The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-09
MARKET FOR IRON
THE PAST WEEK SHOWED 4 CON-
 TINUED LULU.
Selling at the Present Time fn in Small Lots--wEI start This Week On Big Export Or
 deFm.

BtB ExpOrt UT
 ders.
 Bfrmingham, March S.--fSpecial.) )-- While there is a little Hull again in the iron market, Southern producers are not making any loud complaints. having filled their order books fairly well, the make considered, to last for New weeks at least
 The selling that Is going on just now Is in small lots still. indicating that the consumers are purchasing from hand to mouth. buying as their imme- diate needs demand. There is a stren- uous denial that iron has been selling in this district under $12.50 per ton. No. 2 foundry; in fact the statement is made at several of the general of fees of iron companies in Birmingham that the average price for the product obtaining is s1s.50 per ton. No. foun- dry.
 Positive announcement is made that shipments will start in the next few days on an order for $500 tons for ex- port from this district. It is under stood that the order was accepted by one of the larger Iron producers in the country and that the shipments will be made from Birmingham plants. A fairly good price was received for the iron, and it is not improbable that oth- CT business will follow if st is desired. The fact that some iron had been sold for export, with the domestic market so very quiet, was taken for q while as being very cheering news, but so far there is no indication of an irnme- diate sale of another order in this direction.
 The agencies for the Alamaha iron manufacturers report that there is likely to be continued dullness as long as the presidential election is in sight.
 The market .n the Birmingham dis- trict was improved some by the blow ing in of furnace No. of the Repub- lie Companys plant at Thomas near Birmingham, but this improvement was stated to be of temporary nature, in- asmuch as furnace No. 8, at the same place. which was in blast for some time, was in need of refining and other work and would shortly be blown out. However as long as the two furnaces at Thomas are in operation, the daily production will be helped that much.
 The woodward Iron Company has let contracts for an almost rehab ilitation of their No. 1 furnace at Woodward, ten miles south of Birmingham, and work thereon is to start at once. The furnace will be ready for operation again during the summer some time.
 As far as can be learned, there are no furnaces to be started up during the next week or so, though officials of the iron companies continue to as- sert that at least two iron-maISers can be started up on twenty-four hours notice if the demand should warrant ft.
 All orders are receiving prompt at- tention. No shipments are being de- Iayed in the least.
 The foundry and machine shop trade is rather quiet, while the rolling mill situation shows not the least improve ment; in fact there was never time when the rolling mill situation was as dead as it is now since mills have been established in this district.
 In all circles the statement is made that the prospects are bright, and that it will not be long before better con- d,tion win be in effect.
 Evcellent conditions prevail with the steel plant of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company. Limited States Steel Corporation). The steel rail mill has been doing remarkably well lately, the output for twenty -fourhours being very handsome during the past week, 1.035 tons of rail being turned out. The rail was of the best quality and was used in filling orders which are on the books and will require much more rail to completely finish out. The steel and rail manufactured at EnsIey finds an easy sale and good prices obtained. The work of adding
  along but little interruption'being not iced in the big industry as new open hearth furnaces and other work Is done.
 The Woodstock Iron Company at Anniston is letting contracts to re- habIlitate one of their furnaces. Two hundred thousand dollars will be 'ex- pended in this work. The Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company will do some work about two of their fur naces at essemer. Sloss-Sh efiield Steel and Iron Company has had some repairing done on their furnaces and when the iron market picks upN some they win be an operation
 Coal and Coke-The coal production in Alabama continues to improve. A prominent sales agent of one of the large companies Tn the Birmingham district Is authority for the statement that there is need for running all Nthe mines except the furnace mines. Con- siderable coal Is being shipped from this district to the Louisiana field, through New Orleans. The Mexican contract. which calls for ten thousand tons of coal per month, to be shipped via Pensacola, Fla, will be of much assistance to the trade. While this contract has been held by some of the coal operators In this district for some wears. when the time comes and 1t is renewed there Is better feeling ex- pressed. There are a number of mines stiIl idle in this section of the country. The coming of the Illinois Central Railroad to the district by the first of April is looked upon with favor by the coal producers also inasmucn as there will be a new market created though ct present the output almost of one of the Walker county mines Is