Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-31
THE Iron MARKET
Prices Continue to Go Up
a Great Deal.
TALKING OF IMPORTS
But Foreign Furnaces Are as Badly
Rushed as Are Those of the United
States--The Demand For Imnedi-
ate Deliveries of Metal.

New York. Aug. 31.-The Iron Age. ir
it's weekly review today, will say: Pis
iron continues to be the leading line ir
the attention of the trade. Very large
sales of southern irons, notably forge
and basic. hav been made for delivery
during the second half. Chicago, Pitts
burg and eastern Pennsylvania partici-
pating in the movement. 1t has caused
a further advance, because sales being
made on rising figures from $3.50 up as
high as SIG for No. 2. Some of the large
consultations have been buying, and yet
it is known that a considerable share of
I their requirements is still uncovered.
Eastern cast iron pipe makers have also
bought, taking about $4,000 tons for de-
livery during the first half of 1900. In
eastern Pennsylvania one steel concern
has purchased the run of two furnace
for the year of basic pig on the basis of
paying the price of No. 1 foundry. In the
Pittsburg district sales of southern iron
there have been some purchases of Bes-
semer pig. The continued advance in
pig iron and the readiness to contract for
1900 delivery are beginning to tell on the
y ltNS VI SCIIcIS dts " prices VI steer anu
finished materials for next year.
So far as we can learn very little has
been done thus far in steel billets for 1900.
Present prices are not a criterion since
they represent forced purchases. but the
current Of events in pig iron seems to
point Enthusiastically toward higher prices
than those talked of some time since.
The recent sales of steel rails furnish an
indication. but even now some rail max
oN.S I1vy fhnco IN %ho vs.ne< = I ;~l,-
prices than $50 at mill. This would indi-
cate about $2S and $50 for billets east and
west for 1900.
In finished material advances are being
made all along the lin in rapid success
sion. Structural material, which is the
only large line controlled by an associa-
ton. and which has been held back for
many weeks. has now been advanced S.
per net ton Plates have had another
rise. Bars have stiffened. Tool steel has
been put uD to Z cents for common
grades. Tin plate has been advanced
21h cents per box.
Importers have had a number of in
quiries for material. There have been
some sales of foreign ore, and it looks as
though some business might be done in
steel billets. There has been considerable
talk of importing steel plates, and Eng
lish advices continue to talk of 10000 tons
and upwards. We have been quite unable
to trace any such quantities, the largest
single lot bought during the last month
being one of about 1000 tons, in order to
secure prompt delivery. when the Amer
lean mills would not promise it. AS a
matter of fact, aside from prices, it turns
out that foreign makers can rarely pro-
mise better time than the domestic mills,
and it is only when it is to be used for
export work under the drawback sys-
TEN that the foreign material has much
of a chance. American manufacturers
will generally study this phase more
carefully than heretofore. We UNDER
stand that in tin plate there has been
considerable purchases on this account
lately.