The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-29
PIC IRON STOCKS
ARE VERY SCARCE
Less Iron on the Yards Than
Ever Before
CONSUMERS ALSO BARE
Market Outlet But Flrm-Inquirles Act
i've for First and Second Quar-,
ters-coke In Demand at
stiff Prices.
CONSUMERS ALSO BARE

The Birmingham iron market continues
strong at 1850 for 1906 delivery on No.
2 basis and $3.50 for the first half of
1907. The current week has been without
special features.
Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report
for the week ending yesterday says:
There is increasing interest in business
for the first quarter and first half OF
next year,. and buyers are in the mar
ket for considerable tonnage during this
period. Sales have been made during the
week covering these deliveries and prices
received have been without concession.
Available stocks in furnace yards and
on hand with consumers are smaller than
ever before, and the outlook for distinct
shortage during the balance of the year
is most pronounced. There will, of course.
be iron available from time to time for
spot sale and shipment, but it will only
be that made by furnaces over and above
what they have expected to make during
the same period. The total output figured
as available for 1906 has been disposed
of. There is still considerable irregularity
in prices, particularly on what spot ma
terial is available Prices for next years
delivery are more uniform.
Reports of scarcity of labor and car
shortage come from all sections and figure
very largely In the quantity of raw ma
terial furnished furnaces. as well as the
proper transportation of manufactured
output. AS the inclement weather of this
time of the year approaches, these condi-
lions will be emphasized.
Basic iron has been an interesting fea-
ture and there has been activity In its
sale. The demand has been strong and a
large tonnage for delivery during the bal
ance of this year was called for, with
only a part of 1t found available. Several
large sales of this class of iron have been
made in the Birmingham district.
Coke is in good demand and prices
strong There is a reported decrease in
production during the week in the Con-
nellsvlle field and other districts have
suffered from lack of cars to move the
output. More serious however, than the
car shortage is the present scarcity of la
Dor In all districts. Where In past years
the car situation was the one most large
ly to blame for unsatisfactory supply
of fuel, now the lack of labor completely
overshadows the usual source of trouble.
Matthew Addy & Co. Cincinnati report
follows:
Pig iron business is still on the high
gear, so to speak. During the week there
has been a noticeable call for spot iron
in small lots. The demand for soft foun-
dry iron and high Silicon metal can only
be described by that overworked word
Strenuous" As a matter of fact a great
many furnaces are in trouble. and con-
sumers who have bought what they ex-
pected they would need are not getting
their full quotas on contracts. Then 1t is
an undenlable fact that nine consumers
out of ten are using more iron than they
anticipated, so that their previous pur-
chases are not enough to cover their in
creased requirements This larger con-
sumption, coupled with slow shipments,
is rapidly bringing about an acute sltua-
ton, which will undoubtedly grow worse
as the year progresses. The railroads are
doing better than some weeks ago, but
they are not making any phenomenal time
in handling freight.
For next year the price of No. foun-
dry ranges from SIS to SIG but for spot
shipment ST. seems to be the usual fig
ure. These prices (. o. b. Birmingham
The bulk Of the business actually done
has been for delivery over the first half
of next year. There is a constant and
steady buying from day to day that
amounts to heavy tonnage In addition
a good part Of the low grade iron in the
south has been taken up. The demand
some time since was altogether for the
high foundry grades SO that there was
quite a surplus of low grade IRON but
pipe making end other interests using
this iron have now absorbed It, so that
practically very little is left From the
sellers standpoint the situation could not
be more favorable.