The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-28
SOME IMPROVEMENT IN P|G IRON INQUIRY In Most Centers, However. Market Extremely Dull INDIAN RAILS COMING Many Consumers of Finished Products Showing Increased Interest In
 Market and Greater Willing
 ness to Contract
INDIAN RAILS COMING

| Cleveland. O., May 27-(Snecial. ]
 The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will
 say:
 Many consumers of finished pro-
 ducts are showing increased interest
 in the market and greater willingness to contract This Is shown particu-
 larly in the case of agricultural im-
 plement manufacturers who are sound
 ing the market as to steel bar con | tracts. Buyers of nuts and bolts are
 also inquiring as to contracts but man | ufacturers generally are slow to com
 init themselves on long contracts at present prices. Whether the agricul- | tural implement makers will obtain | price concessions, as they usually do. | has not been determined, but reports | of shading are heard, especially in the Pittsburg district.
 Some improvements in inquiry for pig iron is noted in New York and Chi cago but in most centers the pig iron
 market is still extremely dull. Cast iron pipe makers are figuring on consider able tonnages in the east "The low bid on the construction of four cast iron tubes in two tunnels to be built under the East river was submitted by two companies acting to- gether Booth & Flynn, Ltd, Pittsburc and the O'Rourke Engineering Con struction company, New York, whose bid was $12,461,00 A number of foundries have been figuring on fur nishing the castings to the contracto
 While the tin plate mills are busy prices are low and little if any busi- ness is going at $40.
 Specifications against contracts at lower figures are coming in slowly. A 1aty ynIr, r,r,1 -l.s automobile trade has placed an order for 5000 tons of sheets with the Amer ican Sheet and Tin Plate company.
 There is considerable price irregu- larity in sheets. An inquiry for 20. 900 tons of structural material sent out by the Brown Hoisting Machinery com pany, Cleveland, is enveloped in con siderable mystery. No announcement has been made as to how the material is to be used. Inquiries have been sent out for bids for two subway sections in New York calling for 10000 tons of steel.
 "In the Connellsville district 5000 more coke ovens have been placed on the idle list and in spite of the heavy ieductions in output prices are still reE-ea. with a tendency for greater weakness.
 Three cargoes of iron ore aggre- sating about 10000 tons are en route from the Chilian properties of the Bethlehem Steel company to Philadel- phia. Belgian makers recently have sold 1000 tons of girder rails for delivery to traction interests at San Antonio. Tex.
 An importation of rails from India will arrive on the western coast of the United States within the next two weeks Importations of foreign steel bars to the eastern coast are very light. The United States Steel corpor- ation has taken orders for S5.O0O tons
 New York. May Special )-The Iron Age will say morrow:
 'The meeting of steel manufacturers in New York last week reflected scarcely so hopeful a feeling as has been shown in recent market reports It is generally predicted that the sec tonnage than the first half, though not In the past.
 New orders are still distinctly dis appointing. Crops are now figuring above all else.
 "The evident falling off in the bus- ness manufacturing consumers of iron and steel Is the outstanding fact in the situation.
 Tt is announced that the Steel cor poration has taken 35,OO0 tons of rails for Australia. On the other hand are a few items that indicate larger ar rivals of foreign steel later.
 "The cotton tie situation is being closely by representatives of foreign makers, some of whom have already brought In stocks at New Or leans. Two domestic makers will not roll ties this year.
 Lately the south has been overrun with offers to sell foreign cotton ties at certain amount under the Amer ican price when named.
 "The finished steel trade as whole gives no indication of the fact that a good many contracts run out in an- other 30 days. Structural mills have had better specifications from car works bridge builders and jobbers in the past week and there have been new orders for plates and shapes re- ported-50. 900 tons in connection with car contracts recently let.
 'The Seaboard Air Lines rail con- tract. estimated at 17,000 tons, is about to be placed. The buying of pig iron has continued further. Concessions on foundry iron have been made in some quarters