The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-20
LITTLE CHANGE IN
Pic IRON PRICES
Activity CenterS in Buying in
Eastern Markets
SERIOUS SITUATION SOUTH
Lake Season Just Closed Has Been One
of Unprece dented Cargoes and
Profits-Buying for the
Third Quarter.

Cleveland, O., December 19.-(Special)
The Iron Trade review tomorrow VIII
say: The lake season, which has just
closed, has been one of unprecedented
cargoes and profits. The percentage of
earnings of both steel and wooden YES
sells has been so large as to fully justify
the orders already placed, giving lake
shipbuilders all they can possibly do dur
ing the coming year. An unexpected gain
in their shipments for December has
made the total for the season somewha t
larger than was expected, it being 81
3d. SS tons an increase of 4O36,6S5 tons
over 1905. With all rail shipments estl-
mated at 100000 tons the total amount
of ore shipped during the past season
will be $4,000 tons. During the winter
months in the ranges there will be as
great activity as the weather will per-
nit in mining ores and preparing in other
ways to meet the great demand for next
year
Pig iron prices show little change, but
there is increased firmness, and buying
for the last half is more noticeable The
largest purchases of the week were made
in the New York districts, where sales
for the third and fourth quarter of 1907
amounted to about 100000 tons.
New York, December 19.-The Iron Age
will say tomorrow:
Activity has centered during the last
two weeks in the eastern pig iron mar
kets, where buyers have taken hold of
covering requirements for the third quar-
ter of 1907. In the past two weeks east
ern Pennsylvania mills have bought about
$1,000 tons of basic pig for delivery during
the third quarter chiefly, the price hay
ing been 500 delivered and upward. Foun-
dry interests have continued to buy for
forward delivery, among them the largest
concerns who seem to have confidence in
the future. Present prices are regarded
by many in the trade as dangerously
high, and yet it is the consumer who is
eager to take his chances.
The situation in the south is growing
more serious, through inadequate trans
portation facilities and scarcity of labor.
Iron is accommodating at the furnaces,
which is sorely needed by distant meters,
and the delivery of raw materials seems
to be becoming more and more precarious.
There has been less activity in for
eifn foundry irons lately. The Middles-
boro market showed some decline, but
rallied again on heavy buying.
Rail makers have been booking some
good orders, including 1900 tons for the
Texas railroad: 1000 tons additional for
the Great Northern; 1000 for the Spokane
Inland and 5000 tons for the Monon road.
A western road is in the market for
%. 600 tons.
Eastern plate makers have been forced
again to put up their prices 81 per ton.
making the third advance of like amount
in the current month.
Quite a good run of small sized struct-
ural contracts has come in.
In the lighter lines the trade is looking
for an early advance in sheets and in
tin plates. Bars are strong and are now
quotably. higher in the east.
Complete returns to the Iron Age show
that the total water shipments of Lake
Superior ores in 1906 were S7513,64 gross
tons. All rail shipments to blast furnaces
in the northwest will bring the total into
IS, go, 900 tons. This is an increase of
approximately $500. coo tons over 1905.