Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-11
BOTTOM FIGURES REACHED.
Dealers Are Now Looking for an I'M
pr0yement Ali Around.
TEE PAST WEEKS TRANSACTIONS.
An Interesting Comparative Table Cover
ing Coal Shipments.
STATE OF ACTIVITY AT OTHER POINTS
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DIsPATCH,C I
lsRrnAN Anril IN I

OFFICE OF PITTSBURG DISPATCH
FRIDAY, April TO- ;
RAW IRON AND STEEL-Trade during
fhe week shows au improvement-not
large one, but still an Improvement.
Everything must have start, and it is to
be hoped that the present improvement, al
though 2 small one, will be the beginning
of something more extensive. Prices of
iron aud steel have been on the down grade
for some time. 1t certainly looks at this
writing that bottom prices have been
reached, and that from this time forth bet
Ter prices, q larger demand and an i'm
proved condition OF affairs may be the rule,
not ;he execution. Our report today shows
sales OF certain grades above those made
las! week. The demand for Bes>emer was
larger than for solns titua past Another very
promising feature WAS that certain iron firms.
uDdOu ubteUly well informed. have within few
days purchased several good d-sIzed blocks of
Bessemer pIg Tor April and May delivery.
THIS NAV be taken as a hint that present prices
are considered away down. and that purchasers
may discover 10 their cost that DELAYS are some
tIues very costly Another thing, sit down and
count the ST OF ore. limestone, coke and a5or
and you vii! soon make up your mind that raw
iron is being sold at i reasonably low figure.
Compare Bessemer wiki April 1890, when prices
ruled SIS - and gray forge SIS 25; present
prices, Besscmer, SIS 75gl6 90; gray forge,
els 75al4 GO At the same time there has been
no reduction in ore, coke. limestone and labor.
Most Of the Shenango and Mahoning valley
furnaces are still out of blast those being
gagged on previous contracts not yet filled. The
stock OF iron in the valley is said to be light.
The coke question is still unsettled and the
strike still ON. though works are starting up
s.-1
been a bitter one, and Just how it is going to
Snd Is what no person can predict, as both sides
Seu IS determined as ever.
Pittsburg's Product Keeps Ahead.
Pittsburg City furGace-made iron commands
the highest prices. We learned of sales of
gray forge at SIS % at the furnaces. As usual,
flyor!te brands are attracting the most atten-
zion: common and unknown brands in many in
stances faIl to find purchasers unless shaded.
In former years sales of large blocks of iron
were made extending three or four months de-
livery. AT present sales do not extend beyond
80 OF 70 days. This shows a conservative feel
sng among dealers.
The observation-disclosures pig is frmer, and
IS attracting more attention with leading deal.
ers. Gray forge Is full, 70 cents per ton above
.iast weeks prices. Steel slabs and billets show
no change. The same may be said of 50 per
cent ferro manganese. Muck bar is steady, but
not very active. New steel rails dull; most of
the works closed for want of orders. Skelp
fron-Prices still on the down grade; low figures
reported. Spiegel declined so cents per ton.
Bloom and billet ends are firmer. Old iron and
steel rails are more inquired for, with light
offerings. Scrap material-A good business is
being transacted at current rates.
Ore Cheaper Than Last Year.
IRON ORE-No sales of importance, prices
xanglng from 81 25dl 70 below last years fig.
ures. BUYERS are in no hurry to lay in their
sSear's supply.