The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-03-07

prices on coke irons, particularly those
brands made in the Alabama district,
furnaces In that region having advanced
prices from twenty-five TO fifty cents per
ton. The advance has been brought
about by the large demand which has
prevailed of late and the heavy sales
made by most. the leading companies.
Charcoal irons have, however, remained
very quiet, lew transactions of import
ance having been contaminated. The
stilIening Of prices has had the effect OF
somewhat checking buying movement OF
the Chicago district, consumers feeling in
disposed to make large purchases at the
advanced figures at which coke metal il
being held. The outlook, however, points
TO maintenance of prices now ruling;
the tendency being upward and further
advance on coke irons Is not unlikely to
accur. The present status OF southern
furnaces Is the subject OF considerable in
qulry. So lar ns they are concerned il
can be said that nearly all OF them have
fallen into line and are refusing TO book
orders excepting at an advance OF about
fifty cents per ton over prices recently
ruling. Inquiries have been numerous at
Cincinnati during the past week for forge
irons, and no doubt now exists regard
ing the scarcity OF these grades. The low
prices for muck-bar do not afford the
rolling mills any margin for profit aud
there is some hesitation about placing
orders for pig iron at an advance, until
the finished product shows more signs OF
Improvement. The southern furnaces
are resuming operations less rapidly than
was expected, both on account Of the
lack OF fuel and the difficulty OF obtain
ing "A sufficient ore supply, thelextremely
wet weather having seriously interiered
with ore mining. Our Louisville cores
pondent notes one large transaction dur
ing the week, and additional purchase OF
5000 tons. The balance OF the buying
been oil smaller lots, though purchases OF
i 900 aud 300 tons Tor delivery run
nng through the year were made. The
price mt which most OF the iron was sold
was on basis Of $l0,25 for grey forge mt
Birmingham; one sale, however, of q, 900
tons oil grey forge is reported at 5000
cash, cars at furnace. Buyers appear
willing to purchase for their future wants
nj present prices, feeling that iron IN very
low and that IL is To their interest Co
buy. Business at St. Louis during the
past week has been fairly active. In
qulries continue To come in aud a num-
Der of small sales have been made, The
southern furnaces have not caught up on
orders delayed during the strike, and ON
some grades there il quite scarcity.
The call for coke is quite large on account
OF the coke miners strike.
The Local SIruAuoN.--Sincc our last
report there has occurred noticeable
improvement in the pig iron market, an
Improvement, however, chiefly in the
tone OF the market. although there has
been substantial advance in price AZ
well. The latest sales OF Bessenier that
can be reliably traced were made on a
basis OF $16.S5 In Pittsburgh, which
makes the valley price an even S16, cash.
The sales at this figure were small, I'd be
sure. but the transaction bids fair TO be
followed 10y Others in the same line.
There has also been AN advance in south
ern irons. the price OF No. foundry,
which, until recently, was delivered in the