The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-25
STORM OFPROTES7
rs MADE BY SHIPPERS AGAINST
THE ADVANCE IN SOUTH
ERIN FREIGHT RATES.

--
The current issue of the IRON Trade
Review has the following to say of
conditions.
The extremely cold weather of the
past few days and floods. especially
in the Ohio river valley. have interior.
ed with the operation of many plants.
eaasing the banking of some furnaces,
the stopping of two plants Of the Amer
lean Sheet & Tin Plate Company and
the cessation of work at numerous
fonndries in the Cincinnati district.
The weather. conditions have added to
the embarrassment of the railroads
and delivery of iron from the south,
already long delayed, will be stilI fur.
ther retarded. A storm Of protest Is
arising from southern furnace interests
and consumers OF southern pig iron
against the action OF the railroads in
that section in advancing freight rates,
effective February 1, on sold pig iron.
the delivery of which has been delayed
many months. as well as on iron to be
sold after the first Of next month.
Providing for Cars.
The action of the Pennsylvania rail.
road in organizing a 800, 100000 car
trust, following the announcement of
n new issue of capital stock and bonds
amounting to $2OO.OOo.OOo. has excited
much interest, and is generally accept
ed as indicating unprecedented expend-
lures for freight cars. Although SIS.
100000 of the trust certificates will be
for payment on cars ordered for 1906
snd $40, 100000 for cars already order
ed for 1907, further heavy ordering at
an early date is expected. The prin-
cipal car interest is now in the market
for 10000 tons of pig iron for the last
half Of the year. and has placed an or
der for 5000 tons Of shapes. angles
and plates. Railroad buying of struc-
tltral materials is heavy. The only
cause for anxiety as TO railroads pur.
chases lies In the possibility that they
Will not be able to make financial pro
vision for their very extensive require.
ments. as there is now unusual hest
J fancy on the part Of the public in In
. vesting in railroad securities.
Pig Iron Sales.
The week has not been noteworthy
r for large sales of pig iron, but there
has been steady buying for the last
half of the year and inquiries are MIN
erous. Although the general tendency
of prices has been upward, furnace
interests in the central west r show
ing a conservative tendency in making
Quotations. Some inducement is offer
ed buyers to cover for the whole, o.
the last six months rather than FOL
the third quarter. The coming into
the market OF many small buyers t.
cover for the last half of the year II
significant. *
"a Crude Steel.
el The supply of crude steel in tn,
Fittsburg district isamore nearly ade
v quate than for some time, but there /
still a shortage at. Chicago. On &C
e count of the increased supply of shee
: bars, sheet mills in the Pittsburg dis
trict are now operating; nearly to thei
!. full capacity, but deliveries are still
q from IA to 16 weeks belated.
III Shapes and Plates.
Ell The buying Of shapes has improve,
in the central west. Plates are still
Extremely strong and 1t is impossible
to get anything like prompt deliver,
without paying premiums.
Old Material Is Weak.
n Old material is the only weak feat
ure of the market, and prices general
~ are sagging. Weather condition
y have been unfavorable TO the manr
" f%acture of coke, but the market show
little change.