The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-22
RAILS FOR SIBERIA.
Maryland Concern Closes Contract
for 10000 Tons.

New York, Dec. 22.-In it's review Of
trade conditions the Iron Age says to-
day:
The year 1898. with its extraordinary
record for production, closes with a
burst of activity unparalleled in TIE
history of the industry, except in the
year 1879. An enormous tonnage has
been placed for 1899 delivery, but at
verv low prices. An increasing number
of producers, having their order books
in good shape for many months to
come, are virtually withdrawn from the
market or are asking higher prices.
7 he western markets for foundry
irons have been comparatively quiet
during the past week, but there has
been continued activity in the east,
where the furnaces had been relatively
lever for some time past. These fur
macs have now advanced prices and are
calling a halt.
sales of one block of $4,000 tons Of
BessemerNpig. In the east there have
been number of sales of round lots of
I:asic pig iron at the range OF $1O.25 to
So 20.
There has not been much doing in
steel. east or west. Makers of billetS
are firm on the basis of SIC Pittsburg,
and $17.55 to $3.50 in eastern PennSyl-
wanna. Buyers, however, are resisting
the advance. To what extent and in
what manner the tin plate consolidation
has control of the supply of tin plaUe
bars has not transpired. 1t is regard
ed as probable that some arrangements
must have been made.
In the rail trade the event of the
week has been the sale by the Maryland
Steel company of 80, 900 tons of rails 10
AsiGtic Russia, thus following up the
former sale of 10000 tons to the sarI.c
parties. The report of a sale of $4,000
tors for Australian delivery cabled from
London looks like a belated reference
to an old transaction. The Pennsyl-
wanna railroad is in the market for q
lirSc lot of rails. The wire trade is de-
velOping strength. Rods are scarcer AMI
OreTty high prices have been paid by
Canadians. The negotiations for rhe
control of large additional plants by
tha leading interest have actively pro e
gross ed and are reported to have re
suited in the acquisition of one i'm
porte MT establishment in the Cincinnati
district.
further orders have come to the plate
mills east and west and they are now
so overloaded with work that prices are
being advanced and business is being
turned down. An interesting transact
ton was the sale of a lot of ZOO tons
OF lates for export at Philadelphia
rh' makers of structural material are
getting fair amount of business for
this season of the year and indications
p-'ins to a full volume of work for 1899.
In the west, particularly, all the con-
Germs that supply material for car
building are very heavily engaged
some of them being full of work Cor
the first half of 1899.
In a few lines prices are still irregular
There is complaint of cutting of prices
in sheets, while in cotton ties a lively
struggle for orders is progressing in
some markets in the south
The cast iron pipe makers are figuring
on a lot of about 600 tons for YokO-
hama. The prospects for a heavy ex-
port trade next year are regarded as
promising
At the close of this week the execu-
tive committee of the American Tin
Plate company is to discuss and deter
mine the policy of the consolidation on
81 L H. -
ward to the decision with the keenest
interest