The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-06-28

poses, and tits understood the purchases
are not concluded. Prices In charcoal
irons, both northern and southern, have
shaded off slightly under the urgent COM
petition for special desirable trade. This
has no bearing on the coke iron situa-
ton, as charcoal irons did not decline
proportionately with coke irons. In
southern coke brands, there are few Of
ierings, the furnaces being we'll sold up,
and holding for fifty cents per ton add
vance, which buyers are disposed to
resist The southern market still contin-
ues to improve. both as to price and de-
mand. Furnaces have booked well ahead
for some months, and as the situation is
improving they do not seem Disposed tn
sell TO any length, believing that the
market Is in their favor, and many be-
lieve that the market will 20 considerably
higher. One thing greatly tn be feared is
a general strike throughout the furnace
districts. Should this occur, IL Is the
opinion OF many that IL would be "A long
continued one. in which event there will
be lew furnaces which will be able to sup
ply their present obliga tions. Iron
ore.-The situation Is very quiet and the
demand for Bessemer ores that manifest
ed itself some weeks ago by numerous
inquiries and some few. sales. seems to
have fallen off again. -Bessemer ore
does not move at all. There h not the
Improvement in the general business as
to induce consumers to purchase ore at
the increased price over that paid hast
season. while on the other hand the ore
men. having sold enough last fall To feel
somewhat independent, ARE not offering
any concessions. The vast majority OF
furnaces are supplied with ore only TO
July L, and few until August |, so that
unless some considerable sales are ne
ported within the next ten days or two
Of many stack going out Of blast.
Charters are fairly plenty, the Ashland
rate being Sl.20. with Marquette mt 81.
10 and Escanaba at eighty-tive cents.
The syndicate fiend is abroad again,
this time with extraordinary presidency.
Half dozen mine. have been sold during
the week at prices to suit the gossipers,
but in each case inquiry has resulted IN
n general denial by all the parties con-
cerned. The only cause for these rumors
In the fact that there is unlimited capital
seeking Investment ia dividend paying
mines-and these. az rule. are not in
the market. The local strike in the rail-
road yards is causing serious ineonven-
ienee Co "A number ot furnaces in the
adjacent iron districts who, having little
orno storage facilities. dependupon their
ore supply from week to week, and who
In seine instances are without or.--Pig
iron-The market Is quiet and firm.
Considerable iron ~ being sold at fairly
good prices. bat while the outlook is very
good FOR the last hall Of the year. furnace
men are not SO certain as to the immcdi-
atefutur or the time OF "A general advance.
Furnaces IA a rule are comfortably sitii-
ated with regard 60 orders aud are rather
conservative hs To sales. There ~
large movement In charcoal iron which
bids lair to hold out for some little time
Co come. Bessemer iron Tor immediate
delivery and is comparatively small lots.
commands $3.50 cash AT the furnace.
or about S19.25 here; larger lots. or
orders intended for August and Septem-
Der delivery. could not be placed for less
than $40, u at that The foundry mar
ket II dull. good cinder mixture heing
quoted at $3.50. Both furnaces and
mills are running short on fuel. owing to
the cause already stated, and unless the
local strike should be quickly ended. there
viii be n general stoppsee OF work in n
very lew days.