The age-herald., 1901-03-03
The Demand is Good at Ad- vanced Prices
OUTLOOK IS VERY ERICH ]
Coal Mines are Running On Full Time Prospecting for oII-Output of Cotton Mills Has Been
 CurtaiIed.

The iron market Is satisfactory from the viewpoint of the manufacturer. The demand Is better than for a long time past, and local furnace companies have sold their make for several months to come The sales of the Birmingham concerns in February amounted to about 175, 600 tons, and since January I the az gregate is probably a quarter of mill lion tons.
 The advance of 3 cents a ton, which went into effect last Thursday morning, as was announced in the Age-Herald of Friday, was in response to the great ac- tivity In the market and the numerous inquiries for the Alabama product. Northern companies advanced the price dollar a ton during the week, which fact also probably had something to do with the advance in the price of the southern product.
 Officials of the local companies take a express the belief that there will be no diminution in the demand or the con- sumption of metal for some months to come, If at all this year. The consump- tion at present Is greater than ever be- fore in the history of this country, and the foundry trades are reported to be in fine condition. The foundries in Birming- ham are well supplied with orders, and Just at present have about all they can do.
 6irmingham's Superiority.
 The determination of the Hardie-Tynes Company to remain In Birmingham per Ia of eat isfaction to the people of this industrial center. and Is another evidence of the su- periorfty of Birmingham over all other southern cities of the melting of iron. The agitation growing out of the possi- ble removal of this important plant has served to disabuse the people of this dis trict of the generally believed assertion that Birmingham consumers of iron were unable to purchase iron of Birmingham manufacturers at the same price charged outside consumers. The fact that a Bir- mingham foundry has an advantage of $.50 over Memphis foundrfes in the cost of metal and a corresponding advantage over other southern cities, gives this city a position in the iron world that no other place can approach.
 Cincinnati Market.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.,, with offices in Birmingham, Cincinnati and other leading iron centers, in their weekly review of the market, under date of yesterday, say:
 Since our last report there has been greater excitement and more activity than at any time since the election week, in November. Consumers of pig iron of all classes have rushed to cover their re- quirements of July 1 and some of them for the entire year. The usual result has followed. Prices of foundry and forge iron of Southern brands have been ad- vanced about $150 per ton from the low est point. Several of the smaller oom- panies have been obliged to withdraw from the market on a number of grades Northern foundry brands have been put up from 50 cents to $1 per ton. Bessemer and Basic have also advanced, but not to the same extent during the past week, because they were marked up earlier. There has not been large movement of charcoal iron of any description, and high slicons have been in only limited demand. It is supposed, however, that these specialties will have their turn from this time on."
 Coal Market.
 The coal mines of Alabama are running