The age-herald., 1900-02-26
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 THE IROb MARKET
s se aIdersee buyers are Tn a Waiting ana s SkerrticaI Mood
NO OCCASION FOR ANXIETY
Few Facts That Give Strength-N No Features Of Importance Except Diff
 ficulty in Getting Soft and
 Foundry Grades Forward

New York, February 25.-(Special.) .)-Rog- CTS, Brown & Co.,, in reviewing the iron market for the week ending Saturday, Feb ruary 24. say:
 "The waiting and skeptical mood still prevails in iron. Transactions are reported, but they are generally in the nature of moderate-sized lots to supply immediate needs. There would be occasion for anxie- ty and weakness on the part of producing interests in pig iron but for a few stub- born facts These might be enumerated as follows: First. the actual melt of iron has not fallen off in any part of the country. but is running at materially higher rate than a year ago.
 'tSecond, the most hopeful view of en- largement of pig iron output based on the latest advices from the different districts, looks to increase of output this year not exceeding 15 per cent.
 Third, as near as can be ascertained, over 50 per cent. of the prospective product of foundry and mill iron of 1900 is sold. The unsold remnant in Alabama will not exceed 100000 tons, most of which will be required,
 
 looking mainly to Alabama for supplies. Fourth, export trade, if foreign prices continue as at present. would take one third to one-half of the unsold remnant in Alabama at about $1,OO under present fig ures.
 Fifth, cost of production has gone up so rapidly that very considerable number of furnaces would have to go out if prices dropped s2.00 ton.
 Sixth, only one think can check pres ent rate of consumption, viz, disturbance to general business caused by politics, financial trouble or some unlocked for setback. Such check is possible, but is admitted to be nowhere in sight.
 No Features
 "The past week has been quiet one, and there have really been no features of par ticular importance. There is a continuance of the same difficulties that have existed for several weeks past In the matter of get ting forward soft and foundry grades of iron and supply of foundry coke.
 "The furnace companies, especially in the south, are still struggling with the problem of how to obtain sufficient ore and coke dur
 
 operation, and a number of them have been obliged to bank. Among them are Truss vile and one stack at Sheffield. The Chero- kee furnace at Ced'artown, Ga. that started out to make high grade charcoal iron, has been obliged to run on coke temporarily, while they are accommodating charcoal. The Williamson furnace at Birmingham, that was expected to start in January, has been delayed on account of scarcity of raw ma- terial, and they probably cannot begin op erations until in March. The Napier (renn.) furnace was banked for several weeks to make repairs It is now in blast again.
 Southern Output
 "Of the Watts furnaces, at Mddlesbor- ough only one has been in operation for some time past, and it has been running to complete old orders. Now that the steel works have been started, it is sts1cd that the output of the furnaces will be required for them, and the Watts pig iron will not be longer on the market. It is also reported that the Embreeville furnace is to hs taken off foundry iron, and will make a special brand for the eastern trade. Talladega fur mace has not been running to its full ca- pacity, on account of scarcity of raw ma terials. It is making iron averaging under 40 per cent in phosphorus. The latest infor- nation from the south is that there Is lit- tie hope of any increase in production un- til after settled weather comes and fresh sources of supply of fuel and ore obtained.