The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-28
Pie IRON MARKET
IS FAIRLY ACTIVE
Big Companies Are Maintain
ing S14 Quotations
DEMAND IS INCREASING
Ironmakers Decline to Shade Prices.
Market Has Been Pretty Well
Tested-Southern Produc-
ton Goes Steadily On.

The Birmingham iron market is firm at
s14 for No. foundry. The large COM
panies are maintaining quotations and will
not consider offers for less. While no
very large sales have been reported this
week the sale of small lots will total II
considerable tonnage
Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati re-
port for the current week says;
The buying movement heretofore re-
ported is steadily growing in force. The
volume of inquiries and sales In the CEN
trail district during the past week has
increased. While there has been some
buying of the southern brands interest
has developed chiefly in northen irons,
and it is estimated that the tonnage OF
sales consummated since April is greater
than for the entire three months preced-
ing. Round lots of Bessemer, malleable
and foundry have been disposed of, prin-
cipally for delivery for the second and
third quarters, with limited amount for
the entire year. Prices have been some
what irregular varying with the location
of the buyer, the reputation of the brand
and the time for delivery.
A number of large consumers whose
wants are supplied for the next two or
three months have tested the market and
have found that there is line apparently
below which no producer can be forced.
They have accordingly withdrawn their
inquiries and have stated that they are
content to wait until their usual time
for buying, having an idea that if prices
for pig iron go higher they will be able
to get more for their product. The sent-
ment is developing quite rapidly that there
is danger in delay 1t is believed that the
long list of uncovered consumers will
come in during the next thirty days for
their requirements covering a period from
three to six months.
Reports of the most optimistic nature
are sent in by foundries having more work
than they can turn out, who are obliged
to decline new business.
1t is stated that boom in iron was
started by the demands after the great
Chicago fire, and there are some who
think that the reconstruction of San Fran
cisco will call for such an amount of
iron and steel to erect earthquake and
fire proof structures that much higher
prices will be seen later in the year
The iron business is in such a healthy
shape that nothing of this sort is needed
to enable it to take care or itself
Coke conditions remain unchanged.
Matthew Addy & Co.'S Cincinnati re-
port for the week follows:
Business during the past week has been
extremely satisfactory and the market is
undoubtedly stronger today than it was
week ago. Inquiry has been general.
and the amount of orders placed is large.
although actual business rather runs in
special directions. Basic, for instance.
has been in great demand and a number
of heavy sales have gone on record Nal
leable, too, has played its part in the
weeks prosperity, several large contracts
for this iron having been placed in the
Chicago territory. while a number of big
deals are still pending throughout the
lake regions. Manufacturers of Besse-
mer are nearly all behndhand on their
orders, and it is almost impossible to find
any of this material offering for ship
ment over the next two months.
The great San Francisco disaster will
naturally have an effect. The fact that
the steel buildings remain practically I'M
harmed while the structures of stone
and brick and frame collapsed means, of
course, that if the city is to be rebuilt
a vast amount of structural steel will be
contracted for in the not far future.
The strike of the anthracite miners has
crippled the eastern furnacemen TO the
embarrassing extent.
In the south, while several important
furnaces are out for repairs, the produce
ton goes steadily on, shipments are NOV
ing freely. and the yards are kept com
paratively clean. Demand for prompt
shipment of southern iron continues, and
there is no amount of high grade iron to
sell for spot shipment from this district
The recent large purchases of southern
iron by pipe manufacturers has mate
rally strengthened the situation. Con-
sumers of southern foundry grades have
been dilatory in covering for the last
half, and comparatively few have pur-
chased their requirements beyond July
and August. Inquiries for Ohio irons
and purchases are assuming generous
proportions, and a great many orders
for all grades have been placed for
prompt and future shipment
without question the market is in good
shape-consumption goes steadily on, and
if anything is on the increase Those
who have still to buy for the third ana
last quarters must surely do something
soon.