The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-12
IRON.COAL ANDSTEEL
REVIEW OF WEEKS BUSINESS IN
 MINERAL SECTION.
Market For Pig Iron Is Quiet, and No Inducements For New Trade-Coal
 Conditions Are
 Unchanged.


 Birmingham. Aug. 11--tspecial)-- The pig iron market in Alabama is still quiet, but the manufacturers show no apprehension.
 There is no inclination to make con- sessions to get business, and as far as can be learned, no extra inducements are to be offered to bring customers in to the mart except where they have to. Sales agents are not worrying much and the expectations are that by tho end of this month there will be & bet ter buying noted on all sides. The make has been increased between one and two hundred tons a day by the blowing in of Furnace No. of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Companys plant at Bessemer. Ths furnace was out of blast ten months, during which time much work was done in the way of refining the iron maker. repairing stoves and doing other work. The furnace is in shape for lengthy siege of operation.
 Following so closely the blowing in of the Philadelphia furnace of the Slos-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company at Florence, the anxiety of the manu- lecturers to get out the largest amount Of iron possible is readily seen. It is further announced that the raw ma terial supply in the Birmingham district is much easier now and that the ore bins will be kept filled right along. This has been one of the hardest prop osition for some time and much flgur- ing has been done 70 overcome the proposition.
 Five other furnaces are under re- pairs or under construction in this dis trict and will be ready for the torch in some instances within the next sixty or ninety days. The make is being given every attention, despite the fact that the mart is a little quiet This would indicate that the manufacturers do not look upon the future with any thing like fear. There are many or ders, yet to fill and 1t is believed that by the end of this month the buying will have picked up again.
 With the exception of a few thousand tons of low grade iron there Is no ac- curlulation whatever in this district. The statement is made that the iron to 'be seen on the furnace yards in Ala bama has been disposed of and will shortly be moved out. The railroads continue to give the best of service to the iron and steel men and expect 10 keep up the good. notwithstanding that shortly the cotton crop wiQ begin moving.
 Some of the prominent iron men state t at while the iron mart is lit- tie quiet at the present there is no req son for believing that these condi- tions are going to last long. The consumers have contracts on hand or in sight which will require much iron yet to be purchased There Is much iron sold for delivery during the fourth quarter of this year. The probable make has not yet been covered. Some talk is being indulged in to the effect that the market is likely to be dull because of the approach of the Presi- dential year, and because general con- ditions throughout the country are to have little set back. But, the make in Alabama in iron is being worked on and a larger production is being sought every day.
 At the steel plant there is no hesi- tation whatever and the product, in all shapes, is going out about as fast as it is being manufactured. Rail is not the principal goods in demand. The output of rail is limited and as stated several months ago the probable make for a long period has been cov- cred.
 Much work is being done on the new plant at Ensley, It is understood that changes among officials will be made so that the men now employed in the plants in operation can give their at tention to the construction work. In other words no time will be lost In building the new steel plants.
 Steel rod, wire and nail appears to be in good demand yet with good prices obtaining The future looks bright in this line also
 Positively no change in conditions at inc coal mines is reported. Every ton of coal that can be mined is being got ten out and is being disposed of as quickly as 1t is mined. Good prices obtain also for coal. The production in Alabama right now is almost double what it was during the fall or last year when trouble was expe1enced m getting cars with which to handle the product Two fatal accidents in the mining district were reported during the mast week While the production is so extremely heavy the State mine inspector and his assistants are being kent as busy as bees. The coal IS be- ing shipped in every direction. It IS estimated that while the home con sumption is very heavy large amount of the product is being shipped out of the district and much is going out or the State.
 Coke is in strong demand, The Ten nessee Coal. Iron and Railroad com many is making preparations to put tbciy coke ovens at Blocton in opera tion again. The coal will be furnished from the Blue Creek mines. The coke will he used to great extent In nll- tnr the Mexico order received several weeks back. The various iron and steel companies in this district are now beginning to make preparations Tor their needs in coke during the winter
 Labor is needed around the coal mines and at the coke ovens. l.apor is needed at the ore mines. consider able trouble Is still being experienced with the foreign labor wmch was brought into the State not long ago.