Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-08
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
The Decrease in Production Not q
Very Material Help, as Yet.
AN INCREASE AT SOME POINTS
Prevents the Shutdown at Others From
Depicting the Market.
STILL, THE CHECK is ENCOURAGING

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsPATcH.l
NEW YORK, April THE Iron Age to-
morrow will review the metal markets as
follows:
The reports of the blast furnaces are un-
fortunately not sufficiently complete, so
early in the month, to present complete
statement. Some data are available, how
ever, to indicate a decided tendency toward
a reduction in the output. Seventy-three
anthracite furnaces which were active on
March had a capacity of 33,OOS gross tons,
based on February product, out OF total OF
3s,67S gross tons for 50 furnaces last month.
OF these 6s are still running, and one addi-
tional furnace has shut down. making the
capacity at work on April l. 81, l76 gross tons,
a decline of early 2,O0o tons per week of the
anthracite furnaces, in spite of the fact that
quite a number of active plats. notably Le-
high Valley, made an exceptional record In
March.
The anthracite furnaces which have been
stopped are Secaucus, Mt. Laurel, Norris
town, Bethlehem, Lehigh, Paxton and one
at Colebrook, while one Thomas started
The following country furnaces banked or
blew out in March: Mohawk, in New York;
one Edgar Thomson, Alice. Douglas, Stewart
and Everett in Western Pennsylvan1a; Anna
D., Mahoning Valley, the Calumet, at Chi
cago, and Grocer in Virginia: these repre-
sentinr a weekly output of z. l43 gross tons.
Others may not have been reported as yet.
Against this Philadelphia, Alabama, and
Embreevile in Tennessee. have made their
first cast, representing capacity in the ag-
gregate of about ], 400 tons, to which Dora
and Bigstone Gap, in Virginia, will be added
this month. This would indicate restric-
tion OF about $500 tons weekly for the coke
furnaces.
Reduction, but Not Enough.
he nad no
it should appear that the furnaces in blast
are doing particularly good work. In some
plants the stoppage of one furnace makes it
possible TO run the others faster by utilizing
the full blowing machinery. As it is the re-
duction of output with the anthracite and
coke furnaces seems to amount to about
$500 tons per week, which at the rate which
iron is piling up so far this year does not
yet meet the case. 1t is, however, an en-
couraging sign that the enormous output is
being checked somewhat.
In all the leading markets pig iron is re-
ported to be dull, but fairly steady, with
some indications of more inquiry in some
quarters. Some large dealers appear salts
fed for the present with the quantity sold
for long delivery, and have practically with
drawn. 1t is a question who will first re-
enter the market, the buyer or the seller, so
that it may be waiting market for some
time to come.
Bessemer pig at Pittsburg is dull at Sl4 So
In steel billets. both in the East and in the
W est, the heavy business done Qurlng the
past two months has been followed by lull.
The mills, being well supplied with orders,
are holding at S23. Pittsburg and Wheeling,
while BUYERS take little interest in the mar
ket, in which there are only a few stray Or
Gers.
Dull Trade East and West
There is some activity in bars in Chicago,
but Pittsburg and Eastern Pennsylvania re-
port a dull trade. The demand for struct-
ural material is reported to be improving in
all leading centers, but prices show no dis
position toward recovery.
In the territory east of the Allegheny
Mountains the State mills are continuing
their struggle for work. nearly all of them
having capacity partially unengaged. In
stances are constantly cropping up of lower
prices made when two or more concerns
show unusual determination to capture an
order. Sheets are in better demand. As
week after week passes without any signs
of the long-expected increase in business,
the encouragement among the Eastern rail
mills grows. 1t is impossible to deny that
the course of trade in this specially has
been particularly disappointing to makers.
The copper market has relapsed unto dull
ness. and the conviction is growing that the
combination of producers has fallen to the
ground. Tin has been advanced a trifie and
spelter is firmer on advices of stronger
feeling in the West and the shipment of
about 500 tons for export. On good-sized
lots of coke tins for future delivery con-
cessions are of frequent occurrence.
British Furnaces Blowing Out.
The foreign markets are reviewed by
cable from London, follows: Prices for
pig iron warrants have averaged somewhat
lower the past week in face of further re-
duction in stock in connals stores. Last
reports showed 4S4 600 tons of Scotch, and
l36 900 tons of Cleveland, while Scotch war
rants are down to 40s 9, Cleveland to 36s, N19
and hematite to 45sl12, the latter reacting to
46s5d. Operations have been on moderate
scale, neither the reduction in stocks nor
the curtailment of production exciting any
outside interest. At present there are only
l3 Cleveland furnaces in blast against So a
month ago. and it is rumored that more will
blow out before the end of the week. Re-
turns for March show that production of tile
month was but hall of the February output.
The pig tin market has been firmer at higher
prices, due to freer buying on the part of
consumers and covering of short sales. The
visible supply has increased, but spot stocks
are somewhat smaller. Speculation cop
per has been brisk, with prices low and
irregular early in the week, but subse-
quently higher under the influence of the
gress in combine movements that
promise successful issue. Operators, how
ever, are cautious and speculation is irregu-
lar. Consumption appears to be on the in
crease. Deliveries last month were the
largest in any month since September. but
the visible supply increased 2,470 tons. Sales
OF furnace material are limited.
There has been a better business in tin
plate at easy prices. Fair orders have been
taken for all sizes for both American and
Russian account, and more is doing in light
weight Bessemer at lis Cd, f. o. b. Business
In ternes is light, but prices ara held firm at
22s for doubles, owing to stoppage of Bio
chairn works Scotch steel makers are bet
Old iron is freely offered and prices rather
weak.