The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-02
IRON PRICES HAVE
 UPWARD TENDENCY September Opens With Foun- dries Rushed With Business COKE IS VERY PROMINENT Coke Figures Are Stronger and There Is Much Confidence In the Out
 look-car shortage-Gen-
 era! Prosperity.

The local iron market continues firm ar SIP for No ?. The tendency Is upward. Several of the furnace companies de- cline offers of SIS for 1906 delivery.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'s Cincinnati report of yesterdays date follows:
 The assurance of peace in the far east ern struggle, Is a source of much satis- faction to those interested in the iron and steel market. It is doubtless the one feature which will promote more than any other. a large export business in machinery and other supplies. The arts of peace will be given closer attention by both countries than at any time for two years past. Even now, some of the larger manufacturers are looking forward to an immense amount of export trade which will boom consumption, beginning almost immediately. Trade conditions continue excellent, with sales of good size and in- quiries of a most promising nature. Not only is the present market strong, but the outlook for the balance of the year is better than at any time for several months Consumption is certainly excel lent as the requests for material for prompt shipment continue in increasing number.
 Coke Is assuming a prominent position and some leadiF- manufacturers are re- fusing to make ,tations for next year, feeling confident an early advance. Figures are stron and there is a great deal of confident the outlook. The car shortage is b ming to make itself felt in great ml ire. It Is always an item of large impi ance at this time of the year and It's recurrence is a natural result of agricultural conditions in the west. This year. with the tremendous crops and increasing demands made on the railroads, doubtless will make the difficulty more pronounced than ever before Coke operators are experiencing much trouble in this way.
 Matthew Addy & Co.'S report for the week of August 2S to September ?. says:
 September opens with all pig iron foun- dries rushed to their full capacity. The general and the special foundries are particularly busy. They are not only full of immediate work but have work enough to keep them busy during the balance of the year and further. The largest con- sumers of pig Iron, that is the pipe foun- dries, are having an exceptionally good trade. As for the steel mills. they are far behind on orders for heavy work. particularly heavy structural beams and rails And this state of affairs is liable to continue until the bad weather be- gins. In fact there never was time when tp tfc- factory shape. We are not having the feverish boom times of 1902. At that time everything was abnormal and there was no satisfaction in doing business. Now, however there Is a more rational adjust ment between the source of supply and demand and business is being done with out so much nervous wear and tear as at that time.
 The week has been marked by con- tinuance of heavy inquiries from large consumers These inquiries have ranged all the way from 5000 to 10000 tons. and considerable buying has been done. Sew eral heavy lots have been booked, and many more are in process of negotia- tions The small buying has been steady end continuous, but scarcely deserving of any comment. as 1t has been made up of carload and 100 tons lot covering all kinds of material.
 Coke has been particularly active Con- sumers bear In mind the troubles of the past three years and apparently are be- ginning to anticipate their wants in this direction. There is not any question but that when crops begin to move there will be shortage of cars, and there will be trouble in shipping both coke and coal.
 The feeling In the trade Is exceedingly good. Every man reads into the general situation his own excellent business. and in fact there could be no better way of sizing up tho general market.