The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-13
STEEL PRODUCTION
SHOWS A DEFICIT
THE PRODUCTION DECLINED TO
1ps7,4s5 GROSS TONS DURING
AUGUST As COMPARED WITH
1928 TONS IN JULY.

New York, September R.-The Iron
Age will say tomorrow:
The statistics of the production of pig
iron for the month clearly show why
such eagerness to secure steel making
irons developed during August. The pro-
duction of the steel companies declined
to 1,2s7. 4s5 gross tons during that month
as compared with 1.s2s,Ssl tons in July
and the record OF ,40o, 1896 tons in March
The output Of the stacks belonging to
the steel companies, therefore, showed a
deficit in August of s5.9O6 tons.
The production of the merchant furn-
aces was only 4779 tons less in August
than 1t was in July. the figures being
690,O11 tons for the latter month as COM
pared with 6s5,232 tons in August. II
is quite evident, therefore. that the pres
sure is chiefly on steel making irons, OF
which. too there is no stock worth men,
tionng to act as reserve.
The number of active furnaces Is in
ereasing and relief is promised. but it
can hardly be expected this month.
The excitement In the foundry iron
tie additional buying for forward dellv-
cry for which the market is trifie easier
in spots and early a moderate volume OF
business for spot and early delivery at
full prices.
1t seems to be the policy of the large
interests to keep output of crude steel
and of rolled steel products within the
limits of the domestic supply of raw ma
terial and keep consumers as well salts
fed as possible with prorated deliveries
The steel scarcity is acute. Chicago
has brought 500 tons of axle billets in Eas-
tern Pennsylvania, the forerunner it is
believed of further transactions of like
character. In Plttsburg the supply OF
steel is short.
The next heavy purchasing movement
seems destined to develop In steel cars
1t is stated that there are now in the
market inquiries for 5000 cars which would
give the mills heavy additional tonnage.
There is a heavy movement In wire and
in tubes. In steel bars some of the larger
producers have advanced prices, but this
action has not been general
Tin plate brokers have again appeared
in the market, and some large transac-
lions have been closed The foreign mar
kets are strong. The German syndicate
advanced prices on billets shillings per
ton August %. There are large inquiries
in this market for rails for South Amer
lea, Mexico and Canada, but American
mills are unable to consider the bus
mess.
Cleveland, Ohio, September l2-(Special.)
The Iron trade review tomorrow will
saya
The tendency to return to normal con-
.ditions has been strong during the past
While there has been considerable buying
of some finished materials, the pig iron
market has been very quiet compared
with recent weeks. Buyers of pig iron
are partly provided for the remainder OF
this year and the first quarter of 1907, and
many of them are not disposed to con-
tract for later requirements.
The scarcity of crude steel continues as
is shown by the contract by western in
terest with a central Pennsylvania con-
Germ for 6OO0 tons of axle billets. In the
eastern pig iron market activity has been
confined almost entirely to foundry grades
and in fact throughout the country most
of the buying has been of these grades.
AS steel-makers have not appeared fire.
quently, the buying of rails has been
confined largely to Industrial and trolley
lines. There is considerable activity in
steel bars, many purchases of small lots
being made by companies whose require
ments, 1t was supposed, were fully pro-
vided for by long term contracts. Con-
sumers of wire products are coming into
the market earlier than usual, and the
demand is extremely strong.
New business In merchant pipe Is salts
factory and mills are we'll supplied with
orders. The activity in boiler tubes, es-
pecially for locomotives, continues. The
Illinois Steel company has relieved the
price of structural materials 81 per ton
from store, and jobbers will meet the cut.
No change in mill prices. The Republic
Iron and Steel company has advanced the
price of steel bars 81 per ton.