The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-04-30
REVIEW Of BUSINESS IN
THE SOUTHERN STATES


The month of April goes out with
pig iron manufacturers in the South
ern territory having sold more OF
their product In the month than the
max. The prices stiffened considera-
bly, during the month also and prac'
tically the same price is now being
quoted on all sides. The month closes
with none of the iron makers in tho
Southern territory selling iron under
$11.50 per ton, No. 2 foundry, as far
as can be ascertained.
The make has not been curtailed
any lately. There will hardly be any
resumption in operation at furnaces
which are ready for the torch until
the demand improves some. There Is
an expectation that by the middle Of
the coming month iron prices will go
up from fifty cents to one dollar per
ton. Special brand iron and special
analysis iron both bring premium
over the prevailing figures. Basic
iron is in fairly good demand.
The cast iron pipe works are still
taking in business and there is enough
business in sight to warrant a steady
operation of such plants as are now
in operation through the balance of
the year. The United States Cast
Iron Pipe and Foundry company is
dividing up its big order recently II
ceived from San Francisco between
its plants in the Southern territory
This will call for a large quantity of
the product from each place.
The reorganization committee Of
the Southern Steel company is begin
ming to get busy despite the litiga-
ton that is being pushed and more
being introduced by the minority
stockholders who have been oppos
ing the sale and the reorganization
There is but a little accumulation
of pig iron in the Southern territory
considering the full make. The &C.
emulation has caused no apprehen-
sion as to the future.
Hardware Trade.
The probable fall demand is occu-
pying the attention of the hardware
jobbers and manufacturers more than
spot sales just now, for the season
of fall inquiry is almost here. Fol
lowing the excellent spring business
and with unusually good crop pros
poets in the Southeast, the conclu-
SION of many is that the fall trade
will meet all expectations. There is
some uncertainty, however, and hard
ware wholesalers are not as sanguin~
as conditions would apparently wsr-
rant. The spring trade has been far
better than a year ago and satisfac-
tory in many particulars. Collec-
lions have been good to begin with
and retailers have practiced caution
relieving jobbers of that nervousness
that always accompanies reckless
buying. This has been a season o
small purchases throughout the South
but orders have been numerous enough
to make the total volume satisfac-
tory in the main. Prices have re-
NAMED steady all the spring with lit
tie indication of changing, quotations
soon. Spring building operations in
most parts of the South have exceed
ed expectations and builders hardware
has been in unusual demand. Sea
sonable specialties have been leader
with the trade this spring, due large
ly to the fact that last year these
lines were practically dead. Fish
ing tackle, household specialties, pat
ented farm conveniences, and numer-
Gus other items in this class have
had remarkable demand. Retailers
report a very satisfactory
season, and have been called upon
very little to carry their suctomers
over the season. Unless some Of the
staples are materially effected by the
pending tariff bill no material chang
es are expected in the quotations.