The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-04
P|G IRON MARKET UNUSUALLY ACTIVE Prices Are Advancing in All
 Districts OUTPUT INCREASED
UT INCREASED
Production Is Now at Rate of 2S,700,- OG0 Tons a Year-SituatiOn Clari- fies Rather Rapidly-125,0 ,000
 Tons of Rails Ordered

New York. April 3.-(special)- Iron Age will say tomorrow: The pig iron market has been increasingly active, with prices advancing in all districts. There are signs also that the demand for fin
 shed material, which has been held back in some lines since manufacturers took a stand for higher~ prices, will develop
 into a broader movement as the season advances.
 Pig iron output increased remarkably
 in March. Our statistics show total of 2, 405, SIS tons, against 2,1oO,S15 tons in Feb ruary. The daily average was thus IT, 5s1 tons. against PAP tons in the previ- o,s month, d gain of 515o tons a day. Such forward bound has not been known in many months.
 Pig iron production is now at the rate of 2s, 100000 tons a year, which is 100000 tons more than the rate of March l, and 1,400,000 tons more than the record output of 27,SoO,OOO tons in 19l0
 The pig iron situation, which was con fused one week ago by the uncertainty as to a coal strike and by speculation as to the effect of the reduction in Lake ore prices, has clarified rather rapidly. Demand has developed for all kinds of iron. The largest transaction was fer 60,00o tons of southern pipe iron, taken by one interest. Southern iron has advanced to a minimum of $1O5O for No. while a third quarter iron has sold at $10.75.
 A sale of 4O,000 tons of Bessemer iron to the Republic Iron and Steel company at $l425, Mahoning Valley furnace Is re- ported this week.
 Further heavy car buying is looked for. The Hartman lines are reported to be in the market for 15000 cars while the in quries of the Denver and Rio Grande, the Atlantic Coast line and the Seaboard Air line amount to $500. Rail orders of the past week amount to 125,O00 tons.
 Cleveland, O.. April 3.-(Special) )-The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will say:
 Some remarkable records for sales and specifications of finished products were made during March by subsidiaries of the Steel corporation and also by some inde- pendent companies.
 During the few days Immediately pre- | ceding April 1, when many contracts eX- | pred, there was heavy specifying. some | mills in Chicago and Pittsburg districts
  than ever before in the history. The pros pect of an early settlement of the wage in the bituminous fields and d more favorable outlook in the anthracite region have been among the develop nents contributing toward better condi- tions in the iron trade.
 Production of coke and anthracite pig ron for March was 2,l11,75O tons, an in- crease of 312, ,954 tons over February. The March production was the largest since April, 1910, when 2477,700 tons were made.
 The sale of lake ores has progressed steadily during the past few days and several hundred thousand tons have been sold, including more than 300,O00 tons for eastern delivery. owing to the unusual | interest displayed by eastern buyers the | east has been the mecca for representa- tives of lake ore during the past few days and negotiations covering large ton nages are pending. In some cases sharp developed and the sellers of eastern ores are meeting low prices by lake interests.
 In spite of concessions being made by some sellers of lake ores, considerable tonnage is being reserved with the ex pectation that prices will be higher later In the year.
 In finished lines there is increasing frmness of prices following the recent of more harmonious relations to some sellers. It is estimated that there are fully 750,O0O tons of finished products because buyers hestated to place the business at prevailing prices. The tonnage included 150,0o0 tons for a car builder who delayed too long Prom nent manufacturers predict the advances in bars and shapes and plates in a few days.
 The Hartman lines have put out an in qulry for 15,00o cars. Pittsburg rail mills made the best record for production Tn their history last month.
 The market for steel making pig iron shows marked improvement The Brer Hill Steel company has sold 10000 tons of Bessemer to the Republic Iron and Steel company at $li 9 valley, and the Republic company has purchased 10000 tons of basic from Struthers Furnace Nearly all the leading eastern of basic have either pur- chased or are sounding the market TOT round tonnage.
 One eastern steel company, which has not been in the market for long time Is figuring on a block of from 10000 to l5.000 tons and will probably buy considerable more at a satisfactory price, A Harris burg company is inquiring for from 750o 1 to 10000 tons and the Phoenix Iron Works for from 5000 to coco tons.