The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-17
WESTERN Pic IRON
BUYING CONTINUES
Car Situation Reported Better in
Birmingham District
CAST IRON PIPE INQUIRIES
Pittsburg Supply of Steel for Open
Market mproving-Mills of the
Country Have on Books Or
ders for 100000 Tons.

New York, January 16.-The Iron Age
will say tomorrow:
The buying movement in pig iron for
future deliveries which set in in the CEN
trail west since the opening of the year,
has made further progress. 1t is estI-
mated that during the past week there
have been sales aggregating 10000 tons IN
the Chicago district including one block
of $500 malleable iron, to one foundry;
and 10000 tons of foundry iron to one
machinery manufacturer.
Other markets like Cincinnati ana
Cleveland are feeling the movement, the
furnaces in the latter district having
advanced the price to $22
Favorable indications are coming from
the Birmingham district with regard to
the car situation there. 1t is estimated
that there are piled up at the furnaces in
the district between 60000 and 10000 tons
of pig iron, sold, and long due to be de-
livered, which 1t has been impossible
to do.
Pipe makers report heavy inquiries fer
cast iron pipe, among them being one
lot of 1900 tons for Chicago. The let
ting of 5000 tons of pipe for New Orleans
next week will be in six sections, but the
bulk of pipe is for next years delivery.
In view of the relatively high prices 1t
is considered rather doubtful whether the
whole of the work Will be given out 1t
will be significant If it is not.
Pittsburg reports that the supply Of
steel is becoming better so far as the
open market is concerned. On the other
hand the Tidewater Steel works have
been able lately to place in the territory
west of the Alleghenies some good lots
at high prices.
While some large additional steel rail
tonnage is pending, the largest single or
der placed was 1000 tons for the San An
tonic and Arkansas Pass. 1t is estimated
all the mills in the country have on their
books orders aggregating 100000 tons In
addition to above 250e00 tons carried over
from last year
In structural material one order calling
for $1,000 tons has been practically closed.
Otherwise only fair sized demand has
come out. One of the eastern mills has
advanced its price for shapes to l S5-1cO
cents at mill, against the usual quotations
of l S5-100 cents at tide water
Eastern bar iron mills have been pick
ing up some business lately in the Pitts
burg district.
The export trade goes along the even
tenor of its way.
Cleveland, o. January 16.-(Special.) y
The Iron Trade Review, tomorrow Will
say:
The market is considerably stronger
than 1t was a week ago. Conditions which
indicated the possible approach of weak
ness in some lines have disappeared to
large extent and there is renewed con-
fidence in the continuance of the present
prosperity
One of the notable developments of the
week showing the confidence of railroads
i'm the continuance of prosperity. was the
inquiry by steel car interests for plates
for delivery extending into 1908. 1t is
ted that inquiries for about 10000 cars
are now in the market and deliveries on
this large number could not be completed
before July. 1908.
While buying of pig iron for the last
| half has been more active in Chicago
than in other places. orders placed IN
nearly all centers were of fair volume
and the sentiment in favor of buying was
strong An attempt of an important
pipe interest to buy at prices below the
ruling quotations, resulted i'm only about
one-lifth of the desired tonnage being
purchased and the incident has confirmed
the opinion that furnace interests will %
able to resist any effort to batter down
prices A decided improvement in the
demand for structural material is noted
especially in the Chicago district.