The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-30
cOAL--IRoN MARKET
TAKING MANY ORDERS AT AD-
 vANCED FIGURES.
Two Prominent Iron Companies In Bir- mingham 'Dfstrict Withdrawn From Open Market, Having
 Enjoyed Coed Business.

Birmingham, Nov. 2s.-(Special.l-- TWO prominent iron companies in the Birmingham district have practically withdrawn from the open market, hav- fng sold as much iron for delivery du- ring the first quarter of the coming year as they desire to.
 This statement is enhanced by ru- mors that some of the producers in the Birmingham district, are taking orders at an advanced figure which have pre- vailed for some weeks now. No. 2 foundry iron is still being quoted at SIS per ton, No. foundry, but there is not q great tonnage to be had Tor the first quarter of the year. The manufacturers are still holding back some as far as. the second quarter Iron goes. There appears to be no trouble whatsoever in disposing of pig iron In this district and the fact that there will be s5,o00 tons of the product ready for the market by the turn of the year Is not being considered at all, in fact the statement is made that all iron on hand or in prospect for the first quar- ter of the coming year has been talked for and will be shipped right along.
 Some requests are being received in this district for immediate delivery of iron, indicating that there ia need for the product. The consumers are said to be asking for heavier shipments than was at first thought would be the case until after the first of the year. The furnaces arc doing well, individually, records being broken right along. The general make, however, shows no change. one furnace having recently gone out of blast. Two furnaces in the immediate Birmingham district are ready for the torch and should be making iron by the end of the week. Two other furnaces will be going by the goth of December and shortly after the new year has started in there should be two or three other furnaces in operation. The raw material sup ply will be sufficient to meet every call. is the belief that is expressed. though more labor will have to. be put on at some of the larger ore mines while new mines in contemplation will have to be rushed. The ore proposal tian is the only one Tn raw material that gives the least concern. There ig healthy production of coke through out the district, old ovens even partial Iy in condition for operation being started up. The larger companies have managed to accumulate some coke but are not the least apprehensive that this Is bad policy. In fact effort IS being made to increase these holdings. AS to ore, several of the companies have holdings that will stand further development and this may be the pro- gram.
 It is not believed that the selling so far for delivery during the second quarter of the coming year will aggre- gate very much. The furnace comp2- uies will hold back until the prices have improved some before they will make effort to dispose of the probable make. Much Is to he heard as to what the future holds out in the metal market. Reports are current that the cast iron pipe makers. the foundries and machine shops, the railroads and other large interests are shortly to get Into the market for iron in great quantities. The local cast iron pipe