The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-31
STEEL MILLS ARE
 ADDING ID PACE
 B|G RAIL ORDERS
Fairfield Structural Mill 0p- erating This Week-Good Reports From Lumber,
 Pipe and Cement
By H. F. JOHNSTON

are HUSH Wltn OrueFS from the SouJn incident to the activity in galvanized iron products for structural pur- poses.
 The Tennessee company will be or larger operations this week, the schedule including the following:
 Structural mill at Fairfield, plate bar and guide mills at Bessemer, five of the nine open hearth furnaces, four blast furnaces, double turn at Ensley rail mill, car works and tieplate plant continuing operations.
 Raw material works are producing larger output
 The car works has gotten up to i9 standard pressed steel cars per diem,
 Of tho Steel corporation at large the Wall Street Journal says:
 New business is coming at the rate of 2l,ooo to 22,OoO tons day, the highest since last winter.
 Big RafI Orders
 Since the reduction ia price of rails from si7 to $40, the corporation's s auxiliaries had secured orders up to october 22 for between SO,ooo and 100000 tons of rails for southern and southwestern railroads. Further large orders are expected soon.
 Export business is also improv- ing. One order recently taken by the United States Steel Products com  the far east"
 All this Is good news sor Birming- ham, because southern and south western roads have their rails rolled here and this is where rails for ex- port are rolled.
 Car Works Speeding Up
 The car works were recently at I0 cars per diem. The increase to 13 cars shows speeding up at that plant
 The Gulf States Steel keeps at 70 per cent in the finishing mills.
 It is operating three of it's six open hearth furnaces. Nails continue ir strong demand and the demand foi wire fencing is picking up, following the fall money that has come into the pockets of the farmers. E.
 The high pressure pipe trade looks for decidedly briskerl operations up tc hard winter than usual. Some con- sessions in freight rates would stim- ulate business with faraway points and there is lot of business hang ing fire with that expectancy.
 The Birmingham base on high pres sure pipe Is $S3 to $S5. Average ac- tive capacity is about 70 per cent with some more, some less.
 Sanitary pipe production is also greater than usual at this season, ow- ing to continued structural activity
 Cement Mills at Capacity X Cement mills reflect road and street building. All the Alabama plants are at capacity and have been for some time. The cement make of this dis trict this year shows a large increase over that of 1920 and leads all other districts in the rate of increase.
 All building materials are active
 Six merchant iron stacks are in op- eration and the south is caring for the production. Yard stocks are de- creasing in spite of the increased make There has been lull in iron buying this week on account of hope of early reduction in freight rates, but the market is firm at s19 and a fair volume of iron in small lots was booked.
 Coal and Coke Stronger
 Coke is active and strong. Birming ham make is moving all over the south, southwest and west and as far as Pacific coast. Base is $5.50 to s6
 Steam coal is stronger and all coal is more avtive than it has been. One large steam coal producer was forced to turn down some proffered busi- ness last week.
 Increased Car Movements
 Very significant of generally i'm proved conditions is the report oi movement of cars loaded with reve- nue. producing freight for week end ing October 15. The total was 906,- 900, compared with 774,000 the first week in July and 8 low of ,00O In May. The total for the week ending October 15 was greatest since the week ending November 2S. 1920. Tn. crease in cars loaded with general merchandise is especially notable, the total for the week ending Octo- Der 15 being 550,000, compared with 563 900 in the same week in 1920 That demonstrates a decided general business recovery from the low mark of this year..
 Lumber Tends Upward
 The last issue of American Lum- herman says "Demand for lumber continues brisk and prices still ex- hibit upward tendency. Hardwood market continues to improve and pre- dictions are made that stocks will be inadequate to meet the demand.
 Atop of other optimistic data last week came the decision of the Amer ican Cotton association to restrict acreage next year to that of 1921 which was 2S.4 per cent under the 1920 acreage. and getting earnestly behind the cotton marketing associa- ton movement, which seems to be sweeping the southwest like wildfire and has made Its impression In Mis- sissippi and nearby states.
 Cotton Marketing
 The benefit of control of the staple by the producer brought about by these marketing associations has been so remarkable that their establish ment throughout the cotton belt seems a foregone conclusion. soon tc be put in practical form. Indica- tions are that producers will control 30 to 50>per cent of the next croI through these marketing organiza- tions. and that means the naming oi prices.
 Alabama Passes Law Alabama has just passed the law giving legal status to farm market ing organizations. and this state vii be organized like Texas. Oklahoma Arizona. Mississippi and others shortly
 ! N0RTHINGTON HOST