The age-herald., 1901-11-18
ADVANCED PRICES
 AND MANY ORDERS
Features of the Iron Market for
 the Week
No. 2 FOUNDRY AT $11.5O
Supposed Active Buying Movement Would Soon Run It's Course But 1t Has Gotten a Fresh
 Impetus.

There were two features to the iron market last week-the increase of prices and the large number of sales placed on record. On all grades of pig iron but gray forge the increase in price was 50 cents per ton. On gray forge the increase was 75 cents per ton. This places the | prices as follows:
 Gray forge $1o76; No. foundry, $10.75 to $11; No. 8 foundry, S11 and No. ? foundry, $115o.
 The conditions of the market here are better than they have been this year, and the demand is more satisfactory than since last February. It is virtually im- possible to secure any amount of No. 2 foundry for immediate delivery. In fact, the output for the next three months has been sold.
 The steel market continues in the ex- cellent, stable condition which has char acterized 1t for some months past. The demand for steel Is really more than the supply and sales are made for all that it is possible for the companies to deliver.
 In their review of the conditions, Rogers, Brown & Co. write as follows:
 Cincinnati:-"It was supposed that the active buying movement would soon run its course, but an additional impetus was given by the reports issued during the week, showing that stocks of pig iron at the furnaces decreased during October about 9O,0oo tons. This reduction sur prised even the best informed, because the output was greater than during any month recorded and the scarcity of cars has seriously impeded deliveries. If transportation could have been secured the stocks on November 1 would have been still smaller
 "A large tonnage of orders has been booked during the past few days, and numerous important deals are still pend ing.
 Tt Is extremely difficult to find foun- dry or force grades of either Northern or Southern brands for this years de- livery, and the bulk of the business is for January to June next.
 Prices have been somewhat irregular, owing to the fact that number of the smaller producers in the South advanced their quotations 25 to 50 cents per ton early in the week, while the leading in- terest did not follow until at the close. It Is believed that $1150 for Birmingham brands of Mo- 2 foundry will rule from this time forward. It is reported that the largest producers are unusually well sold ahead and their yards would be practical ly bare of iron if cars could be obtained
 "One exception to the general rule of heavy demand and hardening prices seems to exist in Ohio silvery irons. There are but few furnaces producing this class of material and It's cost is greater than that of ordinary foundry irons, but the competition existing has been such that in some instances the price delivered has been lower than that of Southern brands
 Pittsburg:-'In the early part of the week we were rather hopeful that the shortage of car supply, affecting the whole country and this district more par ticularly, to an aggravating extent was letting up. However, the experience that we can report within the past few days. together with what we gather from others, is that the situation is more acute, If anything. A point has been reached where 1t is absolutely out of the question to guarantee any deliveries. The pig iron market grows stronger daily, and buyers, in order to assure themselves of a supply for months ahead. are paying prices asked without question. An unusual feature has been the selling of considerable tonnage of foundry iron for delivery throughout the whole of next year. In our opinion, higher prices may be looked for"