The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-04-20
THE IRON WORLD.


Non-Bessemer grades have predon-
inated in the later movement OF ore
and the amount now contracted for
by furnacemen is much beyond any
record Of purchases at this point in
the season. Hard and soft ores have
shared in the business and the hard
on-Bessenlers are quite well sold.
Rurnacemen are i'm no hurry about
their purchases. and the tonnage OF
sales to furnaces having no Mesaba
Interests is small. Some interesting
Emergencies appear In statement.
from different selling firms, as to tue
relative tineness Of we'll known ores.
d ,termined 10y sieve tests. Lumpl-
ness il not so great a deSideratum, Ii
the ore, though fine. is not or that
powdery, dusty fineness that causes
blowing over from the furnace stack.
Some sales OF Mes;iba have been
affected through guarantees, but
there are furnacemeu who are dispos-
ed, even in this way, To help make the
price on these ores just now. The rtI-
mors concerning changes in Mesaba
properties are unfOunded, with the
rossible exception of the Sellers trans
fer. The report that the Carnegie Co.
had taken more mines on the new
range doubtless grew out of its pur-
chase of 500. 900 tons OF Mesaba ores
ether than its own.
While the iron trade realizes that
new buying would be more active in
many line. but for the war embargo,
there is uo failure to recognize tile
splendid pace of present production.
Actual cancellations OF orders are
very rare; though here and tlier..
business is placed with tiat privilege
reserved, to be exercised in case f
war. On existing contracts specitica-
tions are prom y; in the case OF buy
ers of biliets, nf foundry iron and
notably, OF malleable produc s. pres
sure for deliveries is frequent. Yet
the amount of new business booked
is, in many lines. plainly below the
average of March. which in turn was
much less than January and Deem
Der. That certain mills were sold up
early in the year for half Of 1898 and
have added steadily TO their order
books since, accounts for the swing of
prosperity apparent in the iron in
dustry in the midst OF naturally dis
Quieting conditions. } sale OF
round lot of Central Western billets
the past week for shipment west is an
index of conditions in The Chicago
district. Yet there is no billet famine
and stationary or slightly easier
prices atCentral Western mills indi-
cate that there will not be. Pig iron
production is still somewhat beyond
requirements, and the Simultaneous
movement by producers OF Bessemer
and foundry irons to better conditions
emphasizes the fact that furnaces
able TO maintain Themselves on the
present basis are practically all active
and the further fact that even those
fit to survive are getting little salts
faction or profit out of the struggle.
There is some cairtaiiment in the Ma
hoaing and Shenango valleys, two
stacks having out while two Others
are about to follow. There is no
agreement ia this action, however
The Bessemer furnacemen's move
tnent has not taken shape as yet:
whether it will be selling organiza-
tion buying the output OF certain
furnaces, or whether corporation to
lease furnaces or enter into conversion
deals, has not been determined. -
Iron Trade Review.