The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-25
SndustriaA News.
PRICE oFlaoN.

PRICE OF IRON.
Iron makers here report the market un-
changed. Shipments are heavy ana tne
yards are almost bare The New York
Commercial of Wednesday said;
ut was stated that another attempt
would be made by certain Southern pig
iron producers to advance the price OF
future iron from the current minimum OF
s12 a CONTAMINATION It will be re-
membered that an attempt was made
some time ago to raise the price y
ton, but without success. The producers
who favored an advance were opposed by
the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company,
and It was finally decided in conference
to allow the old schedule to stand. Spot
pig iron has advanced considerably since
then, and this is wholly responsible for
the renewed effort on the part OF GER
tain producers to advance the price. The
Tennessee Coal and Iron Company ana
the Republic Iron and Steel Company, 1t
is said, will attempt to thwart the eff
forts of those who are working for an
advance.
"a representative of the Tennessee Coal
and Iron Company today said there was
very little spot Iron in the South, but at
the same time the demand for Immediate
delivery was very light. If you had 25-
600 tons of available iron, said he, you
would find difficulty in disposing or it.
The fact OF the matter is that most con-
sumers have covered for the year, in con-
sequence of which there is little inquiry
for pig iron for Immediate delivery. am
opposed to a further advance for the sim
pie reason that I think 1t a good policy to
let well enough alone. If prices are forced
up to ST or $1s ton you are liable to see
something topple over
IAN authority today estimated tnat
there now remain unsold 250,000 tons OF
the possible production OF the southern
furnaces. The latter produce about 1,oco'-
tons of iron year, so that the unsold
portion represents about IT per cent OF the
total production Not In history have the
Southern furnaces been sold SO far ahead.
'The disposition on the part OF one fac
ton In the South to keep prices from
running away is found in the fact that
largo company in that section has YER
baliy promised several customers that
they will be supplied with $12 Iron when
his company begins selling.
1.-The view taken by the representatives
of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Com
pany in respect to the demand for iron
differs widely from the view of many
consumers who declare that they are in
need of iron and find considerable diff
f1culty In getting 1t even at the extreme
high prices
"A producer of pig iron today made this
staten emit: I do not believe that South
ern furnacemen will put up the price of
iron for future delivery. They are prac-
tically sold up for the year, and an adj
pance would serve to weaken TIE situa-
ton which, at the present time, Is q
strong and legitimate one
THE WORK DELAYED.
The sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Com
pany's city furnace No. 2, which has
been rebuilt. would have been in blast
by this time had the new blowing engine
been delivered on time As It is 1t cam
not be started before the latter part Of
May or the first of June The engine is
promised now about the middle of May.
A BRANCH ROAD.
Mr.. Milton Fl. Smith, president of the
Louisville and Nashville. has approved the
estimates Of branch road, a mile and
half long. from Abernant to the Davis
Creek Coal and Coke Company's mine
in Tuscaloosa County. Work will be be-
gun at once, and will be completed In
about sixty days.
Mr.. w. e. Leake is president of the
Davis Creek Company. He has large
capital behind him and will spare no ex-
pense In development. Good progress has
already been made on the slope and just
as soon as the rails are laid to the mine
all the machinery will be delivered and
installed. The company Is building 100
houses for operatives.
A NEW MANAGER.