The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-02
TENDENCY IS To
HIGHER QUOTATIONS
Pig Iron Market Conditions
Grow Stronger
PRICES DECIDEDLY FIRM
Birmingham Metal Continues to Be
Held Steadily at 1880 to SIG for
Last Hall Delivery.
Car Service. -
PRICES DECIDEDLY FIRM

The Birmingham iron market Is with
out material change this week. Inquiries
are brisk and there Is every indication
that present quotations of SIS. 80 to $40
on No. basis for last half will not
only be maintained but a higher level Is
predicted.
Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati re-
port for the current week says.
The features of the week have been a
strengthening of conditions in all dis
tricts, particularly the west and south
1t has been positively developed that
there is no idea on the part of furnaces
to shade prices for iron during the last
half. There is an increasing tendency
toward higher figures. Inquiries have
been generous and business has been
turned down on the basis of $3.50 Bir-
mingham for the last half. Buyers gen
orally recognize these conditions and have
been pursuing a waiting policy for sew
eral days, but the middle of this week
several interests, came Into the market
with good sized inquiries to be met with
positive assurance of higher prices on the
part of southern furnaces. Those buyers
who have two-thirds of their require
ments for 1907 already under contract
appear to be willing to wait until a later
date before sounding the market serious
ly, but it is now a question whether this
policy outlined a week or ten days ago
will avail them If pursued too long.
Low phosphorus pig iron, which Is
speciality with few furnaces has been
in much demand and aside from the steel
corporations purchase other consumers
have bought for the third quarter or last
half.
There is a continued heavy demand for
finished steel products in all lines and
dearth of steel making iron for anything
like early delivery.
General business Is booming every
where. Consumption to all points is pro-
ceeding on the same high plane 1t has
pursued for six months ana traffic off,
eials of the railroads state that 1t is i'm
possible to meet the demands of ship
pers for cars with which to move COM
modities of every kind. Some roads claim
that their traffic at the. present time is
heavier than ever and indications point to
an increase from now on. Spring is al
and the early movement of crops from
these points will operate against move
ment of heavier shipment.
Railroad finance, management and
other details are before the public at the
present time to a greater degree than
ever before, and there are all kinds of
reports, pesslmistic and otherwise, to be
encountered.
The one thing that concerns the iron
manufacturer and meter is the ability
of the railroads to handle iron shipments
and this has become, in the last few
months something well nigh impossible
to accomplish. Foundries everywhere
are experiencing the utmost difficulty In
obtaining an adequate supply and pur-
chases. are being made daily to cover
immediate needs or as nearly immediate
tonnage as those furnaces favorably situ-
ated can supply. This has resulted in a
cleaning up of furnace yards of odd lots
and off lots which can be used in any
combination, and the market for prompt
or early shipment Is shorter now than
1t has been in years.
1t is interesting to note that the eX
ports OF iron and steel during 1906 reached
their highest record. total being S172,-
100000 an increase of about $30,OOO00
over the previous year.
Coke is firm and in good demand for
early and extended delivery. Shortage or
cars and trouble with labor has inter
fered with full production in both Con
nelsvllle and other fields. Under such
conditions any unusual weather proves
tremendous hnderance.