The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-29
.PIG IRON MARKET
 VERY FIRM AT SD
Advance of 50 Gents Came
 Sooner Than Expected
SOUTHERN IRON MEN MEET
Conference Was Informal and No Ac- tion Was Taken-President Thcmp- son of Republic Takes Hope
 ful View of Business.

Southern pig iron has been advanced to $1O a ton, on No. g. foundry, basis When it became firm, at $9.5O, about two weeks ago, manufacturers felt that it would remain at that price until Jan uary.
 It was said that after the holidays it would naturally seek a $10 level. But, without any concert of action, 1t has reached $10. No. l is shading that fig ure. and yesterday an iron maker de- clined an offer of $10 for February de- livery. He said he would sell only Jan uary iron at $1O for No. g.
 Southern iron could get into the mar ket now at S1O.5O or S1O75. and there seems to be feeling that the price will advance to $l0.50 early in January and to $11 before the new year is far gone.
 Meeting of Furnace Men.
 An informal meeting of southern fur nacemen was held in the office of the Republic Iron and Steel company yes- terday, but no action of any sort was taken. President Don IT. Bacon of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad com pany, President Alex. w. Thompson of the Republic; President T. G. Bush of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company and Representatives of nearly all the other furnace companies in this section were present. President J. c. Maben of the Sloss-Sheffield was not in attendance.
 After the meeting the only thing given out was that no action was taken; that the question of a selling schedule was not mentioned, and that the gentlemen who were present only talked about bust ness conditions in a general way.
 There has been a good deal of talk re- gently about recognizing the southern association, but this matter is still in abeyance. Many of the manufacturers are strongly in favor of recognizing and some predict that an organization will be effected before great while.
 President Thompson Talks.
 MT Thompson of the Republic reached Birmingham Sunday and will probably remain here until tonight He said last night:
 Iron has got up to BIO and there is no reason why it should not go higher. As 1904 is a presidential election year some people have an idea that business will be dull. But it does not follow that we will have stagnation because of the presiden- tial campaign.
 '1n 1892, a campaign year, business was uncommonly good. It was one of the best years in the history of the country. The farmers are better off now than they have ever been. They have made great deal of money this year and with the un- precedented prosperity of the agricultural sections 1t Is difficult to see how the coun- try can have hard times next year"
 No Changes in the T. c. l.
 The following official announcement was made at the office of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company yesterday:
 "The rumors which have been current for some time of impending changes in the official staff of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company are without foundation. The employment of any of the former officers has not been consid- cred. The directors recently indicated their appreciation of the present manage ment by offering MT. Don H. Bacon a long time engagement in the position he