The age-herald., 1901-12-01
DEMAND FOR IRON
 EXCEEDS SUPPLY Conditions Have Not Changed
 for the Past Month LOOK FOR ANOTHER RISE Output of the District Will Be Materi- ally Increased During Winter.
 sIoss Company Blows In
 Furnace Tomorrow.
LOOK FOR ANOTHER RISE

The iron market for the past week was but slightly changed from conditions which have existed for the past month. The demand is in excess of the supply, and no objections are being made to the prices current which are N per ton higher than six weeks ago.
 The expectations of local dealers are that a further advance of 50 cents per ton will be made during the month of December. Every indication points that way. Many sales for shipment six months hence are being made and 1t Is almost impossible to secure immediate shipment of the smallest order.
 The production for the district will be increased this winter very materially; and it Is thought the demand will in that way be met Monday the Sloss- Sheffield Company will blow in their No. furnace which has been undergoing repairs for several months. The furnace of the North Alabama Iron and Coal Company at Talledega will be blown in during the month, and the Woodward Iron Company will probably make an ads dition to their plant. M
 In commenting on the conditions that exist in Cincinnati and New York, Rog- CTS, Brown and Company write:
 Restrain Inflated Figures.
 Cincnnati.-The appearance of a holi- day in midweek had the usual effect and interrupted though moderately, the &C., tiyity of the market, and the apparent casing off of order was to the furnaces welcoming incident. The lessening of the tension, however, was but the temporary slack of the rope, for the indications to- day favor continued drawing upon the sources of supply for all the iron that can be furnished In the early future. While very many have covered for their requirements for the first half of next year. a larger number, who buy quarterly or semi-annually. will be in the market from now until January to contract as usual for the first quarter or half of the coming year.
 The visible stocks of standard grades are insignificaT nd approximately all the iron being pped would be sent hot from the pig IS were cars at hand for transportaty Under the conditions pre- vailing 1t $ gratifying that prices are conservatively low. The furnaces are pursuing a wise policy of restraining, as far as practicable, the tendency to in- Hated figures, and no advantages are be- ing taken to move up prices to the fanci- full.
 Unavoidably values have advanced and prices are very firm. In a retail way $16 valley Is asked for spot Bessemer. The Talladega furnace Is preparing to blow in early in January, and that popu- lar brand of the Central Alabama group will be welcomed by those acquainted with its merits.
 The coke business has been exceedingly active the past week, numerous furnaces having contracted for their supplies for the entire net year at advanced figures.
 No Abatement In Demand.
 New York: Every feature or tho iron trade commented on the past few weeks continues. There is no abatement to de- mand Cor pig ircn. which Is clearly In ex- cess of supply. Buyers are not objecting to the current level of prices, which av-
 ersges about $1 per ton higher than the first of the month. Some inquiries for spot iron during the week have failed to find any available In the easern market for delivery before January. Most of the buy ing is for the first half of 1902. but trans actions of magnitude are reported. deliv- cries of which run through the entire year This business comes from large concerns which have contracted their
 own output and regard 1t wise to cover for raw materials. There Is still a com- piete absence of speculation, the heavy tonnage booked being wholly for legitf- mete consumption.
 Slightly more favorable reports are re- ceived from Germany, but English mar kets continue the downward course. Mid dlesboro No. selling as low as forty three shillngs at the close of the week This is said by English iron masters to be below actual cost of production. No further efforts of German makers to | reach American markets are' reported The latest advices as to the car short age shows no appreciable improvement. The situation at Pittsburg is further com. plicated by the strike of switchmen. From fifteen to twenty furnaces have been banked In the central west almost eontin- uously for month past. The effect on the | output of pig iron cannot fail to be felt | Stocks Of merchant pig iron in furnace
 yards are completely exhausted in nearly 1 every district
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