The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-25
IRON PRICES ARE
 TENDING UPWARD
NORTHERN FURNACE MEN WILL HAVE TO FIGURE ON INCREASE IN COST ON ORE AND COKE AFTER JULY 1.

Rogers. Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report of yesterdays date says
 The week has been productive of activ- ity in all lines, and the buying move ment has seen no let up. Eastern fur naces generally report their order books well filled for the second and third quar- ters, and the feeling among them is of the most optimistic nature
 Western and southern furnaces are in excellent shape and just as sure of the outlook as their eastern friends. The de- mand for finished material continues strong and the leading concerns in all branches report contracted business for the next six months at least.
 The sensation of the week has been the reported purchase by a large PittsburE steel company of 100000 tons of billets. for delivery during the last half of the year, at "a price slightly above the present schedule. This is but one item showing the trend at this time.
 The present tendency of southern irons is toward higher figures, and although it is possible to get round lots at S1S.5O Bir- mingham, the large producers are asking $14 for what they have to offer. Birming- ham furnaces are sold up for a good period ahead, and as the output of south ern steel increases the amount of south ern iron going into it is increased, and that available for shipment outside Is correspondingly curtailed. The main et- fort in the Birmingham district is more to keep up production at this time, than to make sales for the next three to six months.
 In the north considerable business has been recently booked for the third quar- ter and last half delivery, and it is inter esting to note that one buyer of a large quantity for shipment during the last four months of this year, has made the request that shipments be started imme- diately at lively rate. The demand for all grades is strong.
 Beginning July an increase in cost will have to be figured by northern furnace men on ore and coke With these two items to figure in cost it is evident man ufacturers are confident that the balance of the year will help them by the amount of business and satisfactory prices they can obtain for their output. From figures at hand, it seems that the steel corpora tion will have to purchase heavily dur ing April, although they are now operat- ing all of their available blast furnace capacity. This will have it's effect, espe- cially among the Valley furnaces.
 The railroads continue to place liberal orders for rolling stock and other ma terial, which is having its favorable in- fiuence. An increase in lighter rails, and those particularly used by street rail ways, is also noticeable. Two good sized sales of steel rails for export have been made.
 Locally sales of varying size have been effected, and the percentage of so-cailed large transactions seems to be increas- ing. Requests to withhold shipments are at a minimum, and it is evident that buy CTS wish to get all material bought as promptly as possible.
 Coke is very strong at existing figures. and it seems to be only a matter of a short time, probably at the instigation ot the next advance In iron when prices will again register higher. The output in all districts has recently increased, but Is being freely taken, and prospects con tinue excellent.