Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-24
IRON TRADE FEATURES
Sales Generally Small, but. Business
Is Good for the Season.
PRICES VERY WELL MAINTAINED,
Especially on Bessemer, Will Irons and Soft
Billets and labs
SCRAP AND OLD IRON RAILS FIRM
PRICES VERY WELL MAINTAINED,
SCRAP AND OLD IRON RAILS FIRM

FRIDAY, Dec. z3.
In anticipation of the holiday shutdown
by the mills orders for raw iron are coming
in slowly and generally for limited
amounts. There is no question of price IN
volved, but consumers who do not want
material are not tempted to buy by the as
surance that prices will certainly be ad-
vanced in January. Upon this point there
is certainly a wide difference of opinion, in
view of the steady increase in production
reported. Still, at the same time, both
sides are. we'll prepared with arguments
that each one has the right side of the ques-
tion. Unless all signs fail the year of 1893
will be a great year for the iron industries
of the whole country.
An Eastern View.
A well-informed Eastern dealer has this
to say: "For the present business is lin
tied to the actual immediate needs of pur-
chasers and no change is looked for until
after the holidays. Tot much greater ex-
tent than usual the placing of contracts
during the present month, to run during the
coming year, has been postponed until after
manifested disposition to take no risks in
the future, but to await further develop
ments. So far as the statistical situation is
concerned, the increasing consumption ar
CUES strongly for higher prices for pig iron,
but the course Of the market does not fully
sustain the theory"
Consumption Pas Jes Production.
Notwithstanding the increased output the
consumption has been sufficiently active to
absorb the production for the month, and in
addition reduce the accumulated stocks at
the furnaces over $4,000 tons. Under pres
ent conditions, with business restricted to
actual necessities, prices have not much
significance, although producers are firm in
their views and insist on full quoted rates.
overlooked, however; one Is the vast in
crease of productive capacity, the other the
marvellous progress that has been mace
in cheapening cost and the substitution of
steel for iron. Take skelp iron. for instance;
last eek we reported sales of $50 tons wide
grooved at 81 57H per 100 pounds, and $50
difference of ten cents. Complaints of dull
ness and low prices and all that sort OF
thing are, therefore, only relative terms,
although so far AS the manufacturer ID con-
cerned it is or will be the survival Of the
dttest
Conditions Changing.
1t should also be noted that this large in
crease in production has brought with it
very little increase in the actual number OF
hands employed, but the advance in cheap
ness, although not noticed. is nevertheless
common to ALL Houses cost less to build
and furnish, cars and railways and travel
ing facilities are increased and cheapened.
and the one thousand and one things that
we all use are more easily within reach. We
get more for our money and although labor
in its various fields is still the "under dog. "
a fair consideration OF the question will
show that on the average it gets its fair
proportion; but labor, like capital. must ad'
just itself to new conditions. Puddlers, for
instance, cannot resist the onward march OF
steel; there was a time. not many years ago
either, when the entire finished iron trade
WAS comDelled to pay tribute to the pud.
dlers. They got HI, wages and deserved all
they got, but things are different now; the
work is just as laborious, but it is no longer
indispensable and whether puddlers work
or not makes comparatively little difference.
Sales of the Week.
Taxing into consideration the nearness OF
the holiday week trade showed up reason
ably well this week. Sales reported: