The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-12
TONE OF Pig IRON
MARKET Is FIRM
WELL MAINTAINED AND
IN SOME INSTANCES THEY ARE
BEING ADVANcED-THE LABOR
SCARCITY ONLY TROUBLE.

There is no change in the local Iron
market.
Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati report
for the current weeks follows:
The end of the holidays sees conditions
as strong as ever and with no perceptible
effect of the holiday period on demand.
Prices are perfectly maintained and
while there has been no general advance.
there are instances where prices have
been increased by some Furnaces. The de-
mand for last half is strong and the bulk
of the business has been for these de-
liveries, Now that the best part of the
iron for delivery during the first six
months has been contracted for. it is in
teresting to note that it is the general be-
lief that this tonnage has been bought by
legitimate consumers and not with any
speculative idea; in other words, it is of
a character, which, on a dull or declining
market, would not have a depressing eff
feet. 1t is everywhere evident that con-
sumption, which has shown no signs of
diminishing, will continue during six
months at least. The orders now on the
books of manufacturing concerns are the
particular, and it is believed that these
conditions have not been misjudged. Prices
for last half, on southern iron particular
ly, cover a wide range and furnaces are
each a law unto themselves. 1t will not
be long before there is greater uniform
ity in thees figures.
Imports of English and Scotch iron con-
tinue and for the most part are disposed
of before reaching port. There is very
little foreign iron available for imme-
date delivery, in spite Of the fact that it
has been coming in regularly since early
November
In addition to an unusual shortage in
the British Isles, there has recently been
experienced much difficulty in making
satisfactory charters for freight room,
and this has had the same effect on i'm
ports that a crippled car supply has had
on movement and supply of domestic pig
iron.
Bessemer, malelable and all the regular
foundry grades, as well as any off lots
which furnaces may offer from time to
time, are in constant demand and are
rapidly absorbed wherever offered.
Figures available at this time from the
most reliable sources seem to indicate
consumption during 1906 of about 26,OOOOO
tons. 1t is estimated thet during the
year we have imported Something over
100000 tons of foreign pig iron, and dur
ing the same time sent from our shores
only about $1,000 tons. At the close of
1906 it has been estimated that the stock
of iron on hand at the furnaces is about
100000 tons, at most four or five days
supply at present rate of consumption
The consumption per capita during 1906
was about 6S5 pounds. This compares
with 6l7 in 1905 and 514 in 1902
One of the greatest and most trying
conditions which will have to be met dur
ing 1907, direct result of the high rate
of activity and productiveness during the
year past, is the very serious and ever
increasing lack of labor to carry on our
manufacturing operations at the level at
which they should be run to insure the
most satisfactory and economical results.
This feature is causing those interested
much thought and no little anxiety. When
it is considered that during the last year
emigration has been encouraged through
ports of the south, into which emigrants
have never before come. and all of this
with a view towards easing the conditions
as they exist in that part of the country
particularly, it must be seen how I'M
| satisfactory the supply has been up to the
present.
Coke in foundry and furnace grades is
active and the prices are firm for both
early and future delivery. On account of
| the unusually open winter so far expert
| enced deliveries are much better than
| it was anticipated they would be and
the car supply, although very bad in all
districts, is not having the altogether dis
astrous effect that it would were the
weather at all seaSonable.