The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-29
SOUTHERN INVASION.
Birmingham Is Selling Iron in Many
Northern Markets.

New York, June 29.-Reviewing trade
conditions, the Iron Age says today:
The close of the current month wit
messed the end of many low priced con-
tracts on which makers of all kinds
have been delivering. 1t is becoming
more and more apparent that the mar
kets will not. during the balance of the
year, furnish buyers a pretext for can
ceiling of contracts entered into so far.
In fact, it looks now as though a good
deal of tonna ge will be carried into next
year. Some of the larger concerns in the
country are falling more and more be-
hind instead of gaining on their COM
mitments, and that may take the mar
ket we'll over the mid-winter dullness.
So far as we can learn the majority
of the really live concerns are filled up
for the balance of the year and can take
orders only when they can arrange for
postponement of older work. Some of
the rail mills have thus found it posi-
BILE to make some steel billets available.
Really important movements do not
seem likely for long time to come, and
the question of next years work will
therefore be in allegiance except in
those cases where material must be
bought to cover contracts for structur-
ais, etc. The scarcity of material con-
tinues all along the line. 1t is some
times believed that it is artificial only.
because makers are making deliveries
on old cheap orders, for the purpose
of meeting the demands of consumers
who are paying high prices on more
recent orders. That may be done in
some cases, but we believe that the mas
jOrfty of makers are doing their best to
get the old orders out of the way.
In view of the fact that every mill is
strained to the utmost to get out ma
terial, it is unfortunate that there is
some danger of labor troubles. 1t looks
as though the amalgamated associa-
ton were ambitious to conquer lost
ground in the Pittsburg district, where
the majority of the iron mills are now
non-union 1t is not a question of wages
but matter of organizations, which
may prove troublesome.
In the tin plate industry, the Amer
lean Tin Plate company has offered to
pay an advance equivalent to that paid
by the manufacturers of sheets. This
amounts to about IL per cent. The offic-
ers of the amalgmated association not
having the usual discretionary power to
accept less than the 20 per cent ad-
vance asked, have referred the offer of
the manufacturers to the several lodges
for a vote. This will lead to a stop
page of at least a week to ten days. 1t
is not believed that prolonged idleness
is likely.
A good deal of fuss has been made
over the order of $50, 900 tons of steel
rails for Russia. We are officially ad-
vised that 1T has not yet been placed
although it seems likely that the Car
negfe Steel company will receive it. AS
early as last April these parties were
in the market for 10000 tons.
Pig iron has stiffened further, and the
furnaces are booking increasing guam
titles for delivery in 1900. The south
ern furnaces have made some fair sales
in Chicago, have placed mill iron in
Pittsburg and in Cincinnati. there was
one sale of 20. 900 tons of mill iron. They
have also sold basic iron in eastern
Pennsylvania. In the latter district, too
one block OF 10 600 tons of local basic has
been sold at $18.75 delivered at tide
water.
Inquiries from abroad for pig iron
continue large, but sellers here are cut
ting down requirements and will book
only enough to hold the trade.
There have been some interesting
movements in the beam market. A local
mill has taken 16. 900 tons for the Wanna
maker store in Philadelphia for delivery
during two years, under an arrange
ment with the association and upwards
of 10000 tons have been sold for forward
delivery in New York. All indications
point to an enormous tonnage.