The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-06
RAILROAD BUYING REACHES LOW EbB Consumers of Pig Iron Also
 More Cautious PRODUCTION GAINS Pig Iron Stocks at Furnaces Reduced Last Month-Alabama Stocks
 Were Reduced About
 10000 Tons

Cleveland Ohio. April 5.--tSpecialo- The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will say:
 Consumers of both pig iron and f1n- ish ed materials have been more eau tious during the past week in plac- ing orders than for several months. Railroad buying is at low ebb. And it is probable, ,.that the anxiety con corning the decision in the so-called trust cases in the United States su- preme court is having somewhat depressing effect.
 Pig. iron production for March amounted to 2,157.399 tons. an increase of 376,114 tons over February. The in crease in the daily average production 5977 tons. and the net gain in active blast furnace was eight. Business in wire products is flourishing and heavy shipments are being made. to meet the demand of the western farmers. Shaft ing is making a good showing. Sheet prices, which have well maintained, are not quite so firm. Agricultural imple- ment companies are showing more in terest in the steel bars. In spite of the somewhat decreased bookings of the past week it is expected that the total of thrilled orders of the Steel corpora tion April 10 will show an in crease. Although the leading harvest CT interest is believed to be quietly purchasing a considerable tonnage of pig iron, and some sales of fair ton mage have been made in the Philadel- phia district, the market as whole is extremely dull. Prices, however, are showing considerable frmness, conces- sions generally taking the form of willingness to make more extended de- livery at current prices
 New York, April Especial )-The Iron Age will say tomorrow Our March pig iron statistics show another sharp increase in production, due entirely, as in February, 10 the larger activity of steel works
 The output of coke and anthracite iron last month was 2,1SS,161 gross tons, or 705S6 tons a day against 64, 09O tons d day in February. Produc tion is now a the rate of 25,950.000 tons a year. including charcoal iror. This is a gain of 1500,000 tons a year over the rate on March l. and 6250 tons over the rate at the low point, Jan
  this large increase in production is the fact that since February l pig Iron stocks at furnaces in the Ohio, west ern Pennsylvania and Wheeling dis tricts have been reduced 57,000 tons. Alabama stocks including those at steel works were reduced about 10000 tons last month. Most pig iron mark tets have been dull. At Philadelphia a sale of 1S,00O tons of mixed grades of southern iron was made for the pipe trade, deliveries over six months. In steel-making iron the chief sale re- ported is 10000 tons of south hern basic Tor western shipment. deliveries through the remainder of the year.
 Finished material specifications show some falling off in most lines. Wire is an exception. The leading interest made a new record on wire shipments last month and bookings continue good, particularly for fencing.
 The Steel corporations new book ings in March were at the rate of 35,- 900 tons a day against 40,775 tons q day in February.
 Shipments increased at the same time as is well indicated by blast furnace operations. The corporations active furnace capacity Is now 72 per cent