The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-25
INCREASED DEMAND
FOR STEEL IN
THE WEST
Inquiries for Manufactured e ~
Products as, Well as
Crude Forms-hittle Buy
ing Ahead Done, Current
Trading Being in Small
Quantities.

CHICAGO, April 24.-The Iron and
Machinery World, the organ of the
Western metal trade, says; Demand
in the West has increased for the
cruder forms of steel. Large users of
billets are endeavoring to close for
their future needs, and there are in
quiries running up we'll into the thou
sands of tons for deliveries some dis
lance ahead. There is also better in
quiry for various forms of manufac-
tured iron and steel. Within the past
few days there have been purchased
featured metal for use in the construc-
ton Of freight cars. The Pennsyl-
vania has just bought 2,100 cars, and
other orders have been placed.
The implement makers. also, are ne
gotiating for heavier tonnages FSof
metal A few are providing themselves
with a years requirements. So essen
tial is the predetermination of costs
regarded in the implement trade. in or
der that selling prices may be planned
for the future, that the rule has been
to contract for shipments to extend
six months or year ahead. and it is
on that basis that some .goodly trans
actions are now being closed.
No Inducement to Buy Ahead.
1t is distinctly feature of this pres
ent market, however, that this future
buying is not up to former standards.
There is now on the surface no special
inducement to buy ahead. no back
Wardness of shipments. no menace of
higher prices. And the current trad
ing is made up largely of small quanti-
ties, even by the larger consumers.
Material is purchased for two or three
months, instead of six to twelve. This
gives to the market the appearance Of
comparative dullness. but when aggre-
gates are made by weeks and by
months, the results are found to be
large. The metal-consuming manufac-
tories in the West are generally run
ming full time. with heavy prospect
i've trade for an indefinite period The
railroads are building new and larger
shops and ordering additional equip
ment. The general building work is
in some directions obtrusively active.
The demand for mechanics tools is
heavy. Production Of nails has been at
it's maximum. There is a perceptible
element of hesitation. the value of
which for Ne season is as yet unde-
'efiiiiieu' fnSs<r
Pig iron Is quiet There are not two
sides to the question of activity. Buy
ers and sellers agree that little is do
ing. And prices Wabb1e slightly. The
larger Southern producers are holding
at $3.50. Birmingham, for No. foun-
dry, or $21.S5 Chicago. but a number
Of small furnacemen are shading that
quotation from so cents to 81 per ton,
local iron being held at about $22 for
No. foundry.
The buying is mainly ins small lots.
Several order of 500 IONS each have
been placed. and a larger number Of
orders ranging from 200 to 300 tons.
Most of this iron will be called for
prior to July 1. 1t is only in rare in
stances that the foundryman buys fur
Their ahead. And inasmuchi as most of
the iron now consumed is supplied on
old contracts which will expire during
the next two months. it seems certain
that buying in Mayor in June at
latest. must develop into considerable
activity. The character of the present
buying covers most grades, foundry,
soft, forge and malleable.
Coke is now declining in value and
increasing in supply. Connellsville has
sold this week as high as $3.50. Chfca-
go, but a lot of West Virginia coke was
forced on the market +at Milwaukee a
few days ago to pay aceRuing charges,
and sold as low as 81. 90