The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-16
NOMINATIONS ARE
 PLEASING ID TRADE
Iron Industry Satisfied With
 Chicago Conventions
MARKET IS DULLER
No Real Weakness Except in South ern Pig Iron-Low Prices Are Being Offered in
 Birmingham

| Cleveland, June 15-(Specal. )-The Iron
 Trade Review today said:
 | The iron trade regards the results of two conventions in Chicago as highly sat isfactory. There is rejoicing on account element, and there is a general feeling that the intense bitterness which threat | ened to characterize the campaign, will be lacking.
 The more cheerful sentiment prevailing has not, however, been reflected in ac-
 tual business transactions up to the pres ent time. While there is no real weak ness except in southern pig iron, the ev- idence of easier conditions is unmistak- able. This is shown particularly in the tendency to make reasonable quotations for prompt delivery of finished materials.
 In the east and in the Buffalo district there is more activity in inquiring and such prominent consumers as the Gen. eral Electric company and the American Locomotive company have come into the market for round tonnages. In Chicago there is also an improved outlook and an inquiry for 15,0OO tons of foundry grades is pending.
 LOW IN SOUTH
 In nearly all the centers, however, the market is dull and in the south some very low quotations are being made on wrought iron and sales have been made as low as $l4 Birmingham for No ? foun- dry. The principal cause for the weak ness of southern iron seems to be that nIr ndrio oh, I,1a+ bought with the expectation of operat- ing at full capacity, but many of them largely on account of inability to employ holders, have been running at 80 per cent and less. However, there is a surplus of pig iron and stocks in Alabama fur mace yards now aggregating 900 tons.
 Foreign demand for steel making grades continues to be a factor in the north. A Cleveland firm has sold 13,0OO tons of Bessemer for export to Italy and several sales of smaller tonnages of va rious grades for export are reported in- cluding 10000 tons of malleable for Italy.
 RESISTING HIGH PRICE
 Agricultural implement manufacturers, some of whom bought steel bars for the remainder of this year at 1.9Oc and others who paid 2.25c are resting the 2.5Oc price, which has been named by the mills for the first half of next year. This position is being strongly taken by leading com petitors of the principal harvester con- cern, which makes much of it's own steel. Consumers of steel bars other than inn plement makers, are anxious to contract but are as rule finding it impossible to do so for delivery after January 1, 1917.
 Contracts made for the last half of this year at 2.50c Pittsburg are entered with the understanding that deliveries are not to begin before January 1, 1917.
 Plates continue very strong. While the highest premium prices are disappearing, one leading eastern Pennsylvania com pany is still quoting 4c Pittsburg and cannot give delivery in less than six months. The Pennsylvania Railroad com pany has again been a buyer of plates for this years delivery at it's Altoona plant, paying 3.75c Pittsburg.
 Inquiries for ship yards foot up large tonnages. A leading independent steel is offering to make deliveries at early dates on shapes and bars at lower prices than have been prevailing recently and prompt delivery of these products is now being made at 250c Pittsburg. An other company is booking third quarter contracts for shapes at 2.50c Pittsburg on bar sizes and 2.60c Pittsburg on common shapes sections, shipment to be made at it's convenience. High prices of struc- tural material are now being reflected in considera bly, higher prices for the fabri- cated material and the result is decided decrease in building operate