The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-10
CONSUMPTION OF
 PIG METAL LARGE
Iron Market Quiet But Prices
 Are Firm
FEATURES BEING STUDIED
U. S. Steel Corporation Tonnage Con tracts-United Mine Workers At titude Affecting the Stua-
 tion-Foundry Trade.

The Birmingham iron market has been quiet all the week. but prices remain firm at s145O for No. 2 foundry. Large sales could have been made at sl+ but the shaded offers were not accepted "to any considerable extent"
 Rogers. Brown & Co.'s Cincinnati re- port of yesterdays date follows:
 February starts off well, as far as market conditions and consumption are concerned. Production is going on at high rate It is becoming more evident daily that the tonnake which is to be placed for second quarter and later de- livery is very large. Consumption is pro- ceeding al record figures and the de- mands made on furnaces for prompt ship ment and anticipation of contracts Is still as strong as eyer. The malleable people are especially busy. Several sales of low phosphorus iron have been made since the first of the month, and the best brands are scarce The demand for basic Is active and there is little offering.
 The two most interesting features at this time are the report made by the Steel corporation regarding the tonnage of con tracts now on their books and the con- ference between the operators and United Mine workers at Indianapolis last week. Since the formation of the Steel cor poration the record of thrilled orders on their books has generally been accepted as a fairly accurate indication of busi- ness likely to prevail during months to come. The present orders reported. amounting to 100000 tons. forces the conclusion that this year will break all records in steel manufacture.
 The convention of the United Mine Workers of America at Indianapolis last week, which resulted in a failure to cone to an agreement for employment after the expiration of the present contract on March 31 next, is unquestlonably the most important matter in the eyes of the industrial world today. Aside from the loss to the laborers and those dependent upon them, loss to the operators, rail- roads and others directly interested the far-reaching influence of such q strike and it's effect on the industries and the country's prosperity generally, is appal- ling. The responsibility for such strike, especially at this time, will rest heavier than ever upon those guilty, and it is to be hoped that all chance for the agree ment Is not yet passed.
 Reports from the largest manufacturers as to the amount of business on their books show record figures, and when it Is estimated how far into this year con- tracts already closed will carry these con cerns without a ton of additional busi- ness, satisfactory results are assured in a number of lines. Structural steel, roll ing stock. locomotives and steel rails are especially in evidence.
 Those who are studying the conditions in the iron trade and it's allied interests are watching this feature closely. It has been said that the productive capacity of furnaces is not capable of taking care of the material necessary to turn out the steel contracts already placed, as well as consumption in other lines. even if consumption should prevail at the rate it did last year. The actual figures for pig iron production in 1905 show a total of 22, ,992, ,Ss0 tons, this exceeding by over go per cent the production of the pre- vious year. or over 27 per cent greater than the best record, which was made in 1903 It is interesting to note that the second half of the year advanced pro- ductlon 666.OOO tons more than in the first half The production of steel rails dur ing the year amounted to 3,372. .257 gross tons, an increase of 476 per cent over the previous year Nineteen hundred and five was the record year in this line, the next largest being 1905.
 Ii is figured that since the first of the year rail orders booked amount to about 400 O0O tons. making the total on the books of manufacturers for this years delivery over two and a half millio ntons.
 The feature of foundry trade during year and one which will be strongly felt in tbe consumption totals for 1906. is the preparation which is being made hy large numbers of concerns to not only increase their productive capacity along the lines of their present manufacture. but to add other and greater facilities in other lines. This is especially true regarding the great increase in use of steel castings and the enlargement of existing steel casting plants and projection of new concerns. A number of firms arc making arrange ments to manufacture both maneable and steel casting Hofk
 Coke continues in ample supply and prices for prompt delivery have suffered somewhat. although the recent cold snap with it's attendant difficulties at ovens and in transit, will bring around q more normal condition for this time of year The unreasonable winter SO far has been A great advantage to consumers and they have profited accordingly There is a good tonnage of furnace coke under offer. which will doubtless be closed up during the coming week.
 Matthew Addy & Co.'S Cincinnati re- port for the present week, says:
 The week has been marked by a very much larger inquiry than there has been any time since the year began, and the significant part of the inquiry is that there are on hand several negotiations for third quarter iron. These negotia- tions run into the thousands and are sig nidcant in that they come from some of tho shre widest and most conservative buvors in the country. There has been during the week q fair trade in the gen- eral foundry irons. Several 1000 ton and o,ite A number of 500 ton lots nave been taken while carloads have been na- nerous. Most of this is filling in stuff.
 Consumers are having an immense amo,,nt of trouble in getting Iron onward an time. As far as our knowledge goes tbere is not d furnace in the country at