Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-21
FURNACES AND FARMS.
The Iron Boom Stimulates the Fire Brick
TFnde-Manufacfurers Behind In Or
ders-WIHcousln Produce In
PiffsburR-The Week

OFFICE OF PIrTsBURe DISPATCH, Z
THURSDAY. February 20, 1890


OFFICE OF PITTsBURe DIsPATcH,l
THURSDAY. February 20. 1880.
The fire brick business was probably
never livelier in Pittsburg than it is at this
time. Interviews with representatives. Of
four of the leading manufacturers to-day de-
veloped the fact that orders are already on
the books sufficient to absorb the entire out
put for five months ahead. The man who de-
sires to place an order for high grade fire brick
at this time is compelled to wait for q more
convenient season. Mr.. Thomas Addenbrook,
master bricklayer of the Edgar Thomson Steel
Works, was In the city with view TO place an
order for $4,000 bricks for the purpose Of re-
Edgar Thomson called for about 100000. In
order to the acceptance OF the new order one Of
our leading fire brick manufacturers stipulates
an advance in the time of filing the old order.
How the Demand Increases.
The orders already placed by the Edgar
Thomson approach 5000 900 fire brick, and.
from the present outlook as many more will be
needed by the time the present orders are
filled. It is but few years since $1,000 tons Of
Bessemer iron was considered good yield for
furnace before new lining was required.
This yield has been more than doubled by fur
naces of the Edgar Thomson in late years.
for steel rails it seems to be the policy to crowd
the furnaces for all that is in them, even at the
sacrifice of fire brick and the necessity Of fire.
Quent relinings. The average life OF the fur
made in pushing them to their utmost capacity
far more than compensates for the burning out
of the lining.
The present price of the better graoes of fine
brick Is S31 per ZOO, an advance Of about 81 in
the past three months. From present outlook
a still further advance is probable ere long.
Said Mr.. Addenbrouk: "Qur present force in
the pricklsying department at the Edgar Thom-
son is close to $50 men. This is above our aver
age number. because we have been building
two new furnaces one of which il just COM
pleted. But, If no further additions are made
1t will require from $50 to 800 bricklayers to
keep the nine furnaces in necessary repair. In
fact we will be compelled to build new fur
mace or two every year, as the way matters are
pushed puts an old furnace on our hands for
refining fully that often"
A Wisconsin Produce Merchants Views.
A member Of the firm of scanlon Brothers,
produce dealers of Lyndon, Wis, 80 miles west
of Milwaukee, was in the city to-day negotiat-
ing for the sale Of eight carloads Of potatoes.
Said he: II have seldom known q better yield
of potatoes in our section, both as to quantity
and quality The price paid to farmers is
about Csc per bushel. and the freight to Pitts
burg is I8c per bushel. Our stuff is generally
sold in Chicago. but the markets there are
over-stocked. This is my second trip to Pitts
burg for the purpose Of selling potatoes.
Through the Northwest at distance from rail-
roads potatoes have been selling Of late as
low as l2&c per bushel and slow at
that price. In Central Wisconsin the
oats crop was very heavy last season,
and price there now is l6c per bushel. Corn is
selling az 25c. The crops in all lines were un-
usually large, and prices are very low for
almost anything farmers raise. As to wheat
there was only an average croplast season, but
ours is not much of q wheat country. This has
not been a good year for profits to farmers,
owing to the abundance of everything. It has,
however. been good year for the millions who
consume"
The Week ut East Liberty.
Following is the report of the weeks trans
actions in live stock at the East Liberty yards:
REcKIPrs.