The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-14
MARKET CONDITIONS
ARE SATISFACTORY
Iron Trade Continues Brisk
and Healthy
THE FOUNDRIES ALL BUSY
Melting Is Going on at Wonderful
Rate-lnquiries Received for 1907
Business-Briqht Prospects
In Every Line.


The Birmingham iron market is firm
on 1880 No. foundry basis. although
trading is not quite so brisk this week
as 1t had been during the past few
there is every reason to believe that
there will be active selling throughout the
summer.
Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report
for the current week follows:
From day to day market conditions i'm
of the most satisfactory character. There
Is an increasing demand for iron dur
ing the last quarter and some inquiries
have been received for 1907 business. Lo-
cally the week has been productive of
good tonnage, well distributed through
foundry and forge grades, with strong
demand for malleable and special irons
Malleable is becoming scarce and as we
advance into the third quarter the sold
up condition of furnaces in the central
west is becoming a very important item
In calculations covering supply during the
balance of this year This same condition
has been true of southern furnaces for
some time, and is now very marked in
the Pennsylvania field 1t would surprise
many followers of the pig iron situation
to know the number of furnaces which
are practically sold up prior to January.
1907.
The midsummer let-down in trade gen.
orally, the midsummer shutdown of
plants for repairs and improvements, the
dullness attending the coming of July in
the coke fields, all have been practically
without recurrence this year. and i'm
stead of any let-down there has been
remarkable activity and the impelling
force of contracts to be filled has kept
mills and shops going full and breaking
all records for this season.
1t is hard to talk conservatively of the
demands being made on manufacturers OF
iron and steel products From time to
time we have remarked on the great
tonnage which has accumulated so far
this year on the books of these concerns
anu THIS tplllihhtS III every lilt.
The depression in the stock market
has no effect on the iron trade as it
is too firmly intrenched for the present
and remaining months of 1905 to be af-
fected by anything but the most unusual
cause
jects for criticism in the general indus
trial situation. but this is always the
case If one looks far enough. 1t remains
that the strongest feature is current
business and the prospects in almost
every line.
This state is best shown in the state
ment. among others, that the net earn
ings of the United States Steel corpora
ton for the June quarter will run over
$3S, 600 The government crop report
just issued and on which so much in
terest has been conferred, confirms pre-
vious estimates and shows the country
crops to be in splendid shape.
In spite of all conditions as they are
there is no boom In pig iron nor is 1T
desired. Its steady and almost unchanged
level since the first of the year shows an
inherent strength which it is expected
will carry 1t on the same or better plane
through the remainder of 1906. If this is
accomplished and the same sane methods
are in evidence during that time as have
governed generally so far in the year,
a record for stability will have been es-
tablished.
The great activity in the Connellsville
coke field is almost unprecedented
Matthew Addy & Co.'s Cincinnati re-
port for the week says:
Hot weather conditions are not apparent
in the pig iron market Melting of iron
is going on at a tremendous rate. The
foundries are all busy, and their pros
poets, save for labor troubles and short
ages here and there. are excellent In fact
the year promises to be one of great
prosperity.
The week has been marked by good
steady business. There has been a con-
siderable demand for basic and malleable
for spot delivery, and buyers have been
disappointed in not finding what they
wanted. In fact the main market de-
mand at the present time seems to be
for quick shipment. There is a large in
quiry for small lots, from carloads up
to 200 tons. for immediate delivery All
kinds of foundry iron are asked for, and
1t is very evident that consumers were
by no means filled up in the recent heavy
buying movement. In northern irons there
is a shortage and consumers are not
getting deliveries on time. The situation
is not distressing, but it might be much
better. Southern iron Is not in quite as
short supply, but there is no surplus on
furnace yards.
Coke has been active in a large whole
sale way but not much has been done
by the small consumers.
COUNTY JAIL QUESTION.