The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-06

Rogers Brown & Co.'S report says:
 Active inquiry and buying continue on satisfactory scale, with tonnage for 1907 more in demand. Conditions generally are only slightly changed over past weeks in that shortage of Iron for balance of the year Is more marked and production does not seem to be improving. Spot iron, ex- eept low grades, is almost impossible to get and the production in the south is being very seriously hampered by scarcity of labor. For this reason. and on account of other obstacles toward healthy out put. pig dron Is costing more than for a long period past. and makers justify themselves on this account for any quo tations which are being made on this and next years business.
 Basic and other steel making irons are at a premium and the demands on steel mills for product are most severe. In all lines of trade conditions are emnently favorable as far as the present Is con- cerned. There is always, however doubt expressed as to any extended continuance of great business activity.
 The fact that railroads are placing im- mense orders for future delivery for both structural material and new equipment in every way, means that they either feel conditions have come to stay or they are making delayed efforts to catch up with the prosperity band wagon. regardless of what may come up In the future.
 The leading interest of the week In pig iron trade was the closing of the deal by which the steel corporation comes into actual possession of the largest and richest ore mines in the United States with the solitary exception of the Lake Superior mines now owned by them These were the Great Northern. the Northern Pacific and the J. w. Long, year interests.
 Some interesting reports on last years activity are being published. Chief among these show the production of coal and coke to have broken records, as did pig
 iron. Nineteen hundred and five, with coal output of over 392, 900, 600 tons. made more than Il per cent increase In quantity over 1904 Production of coke likewise sur passed all previous years, amounting to more than 32.23i 900 tons, an increase Of 36 per cent over 1904 output. The value of tn ese products increased in even greater proportion. A ffty-seyen per cent increase in value for 1905 oyer 1904. Figures like thsi, showing results of the activity in all lines and enterprises last year, prove what high mark was reached. It Is now conseryatively believed that 1906 will sur pass the remarkable records of 1905 in most, If not all, cases
 There Is good demand for small lots of foundry coke and large inquiries for fur mace fuel in all districts have the call. and their order books are in excellent shape. Quite an amount of business hav- ing been rejected by them going to other concerns. It is the time when quality of fuel obtains its justification by the in- sistence of buyers to have a brand they know will maintain it's standard under the pressure of adverse winter conditions and advancing market. Prices in the case of some of these fuels are 9 and 50 cents a ton over general run of same dis trict product. Some large contracts of furnace coke have been placed for deliv- cry throughout 1907; 1t is reported this tonnage running in the neighborhood of POO 900 toms, .