The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

The First National Banks Financial and Commercial Review, as of Septem- Der ?, takes a wide scope and em- braces full reports and estimates of the crops of Alabama. The States cot- ton crop is estimated at 13sLoo0
 In a predatory note, President ". P. c. Harding. after making his ac- Acknowledgements to the farmers. mer- chants and bankers. nearly 300 in number, who supplied him with information, says
 Replies have been received from two to five correspondents in each county, and where any difference in opinion existed, which in most cases has been slight, an average has been taken as representing conditions in that county. We have never before seen such unan- iminity of opinion in reports of corres- pondents as to acreage and conditions.'
 The review with the crop tables will be issued in pamphlet form Monday. It will say:
 "A leading financial Journal states that all eyes are now daZzled by the magnificent crop prospects. It asserts that magnificent Is not too strong a word, and declares that the banking interests of this country are now fac ing a demand for funds to finance the largest production at high prices, that has ever been taken from the ground In q single year Nature has indeed been bountiful, and all crops show up well above the average. During the next two or three months, the financial re- sources of the nation will be fully em- ployed in moving the crops and trans portation facilities will be taxed to the utmost limit A car shortage seems in- evitable. The demand for iron and steel products which has been manifest for three or four months past, con- tinues to increase. The situation is well descriped in a press dispatch from Pittsburg, which states that the con servatism of the pig iron and crude steel market has finally given way to boom conditions, and the price ad- yances for the past week in all grades of pig Iron, show gain in actual sales of from 25 to 50 cents per ton, and crude steel went up a full dollar a ton, followed by a general marking up in plates and structural material, In like amounts But very little speculative buying is reported and the demand is urgent ana lnS1Slent.
 Pig Iron Sales
 "In the Birmingham district recent sales of pig iron by large interests are reported to reach an aggregate of 100,- 900 tons, part of which was $12.50 per ton basis No. ? foundry, and part for delivery during the first part of next year, was at SIS. The statement is made that orders are now being refused at that price. During the month there has been a further advance of $1 per ton in wire products. making a total advance of $4 per ton over the bottom price in December last owing to the phenomenal cotton crop of last year, and the flattering prospects for another large crop this year, tremendous de- mand for cotton ties is reported. Local manufacturers state that they are now refusing orders, having sold their sea sons output, and premiums are being offered them for quick deliveries.
 Our advices from all counties in Alabama indicate as rule, satisfactory conditions, and show generally q feel ing of optimism all over the state. Our correspondents all agree that the cot ton crop Is late and they are nearly unanimous in reporting ideal weather during the month of August. which is usually the month of greatest deterio- ration. It Is probable that official re- ports will show a gain in condition during the month. No increase in cot ton acreage is reported in any county, but half a dozen counties report acre. age the same as last year. The re-
 Summary of reports by counties, $
 and corn August 25. 1912.