The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-19
DEMAND FUR QUICK DELIVERY P|G IRON High Grades of Southern Metal
 Very Scarce COKE PRICES STIFFENlNG While the Birmingham Iron Market Is Quiet Compared With the Brisk
 Movement In July, 1t Re
 mains Very Firm.
COKE PRICES STIFFENlNG

The Birmingham iron market is firm but strong at SIP for No. 2. High grades are scarce and small lot Of NO. iouil- dry was sold this week at sl2.oo.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'s Cincinnati report of yesterdays date, says:
 There has been little or no change in conditions which prevailed during the previous week, the buying being cshilheo largely to small and medium sizeo lo's for early delivery or for shipment btrouehout the balance of the year. AL though no large orders were placed, the aperegate amounts to q respectable toh- mage and some large inquiries are penu- ing. The furnaces are not pressihs TUT nrders. for their order books are "eil filled and prices are being well maintaih- ed. Furnaces and coke operations are eA ,er,ancing some trouble in obtaining an adeauate car supply. and It IS apparen' that we are on the eve of the usual car shortage which exists each fall when the orain and cotton movement takes place. This is going to retard the movement or pig iron shipments and delivery oi ia" material to the furnaces.
 There is a perceptible improvement III coke. There has been general moving up in prices. This refers particulariy to the Wise county, Virginia and Pocahoh'as fields The ovens in those districts are unable to supply the demands peing ihaoe upon them, although there has been some ,n,nrovement in the labor situation, which has resulted in 0 somewhat larger out put.
 Matthew Addy and company's report for the week ending today, follows
 Rusiness is decidedly brisker. At the present time in the pig iron marKee there are two distinct features in the trade' The first Is the steady and satisfaetory demand for small lots for prompt ship ment in particular. There are excellent sales of this kind for high grade southern foundry metal. These range from ooo tofis lots down to carloads, and cover all kinds of iron. This demand shows conclusively that in spite of the large purehaslhs movement in July many consumers did not cover fully. It also shows that general business is exceedingly good. The second feature in the market is the hea1y m- o,,irv for forward delivery. This demand of course comes principally from very large consumers, and is for considerable quantities.; as for example one maker of large machinery has just purchased to the extent of 60OO or 1000 tons. Delivery In this particular case is over the first quarter for next year. This is about as far ahead as sellers are willing to go, although some buyers are asking for shipment over the first half of 1906. Char coal iron Is selling freely, one large ma ker of car wheels having just purchased 5000 tons, while number of lesser lots have also been taken
 At the present time there are numerous good inquiries for various kinds of iron in process of negotiation. and the situation is all that could be desired. Shipments are being made today in greater vol ume than at any time during the year, and prospects all point to an unusually good fall trade As a patter of fact there Is not an ultimate quantity of iron available for sale, and already consumers have been obliged in several cases. to change their specifications. not being able to find available exactly what they wanted.
 There are good sales of coke. and the trade in this article Is normal