The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-18
HIGHER PRICES FOR . P|G IRON EXPECTED Optimism is General Key Note
 of the Situation ABOUT SCARCITY OF CARS Reports From Iron Centers Show an Advancing Tendency-Many Fur mace Companies Out of Market
 for First Quarter.

The Birmingham iron market is firm at s145o for No 2 No large sales have been reported this week but an active market will not be long delayed. Higher prices are predicted. Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Gin natl report of yesterdays date says;
 Pig Iron production for October broke all monthly records and adds another chapter to the tremendous business now being conducted. At the rate of twenty four and half million tons per year being properly cared for at this time, it is little wonder that every one is busy. Stocks for October will show a shrink age, as they have been drawn upon heavily during that time. So far average sales during November have equaled the previous month, and with the large in terests now in the market there Is little chance of a falling behind.
 Reports from all iron producing centers show an advancing tendency, and there is the same reluctance to offer for ex- tended delivery as has been evidenced in the past. Iron is being shipped out faster than it is being manufactured, even in the face of very adverse transportation conditions. That there will be a distinct shortage in pig iron in the near future is acknowledged, and this has increased the anxiety of buyers to buy as far ahead as furnaces would quote.
 It is reported that the steel corpora ton have purchased a large tonnage of Bessemer Iron for delivery during the first quarter at a price equal to SIT at the Valley furnaces; by so doing discount ing the advance which is now admitted will maintain until that time, or later
 Locally the situation this week is but a repetition of the week before, intensified perhaps, as inquiries and sales continue in good number The size of inquiries is not large as heretofore, but the total tonnage is satisfactory
 Matthew Addy & Co.'S Cincinnati re- port for the week follows:
 Optimism is the general keynote of the pig iron situation. There is not a single chord of dissent. Consumers and producers alilse are taking the same view of the situation. Consumers are full of business, with heavy tonnages of new business in sight. In fact the record lIldl COtbullpllOH IS 1ldklnB IOudy IS De- yond any comparison in the industrial history of the world.
 Producers are now drifting with the tide. No effort whatever is being made to hold the prices back, and it is fair to say that there is no effort being made to stimulate prices in any artificial way. Quotations are simply taking care of themselves. The greater part of the furn- aces of the country are out of the mar ket absolutely on anything until the sec ond quarter of next year. There are odd lots of one thing or another to be had for shipment, but consumers coming into the market for large lots of standard ma terial for anything like prompt delivery could not obtain them for love or money. In the valleys it is freely predicted that these strenuous condition will bring s2O pig iron at Ohio furnaces before Christ mas In Alabama there is the same sen timent exactly. The head of one of the largest producing companies In Birming- ham stated this week that 1t was his conviction that prices would be S2O be- fore they would be any lower than they are at the present time.
 Business this week has been good. but it has been limited by the amount of available tonnage. In other words sellers are running out of ammunition. There Is great trouble in regard to coke and It Is impossible to get enough to go around at the present time. Of course there Is
 plenty of oven capacity and plenty Of coke. the shortage arising from the scar city of cars.