The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-25
BOOKINGS OF COKE AND WIRE
 MILL PRODUCTS
Pig Iron Market Held Firm During the Week-Move- ment of Steel for For
 eign Ports Noted
Rx R. F. JOHNSTON

The fourth week of April enters with enough southern pig iron, steel and coke stronger than at the same time in March-decidely so.
 No large tonnages are being or dered, but bookings of coke and wire mill products are far ahead of those of March, while pig iron seems to have been able to resist further hammer ing.
 futile attempt was made during the week to beat the iron market down to $21 on a proffer of around 1000 tons. Gossip had 1t that open quota tion had been made at that base. On rundown of the reports, it was as- certained that the offer failed of ac- ceptance, and that the consumer mak- ing the offer bought portion of the tonnage at S23.
 MARKET HELD FIRM
 The market held firm at s25 for car lots, with $23 for larger tonnage. Usual sale was of small tonnages for prompt delivery at these figures. Iron masters are not inclined to yield an-
 
 have been reached. Lowest price at which Alabama iron was sold during the slump of the first half of 1919 was s2S.90 in June of that year.
 small lot of charcoal iron was shipped for export last week. No char coal stacks are in operation in Ala hama at this time. The charcoal base is $35.
 High pressure pipe makers are dis pointed in having 5000 tons of the De- troit letting go to the steel makers. Reported Birmingham bid on this was $47.50 base for the entire 26,000 tons, and $53 for a part, However United States Pipe booked 2,000 tons for Can ton, O.; the American Cast Iron Pipe. eco tons for Rockford, H., and the Ma tional Pipe several hundred tons for Akron, o. The five water-pipe plants in the c.strict are reported at 40 to 50 per cent capacity.
 WIRE MILL BOOKINGS
 Wire mill operators report bookings in the past two or three weeks twice those of the, same period in March. This is especially true of nails anc bars and other products reflecting the building movement. Woven wire fenc- ing is dull, farmers purchasing barb ed wire instead, because it is cheaper for fencing purposes. Total bookings are not large, and mills are not brag- ging, but a better feeling is justified. Some additional coke ovens have been fired to care for an increase in demand for standard foundry coke. Prices remain at minimum of v and up. One maker has booked to ship the incoming two weeks make. Orders are for prompt movement. More melt | ing of iron in small foundries is indi- cated by the improved coke situation.
 The largest movement of steel from the Birmingham district for foreign parts is no wbeing made. The Selma BCity and Howck Hall, Steel Corpora ton ships. are in Mobile harbor load ing 10000 tons of rails for the Man churian railroads and steel plates. Both are going to the orient.
 RIVER BARGE LINE
 The Warrior river barge lines moved 1000 tons of the Manchurian rail or der down the river in a week. The entire lot could have been handled by Fort of Birmingham had it arrived at riverside on time. The port will have twice the facilities when the new steel derrick is placed.
 Anniston City, latest product of the Chickasaw yards, is to come from the ways in 10 days. The Mobile. third of the Warrior self-prdpeliers, was launched in St. Louis last week, and will be in service between Birming- ham and New Orleans by June. The fourth and last, the Gulfport, was christened last week, and is expected to be on the river by August. This will complete the Warrior river fleet, and enable twice-a-week sailings between Birmingham and New Orleans. Birmingham gained another freight rate victory in the recent decision of the interstate commerce commission eliminating the $1.66 rail and water rate from the east to Nashville, and fixing a rail and water rate from the east via Nashville, and fixing rail rate of $2.10. This is effective June 30. Birmingham's rail and water rate from the east via Mallory and Warrior barge lines is $1.75. Birmingham thus gIs a 35-cents differential with which to extend trade territory into the Tennes- see valley and drive out Nashville Even with Birminghams rail and water rate of $2.10 via Savannah and Brunswick, this city is put on an even base with Nashville.
 BUILDING A FEATURE
 Building in Birmingham continues to grow. and the building of homes is a marked feature of the movement. Bir mingham made the best showing in number of building permits of all cit ies of it's class, except Houston, Tex, in February and March, and issued nearly twice the permits that Atlanta issued
 It has been amply demonstrated that building costs fully third less than it did year ago, and contractors are not afraid to make bids on small mar gin.
 There is a larger sale of lots for building purposes than in some time. This embraces lots of every kind from those costing $500 to those that comes as high as $4,500 in the giltledge dis tricts
 General tone in industrial circles of all kinds is more optimistic than in some time.
 cI EARIME CITE EOp