The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-20
SPOT IRON STILL
 STRONG AT $25 T0N
No Agreement Made for Latter
 HaIfo of 1903
PROBABLY $20 FOR NO. 2
General Pig Iron Market Is Taking Breathing spell-Trend Of General Business Is on
 Satisfactory Plane.

The local Iron market was without special feature last week. Spot iron be- ing in very limited supply continues to command s24 to s25. No agreement has been made by the large southern furnace companies touching a schedule of selling prices for deliveries in the last half of 1903, but when a conference Is held 1t is believed that s2O for No. foundry will be the baes.
 Extracts from Rogers, Brown & Co.'s circular of Saturdays date follow:
 At Cincinnati.
 Cincinnati-The general pig iron market is taking needed breathing spell. Or ders have been fewer and tonnage some what lighter the past week. The furnaces welcome a quieter market for time suf- ficent to enable them to give better satisfaction to consumers who have been and are stili patiently waiting for their supplies of iron. The production for the remainder of the year and first quarter of next year being practically taken up, they feel that ample time will be afforded to arrange for orders taking deliveries beyond April and May It will be borne in mind that some of the furnaces are entirely sold up to July next.
 The trend of general business seems to be upon a substantial plane and prom ising of satisfaction for period at least through the coming year. The tones im- parted this week are the easing of f1n- ances and the encouraging outlook as to full resumption of mining in the anthra- cite region.
 Foreign irons for immediate require ments are greatly appreciated by those who cannot secure sufficient domestic supplies and while the import irons need not be reckoned on for extended future necessities, temporarily they are con- tributing greatly to the maintenance of operations in a large number of import ant foundries.
 Prices continue irregular, but the gen. eral adherence to conservatism together with alien supplies, keep the market quite steady.
 The coke situation continues perplexing but it is believed that renewal of activity in the anthracite field will free to normal channels large percentage of coke that has been, during the protracted strike diverted. The entrance into the season of inclement weather gives no encour- agement for marked improvement in manufacture or the transportation of coke especially as ore, coal cotton and grain are moving in such enormous ton mage.
 At Plttsburg.
 Pittsburg-The week has been absolute Iv devoid of interest so far as concerns pig iron, and inquiries are few ana Tar between.
 Coke. to the contrary has been in most lively demand both for furnace and foun- drv. Immediate coke of either class has been going at truly startling prices, and even with the settlement of the anthra- cite strike we do not look for materially lower figures this year. The car shortage and rapidly approaching cold weather are likely to aggrayate matters and hold prices.
 At Chicago.
 Chicago-The main question of interest here, as elsewhere, Is the early termlna- ton of the anthracite coal strike and It's possfble effect on the iron market. Va- ,ious opinions are being expressed, but if is pretty generally conceded that the resumption of shipments of anthracite coal is still weeks or month In the fu- ture and when 1t does begin to move Its effect on the car situation will be to pos sibly curtail transportation of coke ani pig Iron to consumers and If anything strengthen the markets for pig Iron.
 There has been no very large trading during the past week. interest centering mainly, as for some time past, in early delivery material. Spot delivery iron Is being absorbed readily and at prices which have been ruling for some weeks,
 At New York.
 New York-The iron trade Is studying with much interest the effect of the end of the anthracite strike upon the indus try. So far as the direct effects are con- cerned, they will hardly be appreciable. The anthracite furnaces thrown out of blast by lack of fuel, represent less than per cent of the total capacity of the country. It will be several weeks before all of these can again be in operation for domestic needs and the lake trade will doubtless have the first attention Of the companies.
 The indirect effects, however, ought to be felt at once The pressure that is re- moved from the bituminous mines which | have been called upon to make up the deficit in anthracite, should increase the f1a1 ,fa