The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-17
IRON MARKET IS FIRM
 AND PRICES ARE UPWARD

Importations from Great Britain and Germany are steadily increa sing in vol- ume. The fact that we can draw over five thousand tons 0 day Of Iron and steel materials from the other side with out appreelably improving their mar kets, shows whst the condition there would be but for the American demand Even ocean freights have responded but slightly to this heavy movement. Amer lean furnaces rather welcome this foreign Iron, as 1t tends to steady the situation and keep factories running, which other wise would have to close.
 Chieago-While the record of the past week shows no new developments of particular interest the market has been moving rapidly and large tonnage has been placed, the orders coming from all classes of the trade. not being confined to any particular class of consumers. Iron for delivery during any part of the present year is now considered to be in a class by Itself and transactions are at special figures. Many prominent sellers now have their order books filled for the first quarter of next year, and the ma jority of the contracts made during the last week have been for delivery dur ing the second quarter. There are prac- tically no inquiries for deliveries after July 1, 1903. except where deliveries run over a month or two beyond that date. The coke situation is in apparently a worse condition than ever, and several prominent furnaces are reported to be in danger of shutting down for lack of fuel As 1t Is they are running slow and the output is thereby diminished. This Is particularly unfortunate at this time.
 Spot delivery iron Is finding ready sale and 1t is not found that there is more offered than can be disposed of. A care full scrunity fails to disclose any weak points than those which are always pres ent when prices are so high.
 Pittsburg-The demand for all grades of foundry iron for delivery the half of next year continues strong, and sales re- ported by some of the northern furnaces recently made, aggregate fully 25,OOO tons. A number of the furnaces are unable to take additional orders for No. 1 and No, ?, having already contracted for their entire production of these grades for the first six months of next year. Iron for immediate delivery Is also in big demand and carload lots of No. for prompt ship ment command from $2400 to $245O per ton. The fact that the large southern producers of foundry iron are unable to take further orders for the softer grades for the first half of next year is signifi- cant and shows conclusively that the foundrymen of the country have already covered for the greater portion of their requirement for the first half of 1903. Last sales of southern No. were made on a basis of $2215 Pittsburg an advance of one dollar per ton in less than ten days
 Buffaio.-In all grades of foundry iron sales for next years delivery continue at a healthy rate and the market needs no stimulus notwithstanding the fact that the vacation period is upon us, and this time of the year Is generally one of in- activity.
 There Is a considerable variance in the views of buyers as to the length of time | for which they should cover their re- quirements, but 1t is interesting to note that some of the largest consumers have | such a degree of conference in a con- ! tinuance of present conditions that they have already purchased heavily for de- | liveries running clear through the year 1903
 Active work has been begun on the construction of two large new blast fur naoes at this point.