The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-09
IRON AND STEEL REVIEW

Birmingham, Aug. Especial. IA
steady line of inquiries for pig iron for
delivery during the first quarter of
1910 is being received by the Southern
manufacturers and there Is no doubt
but that all the iron that can be man
ufactured will be needed to meet the
demand. q.
? The quotations are now firm at $3.50
per ton for fourth quarter delivery, the
several furnace companies in this sec
tion holding back from the market
save at that price. A few orders have
been accepted by the manufacturers
for immediate delivery at SIS so per
ton, No. . foundry, the fourth quar-
ter business being held OF for while.
However, 1t is now stated that some
sales have been made for delivery
during the fourth quarter for $3.50
and an inclination is apparent to adj
vance the price to $14.
The iron market has struck a pace
and despite the fact that the furnace
men are not anxious for too great an
advance in prices the belief being
strong here that q steady market Is
better than an advancing one or one
where the quotations are above q
steady level At $13. so ana $14 per
ton, No. 2 foundry. some profit Is to
be made In pig iron in the Southern
territory and when the prices go above
that price then there Is more or less
excitement attending the market.
The Southern territory will report .
better make in iron for the month OF
August than for any month in the
past two years, It is figured. A good
stride Is being reached already and
two furnaces are looked for to 60 into
blast before the end of the month, with
two having resumed already this
month.
There is an appreciable increase In
the home consumption, the cast iron
pipe makers. the foundries and ma
chine shops and other industries en-
ploying pig iron in their daily operat-
ing increasing their melt right along.
Another incident in the Southern iron
market that is attracting attention is
the fact that a number of consumers
who placed orders two months ago
and longer. not believing that they
would need the iron until the latter
part of the year, are now ordering q
delivery of iron. AS a consequence
there is little scramble on to get
the iron out. SO far none of the fur
naces are charged with being behind
in their deliveries. Stocks on hand are
being reduced steadily and the brokers
are moving out some Of their product
with the manufacturers.
Advices being received in the
Southern territory from not only the
home consumers but from other direc-
lions are to the effect that there is
going to be a large amount of iron
needed during the coming year. The
railroads have been placing orders for
equipment, supplies and other things
IN which pig iron and steel are en-
pIoyed in great quantities, in fact this
trade is better than was at first
looked for. AS consequence there is
great activity springing up among the
engine manufacturers, car makers, frog
and switch works. rail mills and other
plants of similar nature. In the Bir-
mingham district the steel rail mill
is working now on double turn, produc-
ing rails for big orders that are in
hand The Bessemer rolling mills. fur
nishing steel shapes. no little OF which
is used in car shops. is doing some
work on double turn nowadays. A
spike and bolt factory is being erected
| in this district.
The activity of the Southern Iron
and Steel Company. successor to the
Southern Steel Company, bankrupt, Is
being felt In the Southern territory
In addition to putting plants in Ala
bama. Tennessee and Georgia in read
mess for operation, plans have been
adopted and orders given for the ma