The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-28
STATE OF THE IRON TRADE
1rOz Ago Discusses supply, Demand
and the Labor Element.

and the Labor Eiensnt
New York. July 27.-DiscassIng trade
conditions. the Iron Age says today: "The
u'leasinesS and scarcity of labor Is one
OF the most serious phases Of the present
situation. The slightest pretext is appar
emily seized for an opportunity for a
strike. Such disturbances have their i'm
mediate effect in throwing the line of
the industries out Of gear, so closely de-
pendent upon work to the full capacity is
each link In the chain.
The lake ore situation seems to cause
most uneasiness in this direction, and it
looks as though estimates OF the probable
tonnage to be brought to market before
the close OF navigation will have to I'M
dergo revision. That this has been an
ticipated by some of the large interests
is indicated by the reports that arrange
ments have been made to haul large guam
titles OF Lake Superior ore to the furnaces
by rail during the whole winter.
at is somewhat difficult to JUICE Of the
demand. A good many of the urgent re-
quirements which come up are really to
cover material purchased from, but not
delivered by other makers. The majority
of the consumers of raw material seem
to be buying from hand to mouth and
show little disposition to place longtime
contracts unless prices are guaranteed,
which is sometimes done.
ION the other hand, testimony from the
leading western distributing markets for
foundry pig iron ali agrees on the prin-
c!ple that large sales for delivery far nto
next year are being made at present full
prices. This is certainly not true OF the
country east OF the Allegheny mountains.
1.-The deveopment of the pig iron pro
dCction has been, as was predicted, much
slower than the sanguine were willing to
admit, but while that was true during the
first half of 1899, It will certainly not be
during the second half. Furnaces to make
foundry iron are blowing in right and left,
and there will be a notable increase In
this direction. The majority Of them, 1t
is true, are sold ahead, but any disturb
ance of consumption would be quickly
felt.
The shortage of pig iron is most serious
In the Bessemer pig, and II Is reported
that one large interest has been drawing
steadily on its emergency stock and may
be soon forced to supplement its own sup
ply by purchasing in the open market.
'There Is very little, doing in steel, al
though very stiff prices are paid for small
loss for early guaranteed delivery. A
second eastern steel plant has taken a
large order for steel wire billets for de-
livery during the coming year.
s'Tn the west and east the demand for
bars. shapes, bands, hoops. ETC., continues
heavy. Car builders have placed some
good orders, and season contracts from
the agricultural implement makers are
coming in. TIL estructural mills are IN
der heavy pressure and the plate mli'S
continue swamped.
.grha wire industry is reported to be
ouiet so far as new business concerned
This Is usually the of season
.srhe European markets seem on tne
crest of as extraordinary rise 'u-
own In England buyers seem no" 10 DC
t,",a,,o off From the continent a con-
tinuous stream of IN ln'ries is stu com DIN,
inc hut little is being actually put
through"