New-York tribune., 1910-02-17
IRON AND STEEL TRADE.
The Iron Age says

Some published statements from ra1iroad
sources in the last week nave lf;uedled
have had their effect on current business
In the iron trade there is thus lar 40 EVIL
dence OF cancellation of orders, nor. except
as railroad blockadeS have been responsible
for delays. has there been any apprectable
holding back OF shipments. Not in many
Years have SHOWS and severe cold interfereJ
so seriously with transportation This and
the slowing OF the buying pace that W2S so
rampant four months ago are temporary
these from more lasting influences that in
some quarters are considered TO be al work.
are less disposed TO attach serious import
10 the latter, believing that with the coming
of spring a good buying movement will
again set III
on finished materials specifications con-
tinue TO oe large, and new orders in most
finished lines while less than current ship
ments, are of fair volume The halt N buy
and in some markets considerably lower
prices are reported At Cincinnati one sale
of several thousand tons has been put
through at less than rs 30 for No. at Bir-
minGham, and one block Of 700 tons Of
speculative iron is offered at low hgures
The United States Steel Corporation has
furnaces III the Mahonins and Shenaneo
valleys at SIS at furnace for delivery in
some of the independent steel companies
will be BUYERS OF Bessemer iron for the sec
ond half Of the year. In nearly all finished
products mills are now making better de-
liveres. In the Chicago district premiums
for forging billets have disappeared.
1.-THE Iron Trade Review says:
The appearance of the United States Steel
Corporation a buyer of pig iron after an
absence of several years is the most inter
eSting feature OF the last week. Although
the sale OF 10000 tons of BesseIner was
made at 81 below the quotation which had
prevailed for some time makers of basic
not inclined to reduce the quotations
on their iron, they believe that the
spread of s. between the prices of the two
kinds of steel making irons has been too
large. 1t is confidently expected that be-
fore the expiration of the thirty-day op-
tion given the corporation on 50.0oo tons ad-
ditionaI another round tonnage VIII be pur-
chased. and also that independent inter
ests viii come into the market for -consid-
cradle tonnage The pig iron market con-
tnueS quiet In nearly all parts of the coGn-
try. although there is distinctly better
feeling at Pittsburg, and fair inquiry in
some other centres Southern pig iron ia
weak. and the leading sanitary interest
has been able to make a purchase at a little
above sl3 birmingham The quotation Of
common. The leading pump interest is In
the market for 6.1oo tons.
There is good export business IN rails,
better tone. The corporations bookings of
the first third of February amounted to
$1,000 tons. The Illinois Steel Company re-
ports sales of 1400O tons In miscellaneous
lots during the last week.
Foreign trade figures for the month of
January show the smallest export balance
enteen wears. The excess of exports of
merchandise over imports amounted in
value to only S10.S51O00. compared with $32-
a19 9O5 year ago and S53, ,2iS. 6S6 in 1908. Ex-
ports decreased SO 697. .492 for January, 1902
while imports increased $3o0S1 sos, the TIM
port movement being the largest ever re-
corded for the first north of the year.
while exports We're lighter than in any
January since 1906
The January returns compared with the
returns of December and of January last
year follow:
jan 10 Dec 'Oe Jan. 90.
Exports .$1i4015 s-o S171 $50 1877 S156. IA
Imports 1885, .064 iSs, I42 2e2 ios.o24,o2S
Excess exp. $40 s57 $50 $500 9l9.9o5 *aa.c4S.6s6
The months exports, as they represent
agricultural or other than agricultural
products, compare as follows:
Jan. 10 Dec. 90 Jam. 'es
Agricultural. s66.5Io 0sT $50 2a9 os5 SIS 80 SOS
Non agricui.... 500 2S3 So 1853, III 6s. 2o46
Merchandise trade for the seven COM
pleted months of the fiscal year:
sIos4, ,aao,sa5 81. .os,. .75o77s Hiss, 900 a51
Imports:
sei.272.4as ss7 sss.4sa 75s.sss Is1
Excess exports
size. C.e6s.32e 1854. .:5t.3+S S1ia De- 400
The months imports. as they represent
dutiable and free. compare as fotiows-
Jan 10 Dec. 90. Jan, 90
seutiabie ...- S.20s 243 SOL os.'o-o S2,s 800 -.
Non-dutiahle 80 44oSi9 17.6S4,2IO 5o,2lf.e14
The seven months imports compared
with the same peri"d one and TWO years
ago:
1910 1909. 1aos
nutiable Sa42 So. SIS $3.50 5s3 alL $4a1 CO., S67