The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-02
IRON MARKET IS
 GROWING STRONGER
Price for the First Half of 1908
 Is S17
$18.50 LATTER HALF PRICE
Free Selling for the Last Half Has Not Yet Set In, But VIII Start Within the Next
 Week.

The iron market grows stronger ana stronger. The ruling price for large con- tracts for this years delivery was on a basis of SIP for No. ,. All the iron that can be made in the 1rst six months of 1903 has been sold, ST being the minimum for No. on new contracts.
 It is understood that the minimum for No. 2 for delivery in the last half of 1903 was fixed at SIS 50, but s20@4 are the prices that are now being quoted. Free selling for the last half has not yet set in but within the next week or two large orders will be booked.
 Extracts from Rogers Brown & Co.'S circular of yesterdays date follow;
 At Cincinnati.
 Cincinnati-There has been greater ac- tivity in the market during the past week. 1 The sales have been more in number, and i the aggregate tonnage somewhat larger l than in the preceding week. Much of the business has been for deliveries the first half of 1908. Inquiries for the last of next year are more numerous.
 The Sheffield Coal and Iron company came into the market early in the week with, six thousand tons of choice foundry irons for immediate sale, contributing uulte a little relief in the territory to which their product is naturally tributary. 1 Tho Sheffield company has three stacks, which will be in turn modernized with best up-to-date equipment, as rapidly as possible. They have but one operation at this time.
 The furnaces throughout the country are struggling to enlarge their product, but owing to the continued irregular sup ply Of fuel they are not able to Keep pace with the consumption, which keeps up on the plane of 100000 tons per month.
 Foreign irons continue in quite active request; the German irons of the foundry grades are found very excellent.
 Prices continue irregular, spot domestic coke iron, No. 1 foundry. having reach ed $25 Birmingham. and s26 f. o. b. Ohio furnaces. The action of a few southern iron makers in establishing prices for the second half of 1903 gives a general base for sales for that period, but history re- peats itself very frequently, and It Will be found, doubtless, that the old estab- lished law of supply and demand. and preference of brand will govern as usual.
 8N At Buffalo.
 Buffalo-It is impossible to see much change in the general situation. The market is so narrow that 1t is governed almost completely by local conditions | f.o.. hp O. cal demand, and are therefore beyond the reach of consumers in the north and east, who can secure foreign iron at very much lower delivered prices
 The actual requirements of most foun- dries, over what they are receiving on old contracts. are not great, This fact makes consumers indifferent in meas ure. On the other hand. furnaees are all more or less anxious regarding deliveries and supply of fuel, which renders them quite indifferent to any new business. This indifference is due, in some meas ure also. to the fact that furnaces are well sold up during the first half of 1903. As a result the market is quiet, yet strong.
 At Chicago.
 Chicago, November IA report on the present situation would be but repeti- tion of the conditions which have pre- vailed for the past thirty days or more. Desperate efforts are being made by fur naces to secure sufficient. coke to keep running and supply iron on their con- tracts. Wherever this result is not ac- complished, foundrymen are piecing out their wants with purchases of spot iron. There have been some inquiries for ex- tended delivery and future delivery sales made here and there, but in the main transactions are confined to ready deliv- cry material. It is pretty generally con- ceded that present condition of affairs will continue through the first half of next year, with the chances of still fur ther restricted production between now and the 1st of January, 1903. Needs for spot iron are being promptly met. and