The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-15
LIE RETURNING ID LOCAL IRON TRADE Market Not Very Active But
 More InquireS ABOUT EXPORT BUSINESS British Stocks Are Light and Alabama Ironmakers Are Looking Abroad
 With the View of Book
 ing Contracts.
ABOUT EXPORT BUSINESS

The pig iron market has been some what more active this week than it was carly in the month, and inquiries were more numerous yesterday than on any day within week past. Still. the mar ket is described as quiet. Prices are said to range from s12.5O to $13, Birmingham, on No. 2 basis.
 While no large contracts have been booked recently, the Alabama Consoi- dated sold 2OOO tons yesterday at prices equal to SIS and better-better, it is stated, for high analysis iron. The Sloss-Shet- field is making some sales this week and even if there should be no large buy ing movement in the near future the az gregate sales for the month will make a considerable tonnage.
 The New York Journal of Commerce continues to report heavy export ousl- ness contracted for by the Tennessee company. Early in the year that com- pany sold about 32Oo tons for export to Genoa, some of which has been shipped. The Journal of Commerce of recent date says:
 "The reports that 100000 or 10000 tons of pig iron have been sold for export from Alabama furnaces to Mediterranean ports have been noted, as well as the smaller sales made by the Tennessee Coal ana Iron company for shipment to Genoa, Italy.
 "On March it was reported that there are inquiries in New York shipping circles to charter steamers to carry 100000 tons of pig iron from Brunswick, Ga, to Benoa' Italy. Today it develops that actual con tracts have been placed for the shipment of 150, 900 tons pig iron from Mobile, Aia~' and Pensacola, Fla, to Genoa, Italy The iron is to be carried by regular line steam CTS from these ports. The contracts for the freight have been divided equally be- tween the two firms of Simpson, Spence & Young, and Punch, Edye & Co. Thus Tar no additional details are available as to either the price at which the iron was sold or the rate of freight to be paid.
 ''The small sale of 5000 tons made by the Tennessee company early in this year, however, was said to be a sample lot, and if satisfactory the larger tonnage was to follow. The price given at that time was 0ZS 0Q QellNcTeu clt ICltOos <NSSSNN---o - the inquiry the freight rates shipments are being made during the balance Of 1so8''
 As the Journal of Commerce publishes the above report as fact and not as rumor the business public would naturally ac- cept it as authentic, but in iron circles so large a contarct is regarded as inn probable Inquiry yesterday at the Ten nessee company,s 8 sales office in Birming- ham failed to result in a confirmation Of anything on the line of the Journal of Commerce's S statement. Sales Manager F. A. Burr is now in New York, but Assist ant Sales Manager Willard Wilson knew of no such sale as that reported by the Journal of Commerce.
 It is a well known fact however, that several furnace companies here have been making active inquiries regarding ocean rates: and it is a further fact that Brit ish iron stocks 'in public stores are light. William Jacks & Co.'S weekly cir cular, dated Glasgow, April B. reports about 10000 tons in public stores April E. as compared with about 450,0O0 tons April 4. 1907 These statistics would naturally lead to stimulation of export talk.
 Should the Tennessee company make Q large contract for shipment to Genoa it would have to start up several of it's idle stacks at Bessemer. Only one of the Bes- semer furnaces has been in operation this year. It turns out about o0OO tons a month, and current sales have kept stocks from accommodating on the Bes- semer yard.