The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-06
ALABAMA PIG IRON
THE FUTURE OUTLOOK LOOKS
 MORE PROFITABLE.
The Demand Has Not Been As satis" factory As 1t Might Be, But
 Home ConsuaptiOn Is InsproyinE.

] Pirmineham. April 5--(SpeciaL)-- Alabama pig iron and steel manutact- urers express the belief that the sec ond quarter of the year, just enterea. will be more profitable than was the first quarter of this year ana the last quarter of the past year.
 The demand for iron has not been as satisfactory as 1t might be lately, but the home consumption improving considerably, and other indications or an improving condition. give encour- agenaent and brings forth the expres- sion of hope for the future. Iners no accumulation of iron in this State worthy of mention. This fact will go a, great way in holding down probable nurcha serg. who, hearing of accumulat- ed stocks will hold off in their buying, anticipating a general reduction n auotations. Pig Iron prices are hold ing well between SIP and SIS per ton. No foundry. The last named price is given in the general offices of the iron companies. Reports from other sources show the product being sold under that price.
 The Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron Company has increased its make by blowing in furnace at Gadsden. No other furnace is reported being got- ten ready for operation. The operation at the ore mines and limestone quar- ries would indicate that efforts are being made to stock up well on raw material in anticipation of steady op- eration when the conditions of the times warrants the resumption of oper- ation at the furnaces. There is con- siderable iron ore on hand now and the least improvement in the iron trade will witness a hasty filling Of all bins and stock houses in the close prox. unity of the furnaces.
 The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail~ xHyill pFanffcalIU FAhTiId two of the furnaces at Ensley. Two of the other furnaces at that place have fires banked and two are in full oper- ation New stoves are being connect ed at the blast iron furnace plant at Ensley and when completed the pro- duction should be greatly increased. The steel plant at Ensley is shut down save in three open hearth mills, but there has been no laying of of the la Dor, the little army of employees being given work in the developments that are being made about the plant. Ad- ditional labor was secured ana H ls given out on good authority that the number of men employed at Ensiey Is larger now that it ever was. The re- pairs and development in the steel plant can hardly be completed within six weeks and when finished will have about twice the capacity as before. The rail mill will have capacity Tor SC, 900 tons a month when all proposed improvements have been put in. Tho steel mill will have a very large out put. The statement has been made that when these improvements are completed and the steel output has been increased. that steps will be taken looking to the establishment of smaller industries to consume the pro- duct of the steel plant right at home. As a consequence of the shutting down of the furnaces and steel plant at Ensley, several coal mines were shut down In the district, but the labor was cared for elsewhere in the district.
 The buying of pig iron in the Birm. ingham district continues in small lots The iron companies still assert that there Is no delay in any of the defiv- cry and that the productis being ship pod out when wanted.
 A particularly bright spot in the in- dustrial section of the State is in the cast Iron pipe trade. The several in- dustries in the immediate Birmingham district manufacturing cast iron pipe are all working hard and the men are losing but little time now. Some healthy orders recently landed promise to keep the plants busy for quite bit anyway The resumption of work at the big cast iron pipe plant at Res semer has given much encouragement fin that part of the industrial section. The Central Foundry Company, which recently started up operations in the pipe plant at Bessemer, also is adding to the force of men there right along There are more men employed around industries in Bessemer now than foe several months.
 Foundries and machine shops do not report much improvement in condi- tiOns.
 The formation of the American Iron and Steel Institute in the East dur ing the past week. is looked upon with considerable favor by iron men. !. C. Maben. of Birmingham. president of the l Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron Company, is one of the officers of the Institute.