
ton.
The agents OF the Southern iron in
this city arc greatly excited over the &C.
ton Of President Clarke. They say they
can compete in Northern markets at the
reduction and will do so. There Is some
foolish talk OF making a war, but II costs
80 much money to run a non.paying
iron furnace that this Is not likely, as
the Southern concerns are known 10
have little or no capital 10 waste.
Agents Of Northern iron companies
say, allowing for only small profit at the
mills, Southern iron cannot be laid down
on the wharves at Northern cities at less
than the Thomas Company's- prices,
The production Of the Southern furna.
COS Is estimated at nearly $500 tons Of
pig iron per day, and the consumption
In the South at 1900 per day. The &C.
ton Of the Southern iron makers will be
awaited with good deal OF anxiety, but
II may not be fully developed for sever
al weeks.
President D. g, Clarke, OF the Thomas
Iron Company, was q very busy man TO-
day. The notice OF q reduction In the
price Of iron by bis company was wide.
| " circulated, and o number Of customers
and others called on him for informa.
ton. Mr.. Clarke was very frank with
everybody.
1.-THE reduction In the price Of iron,n
he said, twas made because we found
that other people were taking Our trade.
The Southern furnaces and Others have
been going 10 our customers. and cutting
prices. We found that this made some
Impression, and we made q move to pre-.
serve our trade, That is all there Is
about it.h
dWhat effect will this have on the
iron trade generality
at will decide the question whether
we can make and sell iron In our own
territory as Cheaply as anybody. This
move Is the first step In d contest be.
tween Northern and Southern irons, and
II will have 10 be fought out, We pro.
pose 10 retain Our trade until we can
make no profit In making iron, and II
that time over comes We will surrender,
but not until theh,n y
""Wlll the reduction increase tie de.
mand for lron7"
"The demand ior iron 10 very large
now, and the consumption Is enormous,
We are not anxious 10 sell iron, and we
arc making no special effort to do so,
"What can the South do In the way oil
further competition. ,"
~ don't think they can sell below
these prieea,N
GLOW about the future Of tradeVp
~ think the present prices are The
lowest we shall nee. They are certainly
, the lowest prices ever known for PHI
iron Of reputable brand In this country
unless at q forced SALE.
Mr., Clarke expressed himself as hope
iul that after q short time tho tridI
!, would pick DIP, especially II the ptoduc
lion oiifon ID le6sened. The CompeLl
ton among the makers Of steel rails Il
sharper than ever II 10 reported that
sale was made to-day on the basis 0
t9l 10 per ton. This ID 81 10 below thl
lih,Uhal t,plNn aVbe mazda In lhia rotinlP,