The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-12
IRON MARKET NOT BRISK BUT STEADY Fair Amount of Inquiry Re-
 ported This Week SOUTHERN SALES LIGHT Keen Competition In the Ohio Field and Special Prices Have Been
 Made to Secure Orders.
 Coke Situation.
SOUTHERN SALES LIGHT

The BlrInlngnam Iron market ls Sleduy though not brisk this week. Fair inquiry is reported but sales have not been large. Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report for the current week follows:
 Another active week has passed and there are still numerous large inquiries in the market Basic and malleable brands have been especially sought for and a number of the sources of supply of basic have been temporarily exhausted. Many foundry orders have also been placed and other deals are pending.
 The keenest competition has apparently been in the Ohio field and special prices have been made to secure orders from desirable customers. It is believed that some of the furnaces that have been most anxious to fill their order books are speed fly approaching the time when they will realize that consumption is going on at a pace that will take the output of all the furnaces. Consumers express them- selvessevels as satisfied with the present range of prices but naturally de- sire to get the best bargains possible.
 There Is no abatement in the demand
 
 and furnace yards are kept practically bare. The longshoremen strike being end ed, many furnaces will be relieved from the anxiety under which they were labor ing in consequence of scant ore supply.
 Southern iron is in steady demand for limited quantities, but at present the northern furnaces are capturing the bulk nf ha bite of he 1ourer fiP- ures being made for delivery north of the Ohio river
 The coke situation shows no special change. In the Pocahontas and Virginia districts labor Is exceedingly scarce and operations are being restricted according ly. The surplus stocks of coke accumula- ted by the foundries in anticipation of the anthracite strike, are gradually being re- duced and the demand for foundry coke Is increasing and probably will be normal again within the next thirty days
 Matthew Addy & Co.'S Cincinnati report says:
 A fair amount of inquiry and a good sprinkling of orders mark the record of the past week. Most of the contracts placed are for immediate shipment or for delivery over the remainder of the present quarter. for with the exception of basic iron little business has been placed for the last half Basic, however, has been in aetlve demand. and orders of consider able volume have been placed, not only for delivery spread over the entire last half but in some instances for the fourth quar- ter alone.
 The manufacturers of northern charcoal iron have had a prosperous week. Their business has undoubtedly been helped by the extreme scarcity of southern metal of this description. Prices of foundry grades remain unchanged, though without question the situation in the south IS growing stronger, and after a careful per sonal canvass of the southern iron pro- ducing states we find the amount of high CT grade iron astonishingly small. No. 1 foundry and No. 1 soft for anything like prompt shipment are almost unobtainable; while No. soft, No. foundry and even No. 3 foundry are very scarce. Furnaces are running regularly, but the iron Is be- ing shipped out freely, and yards are prac- tieally clean. This lack of stocks and the general optimistic feeling among furnace men naturally makes the southern situa- tion very strong one, and though there is no great amount of inquiry for future delivery, and orders for the last half have not yet attained any very great size, pig iron manufacturers seem entirely willing to wait for the buying movement, which they feel must certainly come before pres ent quarter iron-which is sold-has been shipped out. Among the Ohio furnaces while the feeling is possibly not quite so strong. prices remain very firm Several maleable sales of good size are reported.