The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-23
PIG IRON MARKET
 CONTINUES ACTIVE Price of Birmingham Metal
 Has Upward Tendency SOFT GRADES ARE SCARCE
SOFT GRADES ARE SCARCE
Sales of Iron Made In Birmingham District In September Will A1are- gate Something Like 25o,ooo
 Tons-Coke Advances.

The Birmingham iron market continues strong and active Most of the furnace companies have sold all their make for 1905 and there has been some orders book ed for 1906 delivery. The quotation prices are stiIl based on SIP for No. 2, but the tendency is decidedly upward. The sales for the month of September in the Bir- mingham district will total something like 25o,O00 tons.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report of yesterdays date follows
 The active condition of the pig iron market continues. Prices in all districts are stronger than 8 week ago, and with the large number of inquiries received and good amount of business done, they will doubtless register further advance be- fore long. There Is 0 strong demand for spot iron and some grades are difficult to get, noticeably grey forge. There is a scarcity of softer grades in the south, Nos. 1 and are hard to get for quick shipment. There is an increasing pressure on the part of buyers to close for bus mess running through the first quarter and first half of 1906, and many furnaces are still refusing to name figures for these deliveries. The presence of a num- Der of inquiries for large lots has strengthened the market and the ton mage sold during the week is of such size as warrants the optimistic feeling which the furnace men have. Bessemer pig iron Is on the rise, and anticipated purchases are making it very firm. The needs of the steel corporation, 1t is stated, will require between 400O0 and 50,000 tons of pig iron, for delivery during the bal ance of the year. The next purchase will probably be made in October.
 Lake Superior charcoal iron has regis tered two advances within the week, and this Is in line with the feeling generally. Consumption again seems to be creeping upon production. as August showed a sharp decrease in stocks on hand. SIP Bir- mingham and s14.5O Ohio furnaces for No. are being strictly observed.
 It Is certainty that the railroad com panies all over the country are taxed to the utmost to carry freight and this fall an unusual blockade is expected. The enormous crops must be moved and man. ufacturers in all lines report gradually getting behind in their orders. The bus mess In finished material of heavy order is increasing every day; all classes of manufacturers reporting unparalleled business activity.
 Even with the activity in iron, coke has supplanted it in interest during the past few days. There has been an advance all along the line, and figures are being changed almost daily. With the approach of winter, the undoubted severe car shortage, and not too great production, 1t Is evident that coke prices will rule higher This is the tendency today, and has been for a week past
 Matthew Addy and company's Cincin- natl report is as follows:
 Business is certainly coming with a rush, for this week has seen the book ing of an extraordinarily heavy tonnage of pig iron. In fact the buying move ment is one of unusual extent. It Is prob- able that in Cincinnati this week orders have been placed for upwards of 60,000 tons of southern Iron. The furnaces have sold very large quantities of iron for pipe making. In addition the mills have taken up about all the grey forge avail able. Steel makers have been buying ba- sic freely. The sales of foundry iron have been remarkable. and have covered every grade. Consumers not only realize the present good times but have a keen sense of the fact that the future is bound to be active and prosperous, for they are trying to buy for just us far ahead as deliveries can be secured Prob ably some little iron has been bought for shipment over the first half of 1906, but the tonnage for this long delivery is in- considerable, as very few sellers are willing to go beyond the end of March next year. Business has all been done on the basis of $12 Birmingham, for No foundry, but without any doubt before the next weeks report Is written the price will have advanced, as there are indications that about all the SIP iron that the Furnaces are willing to sell has been already taken In word, the week has been one of exceedingly heavy tonnage at prices that are profitable to the seller and fair to the buyer.