The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-21
IRON MARKET BRIGHT
TIE DEMAND IS EXCEEDING THE
 OUTPUT.
4 Happy Feeling is Expressed by the Pig Iron Manufacturers and Those
 Interested in the Industry.

Birmingham. Sept. o.-(Special.)- With one company out of the market altogether except to protect regular customers another company not try ing to set business until the business on the books has been caught up with and still other companies making every effort to increase the output and meet demands as promptly as possible, nothing but happy feeling can be ex- pressed by the pig iron manufacturers and those interested in the industry
 During the past week, the Wood stock Iron Company started up Its big furnace at Anniston. The Sloss-Shef- field Steel and Iron Company expects this week to be able to start up the Philadelphia furnace at Florence and a week later want to blow in the Lady Enslen furnace at shefneld. Then oy the First or fifth of October the Tenne- see Coal, Iron and Railroad Company will attempt to have a furnace or two ready for torch. Other companies In the Birmingham district are rushing repair work on ron-makers, the pur- pose being to get out as much iron as possible. There Is but one thing at present on which there Is any variance whatsoever and that is connecting the quotations. The companies still in the market for business for this year are talking only of the prices that will prevail through the balance of the year and for the first quarter of the coming year. Thirteen dollars per ton, No.3 foundry, Is being quoted right along for iron to be delivered during the last quarter of 1908 and some few sales have again been made at $l3.6O per ton for delivered during the next fort- night. One interest reite-ates the statement that fourteen dollars per ton, No. foundry, will be the average for iron to be delivered during the first quarter of the coming year while an other interest gives price one dollar under this.
 There have not been many sales made yet for next years delivery but the better price has prevailed. This discussion is quite significant as Is the statement made by one of tho larger iron producing concerns in the south that they are not anxious for any or ders yet for next years delivery The latter inference Is that the time Is not vet at hand for the booking of orders for 1909 iron.
 The production in this state Is being improved as rapidly as possible. There is no denial of the fact that some Of the companies will be forced to in- creas the make to meet all promises during the last quarter of the year.
 with iron selling at SIS per ton there is no doubt but that the furnace com panies are operating with profit. There iy money in iron at that price. The raw material supply Is becoming easier in this section and absolutely nothing stands fin the way at this writing for a steady and healthy out put The coal and coke production has increased. there is a sufiiciency of ore on hand and a large quantity mined and waiting transportation from the mines to the furnaces. while the lime stone or f1uxing material Is being got ton out in good quantity.
 The stock of pig iron on the yards Is not of much consequence and 1t is announced that the better portion of 1t will be moved off in the next two or three weeks. The shipments from the Birmingham district are about as healthy as the production. The in- stance is shown in the production and shipment of basic iron from the Alice furnace, property of the Tennessee Company, where a customer In Atlanta, Ga. placed an order for something like a hundred or so tons of iron day. This order has increased until the furnace Is unable to fill the order and Ms being assisted by another furnace. \ As stated once before. producers of iron in this district are keeping a close watch on the production. some appre- hension being that the iron connot be turned out to meet all demands as there.a. has been no real trouble ex-