The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-03-16
MARKET FOR IRON
PIG IRON STILL SELLING IN SMALL
LOTS



pecfs are Bright.
Birmingham. March l5.--tspeciai)--
Southern pig iron manufacturers are
still selling their product in small lots
Indicating that the consumers are buy
ing vet from hand to mouth. and only
buying as their immediate needs de
mand.
There has been no Improvement late.
ly in the home consumption, either. The
Republic Iron and Steel Company has
blown out the No. 3 furnace at Thomas
as was reported would be done, In or.
der that necessary repairs might be
made. No. 2 furnace at the same place
is being gotten ready to go into blast
at Thomas so that with No. / furnace
which was blown IN ten days ago. there
can be two furnaces at this place In
constant operation. The steel Industry
in the Ensley district. Tennessee Coal
Iron and Railroad Company, Is the most
active of all the metal Industries in
the district.
Notwith standing the conditions as
set forth. there appears to be good
feeling throughout the Southern terri
tory and inquiry at the Offices ELECTS
the information that the future pros
poets are bright and while there is no
great Improvement expected until af-
ter the political campaign Is over. the
steadiness OF the general conditions is
most satisfactory.
The shipments in the Southern terri
tory about equal the production. In
the immediate Birmingham district
there Is no accumulation of iron. In
the outskirts though. the Sheffield dis
trict is about the only place, there is
some iron reported on the yards. A
little charcoal iron is 20 be seen around
the Shelby furnaces. and Il IL not be-
lieved that tn ere will be a RESUMPTION
of work at these furnaces until a por-
tion of this iron at least has been re.
moved.
The cast iron pipe plants at North
Birmingham are stiIl in operation and
doing fairly well. No announcements
are made as yet of definite nature as
to whom the big pipe plants at Besse-
mer and Admission are to go in full
blast. Reports have been received here
that the United States Cast Iron Pipe
and Foundry Company recently received
means that IN short while there win
be cause for general resumption OF
operation at their works.
Foundries and machine shops in the
Birmingham district are working on
depressed forces and have hopes OF
decided change for the better in the
near future.
The activity at the steel plants of the
Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Com
pany Is interesting. It Is learned that
employment is being given to num-
Der of additional men, the work prac-
tically being divided up. One reason
for this. 1t is believed, Is to hold the
labor in the district. In short while
the resumption at the plans Of the
Southern Steel Company, now being re-
organized, and the additional works
being put in by the big corporation.
Will require much labor, and IL Is the
desire Of the companies looking ahead
to be ready to meet every emergency.
There Is a good living for all employees
at the steel plants, but In several de-
partments there Is not as much profit
for the skilled labor as before. How
ever, in the, face of the depressed con-
employees appear to be satisfied at con-
ditions and are accepting the situa-
ton in the hest light possible.
There Is a steady production OF steel
and steel rail. Every ton of steel rail
being manufactured is in demand. The
change in superintendents at the big
steel plant, J. C. Sutherland being pro-
NOTED to assistant general superintend-
ent of all the plants at Ensiey is taken
as an incentive by many the employees
to do their best, showing that the big
corporation rewards those who are tire
less and show capacity for commanding
positions.
Many rumors prevail still. especially
following the visit to the Birmingham
District of Allis Laughlin, President of
the Pittsburg Construction Company,
with other of1cials of that company.
The Pittsburg people spent a couple of
days at the steel plant at Ensley. This
company is putting In raw material
bins at the big furnace plant of the
Tennessee Company at Ensley, and is
erecting the two additional open hearth
furnaces at the steel plant Other
work, it is believed. will soon be start
ed on, the visit to the district being
for the purpose of making estimates
on the big development proposed. En-
gfneers have been running various lines
lately around the properties of the
United States Steel Corporation at both
Bessemer and Ensley and while moth
ing definite Is to be given out by local
officials as to the purpose OF these en-
gineers. 1t is believed confidently that
large amount of money will be ex-
pended by the corporation in the next
year or two and plants win be enlarged
or new ones put in that will give en-
ployment TO hundreds and hundreds of
laborefs.
There is general sigh, "oh. IL only
politics were out of the way"
Both the coal and coke market in
Alabama are improving right along. Of
hcial announcement is made that the
coal output in this State is greater
right now than 1t has been at any
time since October last. There are
however, number of mines still out of
blast. and will be until the furnaces
resume operation. The demand for
coke Is picking up slowly and 1t will
not be long before there will be need
for a resumption of operation at q cou-
pie of batteries of ovens in this State.
Walker County mines are not working
much.
There was a general pay day around
coal mines Saturday and during this
week. several coal and ore mines will
distribute monthly stipends among en-
ployes. In the Pratt Mines division,
the largest coal producing district in
the State. the pay rolls were larger
than they have been any month gince
last August. This Is a most healthy
sign of returning prosperity.