The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-18
MARKET FOR IRON
MANUFACTURERS ARE SELLING
 FOR FUTURE DELIVERY.
There Is Steady Inquiry for Product Which Indicates Pronounced Improvement in the Mar
 ket Conditions,

market conditions before long. Some concessions have been made as to price, Alabama iron being quoted in some quarters under SIP per ton, No foun- dry, basis. There is not a very great amount of iron on the yards. The Bir- mingham Coal and Iron Company an- nounces that the little old furnace at Vanderbilt. near here, recently blown out when the new iron maker. No. 2, was put into operation, will be repaired and improved and started up in the near future. The make in Alabama Is somewhat better than 1t was three weeks ago and the prospects are bright for an improvement in output as com pared to the make In April, when the total make was little over 94.000 tons. The statement Is made that some of the larger brokers made contracts for a large quantity of Alabama Iron at the low quotations and will shortly give directions as to shipment dispos- ing of the product at an advance.
 The big local consumers, tho cast iron pipe makers, have a number of orders In hand or in sight, and will shortly put their plants on in full, ev- cry department to be started up with a full complement of men. Two or threeA of the pipe plants in this State are now in full operation with others making preparations along the same line. St. Louis New Orleans. Kansas City. Los Angeles and even far away Seattle have used Alabama cast Iron pipe and more business is looked for from that place. The foundrfes and machine shops in Alabama are still in an expectant mood. though on every side Is given out the information that there will be better times shortly.
 The iron-makers in blast In Alabama are producing more iron now than for many months. There appears to be a general good run being made at the blast iron furnaces and the average grade Is very good Furnace masters are pointing with pride to the results.
 The railroads are still In position to give every desired facility In the hand ling of the product. Their business still being under normal gives tn em the chance of handling every ton of iron that is being offered them and the first intimation on the part of the consumer of a need for the product the Iron goes out. If the statement made that brok- CTS have been buying iron freely to be shipped out as directed Is true. the probabilities are that at no distant date there will start lively movement O. iron.
 The Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron Company Is making shipments on its second order of iron for the Pan anna canal zone. Clifton iron being used in this order.
 The Sloss- -Shefield Steel and Iron Company appears to be the object Of charges of price cutting According to Mir. Mcqueen. Vice President of the Company who Is in charge during the absence of President J c. Maben, who has been in Italy for quite while. the Sloss- Sheffield Company Is conducting its affairs along conservative lines. There has positively been no slashing of prices and the returns from the sales of the product will be in keeping what should be- Once before the Sloss-Shef- deld Steel and Iron Company declined to enter the price slashing contest, re- tatned its Iron and then disposed of 1t when the quotations improved. at a handsome profit. According to the Vice President. the same thing can be done again, though there Is not SO much iron on the company's yards to cause the least apprehension.
 Statements heard around Ensley where are located the immense steel plant of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company. Omitted States Steel Corporation), would indicate that the big industry will resume operation be- fore the time set out in an interview last week given out by George G. Craw- ford President of the company. It is stated that the repairs and improve ments about the big industry are about ' in readiness to start up by June or ', and that some of the employees have been given to understand that their services will be needed by that date. A readjustment of wages has been pro- posed by the big corporation and 1t Is believed that the men rS4lizing that the conditions of the times will hardly warrant a strike or abstaining from the labor will accept the readjustment and by June 2 all hands will be pre- pared to take up the tools and let the heavy machinery begin revolving. As stated before, no less than 2,O00 more men will be employed in the steel plant at Ensley than ever before. At the blast furnaces and steel plant together at Ensley employment will be given to no less than 4,000 men.
 It Is stated on fairly good authority that the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road Company Is on a deal for a num- Der of thousand acres of land adjacent to Ensley on which will be erected fin- ishing plants. If the deal which is nearing completion Is carried ont if IS figured that several hundred thous- and dollars will he expended for the site and the new works There is not the least doubt but that the United States Steel Corporation intends bring ing up their plants in this district to high point of excellence and add to them so as to employ every ton of the product.
 Announcement is made that the plans of reorganization of the Southern Steel Company. bankrupt. have been accept ed by stockholders and that in the near future the plans will be under way good and strong. The reorganized com pany will be a fact within another month and in less than twenty days after that steps will have been taken looking to a resumption of operation at the various plants of the company. This information comes from an au- thoritative source A representative of French interests In the big concern is just completing a tour of inspection of the properties in Tennessee. Georgia and Alabama and the statement is made that he will make a favorable report which. it Is figured out, will mean much to the reorganized com- pany. The gentleman from France saw considerable of the Birmingham dis trict also on his trip. he visiting other industries while here.