The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-24
PIG IRON MARKET
CONDITIONS ARE FINE FOR GREAT
OUTPUT.
Railroads arc Adding Rolling stock
but There Is Fear Among Manu-
facturers OF Car Famine.

Hut There Is Fear Among Manu-
facturers OF Car Famine.
Birmingham, Sept, 23.--lSpecial1 -
Whatever little spot iron that Is to he
Ihad in the Birmingham district is be-
/ Ing gobbled up and at fancy prices.
Number two foundry iron that can be
delivered within thirty to sixty days
commands SIT per ton easily. There Is
good sale noted for iron to be de-
|livered during the first six months Of
the coming year at prices ranging
from sl5.25 to sl6 per ton and already
|it is acknowledged there has been Il
fairly good sired aggregate OF this
product disposed of. Alabama furnace
companies should be making good
earnings, according to all reports as
to the prices and condition OF the mar
ket. Just all the iron they have in
hand for delivery this year yet can
be sold at strong price. and for six
months of 1907, the sales are being
made nicely.
The production in this district rs not
showing any material Improvement.
There Is not a great quantity of sur
Plus raw material and until such pre-
parations are made to increase the
output at ore mines, coke ovens and
limestone quarries all the troubles in
iron making will be over. There has
been more or less trouble experienced
In getting all the coke necessary but
during the past few weeks secretly
of ore developed and the demands have
not been exceeded since.
Conditions in the iron mat In this
territory were never better than they
are at present. No. two foundry iron
| is selling between $3.50 and SIT per
Iton, according to time of delivery.
There are no indications that the iron
market is likely to be In slump In
the near future in fact the selling
that Is going on now and the inquiry
that Is being received would indicate
that every ton of iron that can be
manufactured in this state for nine
months to come will be sold. This
would carry the probable make over
until the fall of next year. Furnaces
in Alabama are in pretty good share
and are In condition for a long and
steady operation. AS far as can be
learned, all the furnaces in blast ore
producing more than their average
output. With an Improvement In the
output at ore mines. limestone quar-
ries and coke ovens 1t is believed that
the iron production could be increased
no less than five to ten per cent. There
are several furnaces almost ready
flor operation and could be put to work
includes the quotations as at present.
In steel conditions in the BIrming
ham district there is no change what
soever. Every ton of the product that
can be manufactured Is needed and
more too. There is a good price for
steel In all shapes. The Empire Pie
Company has started up its plant at
Ensley and 1t Is announced there Will
be no interruption until next spring and
- Fe-9ya - 49, .a4a -
the pillow plant for their goods from
all parts of the South and shipments
will be made iHigllt along.A sY>Ts8
The coal situation in Alabama is
only disturbed by the railroad car
shortage. The big railroads handling
the coal and other products of the in
dustrIaI section of Alabama have been
adding to their equipment right aIong
but it appears that the coal production
has been increasing more rapidly than
their additions to the rolling stock
Prominent railroad officials predict that
the most obstinate car shortage will
be experienced this winter than ever
before in the history of the industry
in this State. Every precaution is be-
ing made for a prompt handling of the
winter supply, in fact, some of the re-
tail dealers have been filing their bins
so as to be in readiness to meet every
possible trade this winter.
Good prices have prevailed for coal
all through the summer and in addi-
ton there has been steady demand
The year will close with the record
never before attained, that is, that ev-
cry ton of coal that could be mined was
in demand every month of the year
The production has been heavy right
along and before the end OF the year
new companies will be in the market
with their product. One of the latest
coal companies is the Capital Coal Com
pany capital stock 100000 and it is an
nounced that mines will be developed
at once and operations started on g
large scale. The incorporators are al
men of means as we'll as being prac-
teal in the coal business.
Coke is a commodity in the Industrial
section of the State that Is in strong
derland sure enough. The construc-
tion of more coke ovens every year
does not seem to have much effect for
the demand is growing as rapidly as the
output, and more SD. Coke commands
good price.
Positively nothing could be said con.
corning the cast iron pipe. foundry and
machine shop trade beyond tho fact
that there are steady conditions and
prospects are very bright Inquiries
are beirg received in this TERRITORY
which are most favorable. The con.
sumers of pig iron in this territor,
are meeting with no trouble in HAVING
their needs supplied by the furnace
companies. rhe melt In the Brming
ham district as far as pig iron Is con
oerned will be greater during 1905 thar
ever before.