Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-07
CONSUMERS ARE WARY
Little Stock Carried and Quick Ship
ments Mainly Relied On.
POOR OUTLOOK IN STEEL RAILS.
A Revival of Business FOndly Hoped For
the Coming Fall.
POOR OUTLOOK IN STEEL RAILS.
STATE OF THE FOREIGN METAL TRADE

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TIE DrsPArcH.I
NEW YORK, Aug. 6.-The Iron Age reports
the iron and steel markets of the country as
follows:
In mill iron there has been some indica-
tion of weakness, and there have been
again some offerings of Southern warrant
iron of the leading Birmingham brand.
Some OF the Southern makers claim to be
well sold up. A well-known authority in
the iron trade, who has lately made tour
through the Southern States states that a
number of furnaces in the Birmingham
district are in a bad way for both ore
and coke, and that there is some proba-
bfity that some of them will be forced
into idleness from that cause. An interest
ing statement has been made to us concern
inc the opera tions of the Thomas Iron Com
many by its President, b. q. Clark. Accord
ING 10 tlc semi-annual balance sheet, which,
by the way, shows very handsome profit
ing the first six months were gl,IH tons
while the make during that period was $500
tons. We question whether other makers OF
standard pig iron can show such a recoru,
and are inclined to regard ii as the "eX-
ceptiOn which proves the rule"
Attention may be called to the fact that
with the heavier movement of freight, con-
sumers, notably of Southern iron, will have
some trouble in the near future with delays
in deliveries. Consumers generally are
getting more and more into the habit OF
carrying very little stock, and of relying
upon quick shipments on the part of the
furnace companies. Northern brands are
quoted at SIC ga Is 90 for No. l; SIC 00Ql6 so
for No. ., and Sl4 O03l4 80 tor gray forge.
Southern irons sell at SIG 00Gl7 90 for No: l;
sis 256l6 90 for No. ,; SIS 50Gl6 90 for NO.
] soft and Sl4 O06l4 80 for gray forge.
Spiegeleisen and Ferro Manganese-Only
iobbtng trade is being done. We quote
spiegeleisen 81 50G2S 90, and ferro man
Eenese S6S 5O364 90.
from the West of the beginning of another
era of cutting prices on blllets the market IN
this section Is dull. We quote wire ro9s'
which are very quiet, SSS OO@SS so at tide
steel Rails-The market is exceedingly
dull and the outlook continues very dis
cOurdglng. Only one sale OF l,OOO tons Tor
Texas road is reported, and there are mills
whose representatives here have not closed
4 transaction for many weeks Nor are the
rpuorts OF Western makers represented in
this market any more encouraging. Manu-
factIrers are speculating as to the future.
Some hope for a revival in the fall,
Others believe that the sprirg business,
which is expected to reflect the results of
the crops. will not come upon the market
until February or March of next year. Thus
far the outlook for fall and winter work is
very discOuraging indeed, and some makers
lave practically made up their minds that
they have little to expect. Railroad man
ayers have no inducement to place orders
Tor distant delivery, even If they saw their
way clear to pay for the rails They know
that the price is not likely to advance ma
teriallv.
The good crops will bring the roads
money. but the first object to which many
of them must apply it will be to pay back
what they have borrowed 1t is pointed out,
too, that railroad managers are not likely to
make extensive renewals while their roads
are taxed by traffic Quotations are un-
changed at $50 7563l 90, t1dewater. The
Iackawanna Iron and Steel Company are
now running half time Sparrows Point has
started up, and the Steelton works have
practically ceased making rails.
Rail Fastenings-The market is very
quiet We quote: Spikes, 9. .l5@2. .25c, delivered;
lOlts and nuts, 2.7Od2.s0c, and fish plates, LIS
GLSOc.
Manufactured Iron and Steel-Local mills
report quite satisfactory amount o work,
so far as architectural specifications are
concerned. Bridge builders continue to
keep prices low. The distribution of work
is verv irregular, some shops being crowd
ed, while others are very hungry for orders.
Boiler makers are moderately busy. OF the
SIN shipments referred to lately the
Newport News Yard secured four; Union,
OF san Francisco, one; and Roach,
one Ii Is reported that the plates for the
Angles, l.95d2 1Oc: sheared plates, l95Q2 25c;
tees. 2.4512.75c. and beams and channels .. .lc I
on dock. steel plates are 262.l5c for tank,
23d26c for shell, and 2.5G2.7 for f1ange, on
dock. Bars are L7Gl.9c on dock. Links and
pins have sold lately at a shade under &c,
delivered.
swedish Rivet Rods-Foreign advices re-
port an advancing market, and So 50El5S 0O is
now named here.
Old Material-A lot of 200 tons old steel
rails has been sold at 81, delivered.