Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-04
FORECAST FOR 1900.
Iron Age Predicts Year Will be Elk
ceptionally Prosperous.

In a review of trade conditions the
Iron Age will present additional evil
dences of the extraordinary produc-
ton and price movement, the main
tenance of which is so marvellous. It
will say:
'The iron markets have gained in
strength, and the feeling is growing
will be one of exceptional prosperity,
all doubts as to the maintenance of the
| present prices for the remainder of
This year being dispelled, if, indeed,
higher figures will not have to be paid
in some Lines to secure prompt de-
| livery. What everybody is watching
for with the .keenest interest is evil
dence that present values are checking
consumption It would be idle to deny
that instances of this character do not
| crop up, but it is noticed, too, that
often those who protest most loudly
quietly buy later. While it may seem
premature to discuss 1900, it is a fact
| that makers and consumers are deeply
| interested in the problem of what
course to pursue, and that an increas-
ing tonnage of sales is finding it's way
into the order books. 1t is not SO long
since the leading men in the in
dustry had apparently settled down to
the conviction that S25 for steel billets
and about $26 for steel rails would be
satisfactory basis for 1900 from the
viewpoint of the marker as to fair
profits, with the assurance of a full
consumption. 1t looks now as though
the figure will be considerably higher.
AS a pointer in that direction come the
reports of purchases in the west OF
40, 900 tons of steel rails by the Chi
| cago and Northwestern and 10000
| tons by the Rock Island Road at $29
| for 1900 delivery. These reports are
not officially confirmed, it being repre-
sented that the western rail interests
want $31. So much seems certain, how
ever, that the basis of negotiations is
much higher than was considered
possible only a short time ago. It is
true that in certain lines, notably in
pig iron, the engagements for 1900
| have been heavy. One southern in
terest is reported to have over 100000
| tons on it's books, while a large in
terest controlling very important in
dustry has orders for over 100000 tons
of material secured. 1t must not be
| forgotten, either, that a good deal of
tonnage which cannot be delivered in
time will be carried into next year. In
steel rails alone this is variously es-
timated at from 100000 to 100000 tons.
There has been a good deal of talk Of
| purchases of steel in Europe for ship
ment to this country. 1t is true that
large inquiries are in the market, but
it is difficult to see how the business
can be put through steel billets, eX-
Ship would cost at least G6 los, and,
adding the duty Of 1896, the cost
would be about $41.50, which is out Of
the question, except for manufacturing
in bond for export under drawback ar
engagements. We have not learned that
anything Of this kind has been done.
On the other hand, we know Of one
case in which negotiations are pending
for the sale of $4,000 tons of American
material to go to Europe to relieve the
extraordinary scarcity there. An in
teresting incident is the capture by the
Pencoyd Iron Works of orders for
forty-fve double-track lattice girder
spans and eleven single-track pin-con-
nected spans for the imperial govern
ment railways of Japan. The order
calls for about 1000 net tons of ma
terial, for delivery during the middle
of next year. That the prospect of
paying high prices is not soaring
, capitalists is shown by the report that
J. J. Hill is considering the building of
fifteen steamers Of 5000 to 10000 tons
each for a new Pacific line