The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-25
IRON MARKET GROWS STRONGER THAN EVER Selling for First Quarter is We'll
 Under Way
 PRICES VERY IRREGULAR There Is, However, Well Established
PRICES VERY IRREGULAR
There Is, However, We'll Established Minimum on Both Northern and Southern Irons for All
 Deliveries.

The Birmingham siron market is still active and selling for the first quarter of next year is well under way. During the present week the Tennessee eompany has sold a considerable tonnage of 1908 iron on a basis of SIS 50 for No 9. Sales in other quarters are understood to have been made at a shade under the Ten nessee price. say. s1s 25. But s1s.5O to S1J for first quarter may be considered the market.
 Iron for last quarter delivery, 1907, is active at s19 50 to s20. Shook & Fletcher are reported to have sold a thousand tons or more this week for September. October and November at $l9.50 on a No. basis.
 Rogers. Brown & Co. s Cincinnati report for the current week follows:
 Inquiry continues lively, sales of good tonnage have been reported during the week and the market closes in tn strongest position of any time so far this year. Prices are extremely irregu- lar, but there Is a well established min imum on both northern and southern irons for all deliveries. Those furnaces with well filled order books are only quoting very limited tonnage and that for regular consumers of their iron. From all points come reports of brisk mar kets for spot foreign iron and prompt domestic material There is great in- terest manifested in iron for next year, particularly the first quarter, and while there has been no regular movement for these deliveries, 1t is confidently expected Q aLu turfn bus mess for early 1908.
 Large tonnage in finished material is reported as having been placed during the week. consisting of structural shapes, rails and rolling stock.
 Coke Is very irregular a good business having been done, and a very considerable amount now pending on six months and years contracts This applies alike on foundry and furnace business. Prices are easy, and the amount of orders placed has broken all records of 1907 for a like period.
 Matthew Addy X Co.'S report says:
 It does not seem possible that there could be any change of moment in pig iron for months to come. In every branch of the trade there Is the utmost activity, and as rule there is demand for a great deal more raw materials than can be supplied. In finished lines to a great extent the same thing Is true For the next SIX months all the pig iron that the country can make has been sold with the exception of few odd lots here and there; but the tonnage of unsold iron Is so small as to be practically a negii. gible quantity. Selling agencies are moi able to put price on one inquiry out of five. Under these circumstances an op. timistic view of the outlookk is the only thing possible In fact, so solid does the future appear that 1908 inquiries are frequent, and orders are being booked for next year at about 50 cents per ton less than is being asked for the last quarter of 1907 Business Is being done now on more nearly normal lines than was the case in the immediate past. The railroads are handling freight promptly, coke Is being shipped on time, and even pig Iron shipments are not greatly In arrears There Is one very noticeable feature in the trade, and that is the entire absence of reserve stocks The furnaces have no iron on hand, bat are shipping their output as they make It. day by day. Consumers have not been able to accumulate a ton ahead, and the whole business of the country is be- ing done on a hand to mouth basis.
 New business this week has been heavy There have been several basic transa c. tions of magnitude. and there has beer run of orders for foundry iron for delivery over the fourth quarter of the year. Coke is in great demand, as this tracts are made.