The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-08
PRIMER FEELING
 IN IRON MARKET Inquiries from Consumers Are
 More in Evidence PRICES TO CROW STlFFER Constant Inquiries Are Taken to Mean That a Buying Movement on
 Large Scale Will Soon
 Set In.

The local iron market continues dull but one manufacturer made a sale of 1500 tons this week at s11.5O on No. foun- dry basis. Lower figures were recently ac- oepted by some of the furnace com panies, and the fact that a consumer placed an order at s11.5O gives stronger tone to the market.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati re- port of yesterdays date says:
 The beginning of July generally sees a dull period with mills And furnaces. Mid summer closing for repairs, general over hauling and inventory in all lines is the usual practice This year sees dullness manifest only in actual iron transactions. There are fewer mills shut down or about. to close and fewer general manufactores running on half time. or under contem- plated closing than for years past. De- mands being made on all makers of steel products and heavier material are enor- nous, and the contracts now on the books are such as to assure continuance of this high pressure for some time to come. In spite of the lower prices registered for iron and in quiet atmosphere of the mar ket for several weeks past, there are more favorable indications and more promises of expected fulfllment in the near future than for some time.
 Inquiries and sales have increased, the latter running much more evenly with inquiries than heretofore. Several pur- @f 1k fa,. 1ff,fa delivery have been consummated, and the general market tone is improved in con sequence
 Prices are still irregular, the furnaces in both north and south conducting in- dividual campaigns and following their own inclinations as to sales and prices. The amount of tonnage and delivery de- manded in inquiries has much to do with the stand taken by the furnaces. Buyers are showing more interest, and there is lack of the small inquiries for immed- fate rush shipment which have been the bulk of the market recently, their place having been taken by larger business and three to six months delivery.
 Labor is scarce in the coke fields, and the output is much reduced in conse- quence. It is also reported to be cutting a large figure in satisfactory operation of mines and furnaces in the south. Prices of coke are without change and opera 'tors are having all they can care for with the increasing demand forsboth fur mace and foundry grades.
 Matthew, Addy & Co.'S report for the week ending yesterday follows:
 A fair scattering buying and decidedly large inquiry are the essential facts in the market today. The inquiry comes from all classes of consumers, is for large and for small lots, and for all kinds of shipment There were even inquiries re- gently for shipment twelve months ahead. However, the greater part of the inquiry is for the last half of the year. These in- auiries can only mean one thing, and that is whether they result immediately in actual business or not presently they will have to be purchasing on a large scale.
 Buying up to date has been for mmed- fate shipment. or for shipment over the third quarter. The furnaces are reluctant to extend shipments much beyond sixty or ninety days at today's prices. The feel ing of many consumers and the feeling of the iron masters is radically different. Consumers apparently are confirmed bears. They seem to think that the mar ket can keep on declining indefinitely. The furnacemen on the other hand are of the opinion that when the buying move ment really begins prices will grow stiff fer immediately In fact they all of them look for better prices than rule today early in the fall.
 There is less difference of opinion in re- gard to coke. The orders for this have teen placed on a very decent scale Tor shipment until the first of January.