The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-27
EQUAL TO DEMAND
MINERS sTHsKE WON'T INTERFERE
 WITH PRODUCTION.
The Pig Iron, Coal and Coke Market Conditions Are stilI Dright and The Operators Are
 Optfmistie.

M
 Birmingham. July 2s--(Special)-- There will be no reduction in the pig iron production in Alabama. despite the strike of the miners and neaVy curtailment by reason Of # of the coal and coke output. ,.x
 The furnace companies assert with positiveness that they will be able to brinr in all the coal and coke they need when the supplies in this district run down so that they have to 70 cal cn other interests. A little coke has Leen coming In already but not ehoush to mention. The pig iron production is equal to the demand and prepara- Hons have been made to blow m two or three other furnaces in the very near future if the sales of iron com finue and the order books i'll up with iron with orders attached for tmme- diate delivery. Pig iron Is being quoted in Alabama between S1l.5o and s12.s0 per ton, the average price noted being about $12 per ton. Some or the larger producers are holding their iron for si2.5o per ton. No. foundry, with immediate delivery stipulated.
 Announcement was made but yes terday that there would be no shut ting down of furnaces nor banking of fires in this district this year. Every indication points to the urgent need for mere iron to be produced. The
 
 along while the impurities that come in show that there is better buying than from hand to mouth as has been the case for some time now.
 One of the happiest statements of the week Is that which ennaf1ates from the foundrynlen and nnscnins shops. These interests say that there Is sss- fer business being felt. that orders are beginning to come from both the North and the East and that there IS reason for putting on more men at the various shops and -foundries. ono of the larger machine shops men in this district Is authority for the statement that in the last few weeks orders have been received for jobs that Will war rant putting on at least half the use ual number of workmen in the plants For a while. a month or so back some of the foundries and machine shops were shut down and but recently mas there been any signs of activity what ever around them. At the Birmingham Machine shops now. there Is about one-fourth of the regular force at work and before another fortnight. if every thing continues as 1t has started there will be need for again as many men if not more. The prospects are very bright with the machine shops and foundries and the jobs that are com ing in are indicative of q need tnat will prove profitable little later on
 The cast Iron and soil pipe plants in Alabama are melting more iron rignf now than ever before. There appears to be a strong demand for these pro- ducts and the information that IS glv. en out is to the effect that there will be need for q steady operation at the various plants for many months to come. The pipe inspectors at the works in this district are working hard to get the goods moving out The railroad of1icials say that this Industry is furnishing a good trafac now ana the expectations are for q continuation for months. A better price is obtain ing for the pipe also. -
 As to the ouotations there Is divis- ion of opinion. Some brokers say that there has been selling going on at sIi.5O per ton, No. foundry, but that no effort is made to get this business. On the other hand no less q person than one of the higher officials os the TSnnessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Cornnauy, gave out the announcement thai no business was being sought for at less than $12 to S12.60 per ton No. 2 foundry. There is not great auan- tity Of iron on the yards in this vi+ cinity. The product is moving almost as quickly as it Is being produced. The average grade being turned out now Is most satisfactory.
 The announcement that the Tennes- see Company would some time in the near future zegin the erection of a large battery of stock bins in order to carry a quantity of ore. coal, coke and limestone to last some time at furnaces, 1t still being talked of more or less. These bins will be erected near the furnace plant at Ensley. The six iron makers ct this point consume a large amount Of raw material and in order that there shall bS no interrupt- ion of operations, even should the weather be too cold at the mines or too wet. This preparation means much, especially when 1t is understood that Southern ore fields are being looked over as to their possibilities. If con- ditions improve, as they are expected to. during the coming year. 1t Is un- derstood the United States Steel Cor poration will take tip the propsition Of erecting two Or three more blast iron furnaces at Ensley in addition to re- building three of those already located there.
 The Besserner Rolling Mills. the only plant of the kind in operation in the immediate Birmingham district. had a