The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-27
IRON AND STEEL REVIEW

Birmingham, Sept. 26.-lSpecial.)- Sales being made. though not yet In great quantity, for delivery into the first half of the coming year. are at the foundry iron. The pig iron manufac- turers in the Southern territory are assured that there Is going to be healthy demand for the product all through the coming year.
 Inquiries which are being received in this territory indicate that the con- sumers are going to make the banner melt in the history Of the country in 1910 and the South is going to get its share.
 Immediate delivery iron Is selling between SIA5o and $l5 per ton, No. 2 foundry, with but little iron, save to regular customers, to be had. The con- ditions are just as favorable as they could be in iron circles. Some of the iron stacked on furnace yards. belong ing to brokers. spectators and con- sumers Is beginning to move out though reports have 1t that the people who bought this iron on a speculation at Sil per ton, if not at a lower ngure will hold of little while longer, look ing for Si5.50 or even $16 per ton for immediate delivery by the end of the year.
 The pig iron production in the South is improving right along. The fur naces in blast are responding nicely to the attention being given by furnace masters while the additional furnaces going Into blast will add materially to the territorys make. The Sloss -Shef- field Steel and Iron Company, for in- stance, with six out of seven blast iron furnaces in operation, is producing iron now at the rate of 35.00o tons per month. The former high mark was 32, 900 tons.
 Furnace Master shannon Is confident that as soon as the furnace at North Birmingham blown In a week or so ago gets to going good. as he calls It., the production will be over the 35,OO0 ton mark. The Sloss- Shefheld Steel and Iron Company Is one Of the companies that Is not pushing its sales right now. having a good line of orders on hand and expecting a further improvement in the prices. This company. 1t Is also to be stated. did not sell so Hoerally when the prices were down.
 Selling agents are being kept con- stantly advised as to the market condi- tlons. SO changeable are the same. All prognostic ations in regards to the mar ket appear to be coming out with more rapIdity than was stated some time ago. The $l5 per ton rate was haruly looked for before until the middle or
  facturers did not appear to like this mick Jumping so mucn. The $lb per ion rate promises to be a minimum be- fore the month of october has well set
 Five furnaces in all are scheduled to ro into blast in the Southern territory between now and October 20. But one furnace is said to be needing repairs now in blast. thIs district will not even quote pig iron beyond the first quarter Of next year and one or two companies have soId hut little iron for delivery beyond this year.
 The home consumption is good and steady There Is to be no hesitation for many months to come Basic Iron Is In steady demand and this production wuI have to be increased. Charcoal ron Is also in strong demand and those furnaces on thls quality will be war ranted in operating steadily Tor many months to come also.
 The authoritative statements that the big steel plant at Ensley has orders on hand for steel rail which will last for several months. the official an nouncement that the preparations bs- iror made for the reBuiHption of opera tIons at the big steel plant of the southern Steel and Iron Company at Gadsden and other plants of this con cern are not tagging and that when the works are in operation there VIII be ,,lentv of business to care for tn" out nut are things to cause the optimistic talk that has been rampant among the industrial folks for some time now In this section of the country.
 Labor is becoming scarce article In tbIk section and the Importation or york lnsmen. from other countri"s nT reii aa from other sections or tho Cnl' ,s1 States. is being<ureed.