The age-herald., 1902-05-18
PRICES IF IRON ARE STILL
 RISING
No. ? Foundry is Now Selling at S17.OO, an Advance of S1.00 a Ton.
Iron Makers Think That Even
 Higher Prices Will Prevail. Review of Leading Markets.

The iron market continues dclVe anu upward Last week and early in the present week s16 for No. 2 foundry was the selling price here but towards the last of the week No. sold as high as ST. Several ironmakers said yesterday that ST basis would harden, and one of them said that even higher prices might come within the next week or two.
 Furnace companies that have not sold their output for the entire year would probably take s1S or less for large orders for fall delivery, but spot delivery iron in small lots is in demand at the higher figures.
 Shipments were large last week and the yards are kept well cleaned up.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'s letters of yes- terday's date follows:
 Birmingham Market.
 Southern foundry pig iron scored an- other advance this week and quite number of sales of 300 tons and under were made on basis of $17 for No. ? foundry Some lots of No. 8 foundry for immediate shipment brought s16.5o. For the past month furnaces that were able to make sales have only authorized quo tations on a basis of 2240 pounds to the ton and incorporated in their contracts "payment thirty days from date of in- voice." It Is now understood that these conditions are strictly adhered to, the furnaces considering that contracts with such conditions are worth at least 25 cents per ton over the old form.
 Southern charcoal pig iron is now bring ing s22 at the furnace, but very few sales are being made, due solely to the fact that the output of the charcoal furnaces has been contracted for this year and some have sold considerable for delivery during 1903.
 Cincinnati Market.
 The iron market has been much more active this week than last. A number of furnaces in the South, (which have not been selling any iron for Western deliv- cry during the past two months, have entered the market and have made a number of sales on the basis of $16O0, Birmingham, for No. 2 foundry. The majority of said sales are for delivery during the latter half of the year. The demand is still greater than the supply for May and June shipment. Some of the large consumers of charcoal iron have been looking ahead for a supply for next year, and sales have been wade for deliveries extending all through 19O3 The demand for Northern iron continues and, while the difference In price be- tween Southern and Northern brands Is greater than usual, yet the Northern fur naces can not supply the market. Pro- duction last month was on the basis of 1S.OOO,000 tons per year, yet stocks of pig iron on hand were less on May than in any previous month for many years
 The strike of the anthracite miners will, no doubt, result in the blowing out of furnaces in the Lehigh and Schuylkill Valleys, which will add more to the em- barrassmen of the eastern iron trade unless a supply can be obtained from abroad.
 The demand for coke continues, and there Is general complaint by the fur naces of inability to secure a satisfac- tory supply. The cause seems to be lack or CaTS, SCdTclly Ol ldDOT anu dCCluenI5 of all kinds.
 Plttsburg Market.
 In these reports we have, at various times, referred to fair run of orders be- ing booked into 1903, and as indicating the trend oI sentiment we have this week entered the largest tonnage for next year yet secured.
 Charcoal irons are an important feature both for early and extended delivery. Foundry grades continue in unabated de- mand and figures grow gradually stronger.
 New York Market.
 Every feature of the market continues without change. The long contracts for this years delivery have been mainly closed, and there is very little buying for 1908. The current demand, therefore, Is for spot or early delivery iron, and sub stanttal premiums are made to secure this. Consumption Is maintained at full tide. Production, as shown by April sta tistics. has increased moderately, the rate of output having for the first time Ill our history touched 1S,O00,000 Stocks have practically disappeared, being down to about 6O,0oo tons at all the merchant