The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-15
IRON SITUATION IS CAREFULLY STUDIED General Improvement in Mar
 ket is Noted INQUIRIES MORE ANIMATED Furnaces Are Making Little Effort to Push sales-Firmer Tone in Prices.
 The Coke Market Gener-
 ally Is Satisfactory.
INQUIRIES MORE ANIMATED

The local iron market Is becoming anil mated. It is reported that the ohiteo States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry com pany has bought 10000 tons of pig metal from the Tennessee company, delivery 10 be made during the next SIX months. The price Is not stated. Sales have been maue from time to time at s11 and eVen lower but it is thought that the bottom or oe- clining prices has been reached. The mar ket Is thought to be steadying around $11 50 for No 2 Rogers, Brown x Co. Cincinnati report of yesterdays date says
 A general improvement in the conoi- ton of the market Is noted this week. A larger percentage of sales have resulteo from inquiries than for three months past In addition to sales being of varying ton- mage, some running into good size, pusi- ness has been impartial for northern and southern iron, restricted generally to foundry grades. and the deliveries run ming through different periods Altogether broader atmosphere seems to have maoe itself felt, and close inspection or actuai conditions makes it plain that buyers with dwindling stocks and expiring contracts feel that 1t will be best to cover al the existing market for limited period at least. The class of buyers represented pS the inouiries and sales of the week proves that some of the best posted consumers have come to the conclusion that the pot tom has been reached, and they are gong to cover. This class Is augmented by those who prefer to buy supplies by contract no matter if it be only of short time ana doubtless each day will see the numper increased. Although the movement IS not general, it's appearance at this tune IS ancoura ging and confirms the belief or those who predicted $l1 Birmingham, or its equivalent, on southern iron as the limit in the present decline.
 But small effort Is being made by fur- naces to push sales, as 1t Is realized that when a buyer Is out of the humor or pur- chasing. or has made up his mind not to buy. cutting prices will not help mat ters. There is a frmer tone to prices anu a< more uniform idea held by different m terests. although there is still considerable free lance policy being pursued.
 Coke has felt this influence, and some producers have advanced prices shghtly on special grades. The market generally is satisfactory, with prices steady and the fuel in good demand. Shortage of labor continues to interfere with production, and this will probably continue during mid summer.
 Matthew, Addy & Co.'s report for the week ending today Is as follows:
 , In reviewing the week just ended It 'is eratifving to note the general interest taken from every side The pig iron situ- alton is being watched and studied more carefully today than for many months' That a great percentage of the foundry men throughout the country are still un- covered and are living from hand to mouth is shown by the vast number or re- quests to hurry up shipments. Each day brings forth urgent appeals from iron con- sumers who are on the ragged edge" and advise us that they will have to shut down unless they are relieved soon. The "Glorious Fourth has played It's usual mart with southern labor. A number or the furnaces are running behind on their or ders simply because they cannot get men to load the iron into the cars. A shortage of fuel in the south has afrected number of furnaces. Several are idle on this ac- count.
 Inouiries for iron have been numerous and have ranged from queries Tor carioaos to lots of several thousand tons; some for nrompt shipment and some for shipment extending through the first half of next year: the majority, however, are for de- livery over the balance of 1905. These in ouiries have every appearance of coming from people who really intend to buy, and are not. we believe, mere feelers.
 The southern iron masters, generally sneaking are averse to quoting for ship ment beyond the third quarter at the pres ent market prices. and they are nearly all asking a considerable premium for last quarter shipments.
 number of sales of considerable size Representing nearly every grade of from are reported, and the situation is exceed ingly encouraging.
 The coke market is somewhat more &C., tive. Buyers show disposition to cover for the balance of this year, and many are inauiring for prices for shipment through the first half of next. Prices remain unchanged.
 
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