The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-22
STRONG
THE PIG IRON MARKET IN ALA
 BAMA.
Shipments Are Lively and the Rail- roads Arc Beginning to Feel the
 EMect of Improved Conditions.


 
 Birmingham. Ala, June 2i.-(spec- iai.)-With pig iron quotations strong between SIP and $l2.50 per ton, No. 7 Foundry, Alamaba producers are not very anxious to see another advance of any considerable sum in hurry.
 The sales made during the past few weeks will care for a large portion of the probable make for some weeks and 1t is considered better to allow the quo tations to improve of their own voli- tion rather than to force them. The sales during the past week will not aggregate very large amount but ara satisfactory The furnaces in opera ton Are producing good amount or pig dron. The shipments are lively, very little of the product accumulat- ing on the yards in this district. What iron there is stocked in any part Of this state is being moved of rapidly.
 The railroads are beginning to feel the effects of the improved conditions in the iron and steel world and re- port their business picking up rapidly. In anticipation of better demand Tor iron several furnaces are being work ed on and in the near future will be ready for the torch. There Is to be no delay in starting all furnaces ready for the torch. Conditions are fast re- turning to the state which was in evidence before October last. The rail- roads are putting on more crews in the raw material fields. The Tennes- seen Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, the largest iron and steel company in the South, has made provision for raw materials so that when all their fur naces have resumed operations there need be no hesitation on account of a shortage of this material. Thousands of tons of ore have been stocked up at the mines and a steam shovel is now being placed so that the product can be loaded on to the cars handily. The Sloss-Shehield Steel & Iron Com pany has started up all of its ore mines while the Woodward Iron Com pany is opening a new mine to get out ore on its property. The Republic Birmingham Coal & Iron and the other iron companies in this district have their ore mines in full operation and are confident that all needs of raw material will be met.
 There is a steady inquiry In regard to pig iron and all indications point to an active summer. The local con sumption Is taking on a spurt and the prospects are bright for a big melt In this district for the year as was experienced year before last when the iron market was at it's height. There is a great quantity of basic iron being
 
 the Tennessee Company at Ensley. The cast iron pipe and the soil pipe plants in the state are also requiring large quantities of iron now and the state ment is made that the rush with those concerns has just started. The statez ment Is made openly that several large orders are being worked on or are in sight and that good prices are being obtained for the product. There ap pears to be a complete re-establish- ment of confidence in the pipe line. At several of the foundries and machine shops conditions are picking up won derfully and more men are being given employment right along. It is notice able that there are less men out of employment in Alabama's industrial regions now than for nine months and more men are being put to work every week.
 Several new industries are being re- ported from several directions in this part of the state.
 E. E. Linthicum is at the head of a to erect a large $125,ooo cast iron pipe plant at Anniston; Pittsburg people will put up a big fire brick plant near Wylam, In the western part of Jefferson County; an Eastern bridge company will erect a branch plant or move their big plant to the vicinity of Bessemer. twelve miles south of Bir- mingham, on the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad, now building to- wards this district; a cog wheel works and small foundry work plant will be put up between Ensley and Dolomite. in the western part of the immediate district. Other industries are proposed or already well planned out
 The big steel plant of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company at Ensley, having resumed and to have gotten back Into full working order in- side of a week. all attention is now being paid to the early resumption of the plants of the Southern Steel Com pany, the bankrupt company which is being reorganized. Exactly when the reorganization will be completed and the plants can be started on to be