The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-20
IRON, GOAL ANDSTEEL
WEEKS REVIEW OF THE MINERAL
 DISTRICT.
Prices and Production are Improving and Extension of Properties Seems to be the General
 Tendency

present year Is considered almost the same as spot iron while in some quar- ters it Is intimated that the manufac- turers will shortly retire from the mar ket altogether as far as delivery Is concerned during the fourth quarter of this year. This is most healthy in- dication and shows great strength.
 The statement advanced is that the regular consumers need not be afraid but that the buyer who Is only com ing to this market through compul- sion will not find the product so easy to obtain as he imagines. Before the first half of the year Is out the indi- cations are that the furnace compa- nies in Alabama will have sold their probable make for the first three months of next year.
 There appears to be no apprehension whatever that the probable make for at least the first half of the coming year will not begin strong demand. The prices show no Signs of weakening and the consumption Is at a lively pace. The rolling mills will hardly shut down in this dist4ct until the latter part of the coming month and then not for a longer period than for six weeks during which time extensive repairs will be made about the machinery. The cast iron pipe works will lose no time at all this year. The large tonnage on the yards at these plants does not alarm the manufacturers in the least
 The soil pipe works are running steadily and as soon as labor troubles are over in the extreme west it is ex- pected that the business will open up again as before.
 Production k Improved.
 Pig iron production in Alabama is showing some improvement. The Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Com pany has three furnaces in blast at Bessemer, Ala, while the furnaces at Ensley are doing nicely. Other com panies report steady conditions at furnaces and the total output now is more satisfactory. No complaint what ever is made as to the transportation facilities, the railroads furnishing all the cars needed for a prompt handling of the bsuiness.
 Inquiries at the offices of iron com panies in this district elicits informa- save as to production. In the time of strong demand and good prices the manufacturers are anxious to get out every possible ton of iron. When the good times came and found a number of furnaces needing repairs and the railroads unable to handle the traffic as fast as was desired, great complaint was made. The railroads promised to relieve the situation and by hard work they have done so. But. try as hard as they could, the manufacturers could not force the improvement in produc- tion and this has been steady. No less than half a dozen furnaces in Ala bama are still under repairs. This work cannot be completed as quickly as might be supposed. Labor is not plentiful by a good deal in doing the repair work, in fact there is great com plaint on this score.
 shops Are Doing well.
 Machine shops and foundries are do- ing we'll. One of the larger machine shops in this district reports another order for an engine for Japan, a sim liar order being filled several months ago. The Payne & Joubert plant at East Birmingham is still hard at work on sugar machinery and other similar jobs. The force of employees | in thls plant is being increased right | along.
 Charcoal iron is in steady demand. l Two furnaces are at work on this pro- duct in Alabama and high prices pre- vail. The little furnace in the Gads- den district is doing as well as might be expected, while the Shelby Iron Company Is meeting with good sue cess.
 John A. Topping. president of the Republic Iron and Steel Company and chairman of the executive committee
 
 road Company, has been in the Birm- ingham district for the last few days. | These corporations are spending large amount of money in betterments, l improvements and enlargements. An increased production, in coal, coke. iron and steel Is proposed and the efforts l being made in that direction will shortly begin to show results. MT Topping appears to be pleased with 1 the prospects and he is sanguine that the great improvements being made by his company will be money well spent In the long run.
 Visit of MT. Topping.
 MT. Topping comes to the Birming- ham district at regular periods during the year, though he keeps in pretty close touch with conditions at his ot- flee in Pittsburg. The big contract | for steel rail recently obtained by the Tennessee Company continue to attract | attention in the face of the discussion | of open hearth steel rail versus Bessr emcr process made rails The South eIn steel rail has been thoroughly tested and according to good informa- ton received here the recent purchases are results of decisions given by ex- perts As Is known, the Tennessee | Coal Iron and Railroad Company has sold for delivery during the coming l year more than l50,000 tons of steel rail. The new Steel plant at EnSley IS being pushed and by the end of the year will be ready for operation. The company is anticipating this plant to b. in full operation before the turn of the year and therefore feels no appre- henslon that all contracts made cannot be filled right on the dot. An official of the Louisville and Nashville Rail- road Is authority that the purchases of steel rail made by that company from the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company represents the needs of the company for the first part of next year, | Steel rail Is usually laid just after the active winter business has been handl- ed. It is therefore necessary to pur- chase probable needs at least a year ahead. By improving furnaces, prac- tically rebuilding some of them, the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company expects to be able to supply all of It's iron needs right along. Coal and Coke.
 Coal mines in Alabama are in full oDaratiOp The prOductiOn is larger