The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-10-18

throughout the past week at Rufalo. Small
consumers are combining themselves 20 purchases
OF car load lots while larger meters buy In much
smaller quantities than usual. although their
requirements necessitate more frequent pur-
chases OF the English market, our correspon.
dents, ;. w. Royce & Co, Manchester write
Prices OF pig iron have advanced steadily
during the month both AT Glasgow aud Middles.
brot gh. the total advance secured being about
2s per ton. The steady advance that was
taking place has been liner eased by the fear OF
labor troubles In Scotland, aud this has checked
business, the transactions NJ present being only
OF small dimensions. Fwights have advanced
at Middlesbrough, and shipments FOR this month
are expected 20 be up TO the average. Iron
Ore.-rhe only thing TO report Ia connection
with this market ~ the advance Of five cents "A
ton paid TO ore carriers from Escanaba, while
the dollar rate from Lake Superior remains un-
changed. The advance IL brought about by the
demands made upon the shipping by the grain
trade, aud quite a good many vessels that were
chartered for the season by ore man have been
diverted, during the week, into the grain trade.
The furnaces are rapidly clearing the docks,
hereabOuts OF their contract ore, not so much
because they need it. but TO avoid difficulties
later on, when the inclemency Of the weather
may seriously interfere With the easy handling
Of the ore. The lake shipments keep up their
average, aud the total Is growing day by day.
Pig lron.-The news OF the week can hardly
be encouraging 90 the trade or 70 the interests
depending upon the welfare OF the raw material
Indeed. the state of the pig iron market could
hardly be more disappointing, aud the present
conditions seem TO cOnspire Ia depressing an
already weakened trade. There seems 10 "
little prospect for early change for the better
A most remarkable aud altogether anomalous
condition OF affairs Is found in the simultaneous
prosperity Of the propurts of pig iron, and "a
slump In thepigiron market no less pronounced.
The mills are over.crowded with work there IN
a great and growing demand for all the products
of pig material; manufactured iron OF every
kind and shape is eagerly sought. but the pig
iron market has seldom been duller than at
present, and this IL the face OF the fact that
there never WAS greater consumption OF pig
material than II shown at present, and that
there IN AN appreciabe falling off In pig stocks.
While IL Is true that there u little more
movement among the buyers. the fact remains
that the price Is SO weak as 60 be "a level with
and. Ia some instances. below cost. Naturally,
this ~ hardly normal condition. but the
chances for AN Improvement ARE altogether CON
fined TO the buyers who at present insist upon
purchasing their supply from hand 20 mouth,
rather than order their regular material In
larger quantities. IL may be mentioned, how
ever that these same buyers are not unwilling
to place orders for large quantities. and for
long future delivery, at the ruling.prices which,
involving they undoubtedly would the fur
nacemen in serious loss are being declined.