The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-11
SHIPMENT
 OF LOCAL PRODUCTS
 UNIVERSAL DEMAND
Resume of Industrial Activities for Week Show Encouraging Features-LoW Point
 Is Reached
py RICHARD F. JOHNSTON

That stocks are low or non-existant on the yards of many consumers of Birmingham iron and steel products and users of Birmingham coke is evil dent by the almost universal demand for prompt shipment of orders.
 None of the going business in any line is large, but the request for prompt shipment of what is ordered is almost invariable. This was first noted in the iroE trade and then recently by the coke makers. Now the wire mill operators make the same report. Yards and shelves of consumers are depleted of stocks. The furnace and steel men and coke makers are encouraged over this. and it serves to make them feel that the low point has been reached and the worst is over
 Furnace production in Alabama in March was the smallest since June 1908, when the production was 5000 tons. The March output was 101, ,0oo tons. less than half of the average monthly produc- ton of 1920 and 1e19 It is far the small est monthly production on record since the increase in the states iron-making capacity was created by some furnace additions and great increase in produc- tive capacity of others
 STOCKS ON YARDS
 Stocks on yards of merchant foundry interests decreased in March, which shows that they delivered the product manufactured during the month. The increase in stocks during the month came from the non-merchant interests. Total foundry stocks are under 15o0U tons, which is 5000 tons under a normal months make.
 A revamp of the water and gas pipe base is expected this week. The pres ent base Is $55 ton, but that is expected to be reduced to point that will cause considerable buying that has been off on account of prices.
 Large pipe interests are expected in the iron market this week. They arc un- derstood to be in the mood to dicker se- riously with iron interests for heavy. tonnage based on a new price schedule. The new base that may be named for this business is expected to mark bottom rock. The new iron price and the new pipe price are understood to have a close relation with one another, and much new business Is thought to depend on an understanding. Present iron base is s25
 Soil pipe business has not attained q brisk pace yet, although all the resum- ing factories are doing some business incident to the activity in house build ing. The old schedule of ss0 has been reduced to one of s5S by the larger soil pipe interests and those anxious for busi- ness have cut under that as far down as 50.
 SUGAR MACHINERY Larger machine shops are understood Ito have very little big work on hand. The Cuban business in sugar house ma chinery is reported to have been about worked up with no new business there in immediate sight owing to Cuba s financial status.
 The 10000 tons of steel rails for the Manchurian railways are to be rolled at Ensley this week, and will commence go- ing down the Warrior forthwith. The vessel carrying the rails to Manchuria is expected to leave Mobile April 27.
 The Fairfield City, with 5000 tons of rails for China, is due to leave Mobile today. This will be the ships maiden voyage.
 The Selma OiIy mas been i6uhCHcu ~ the Chickasaw yards. This is the ninth ship built there. Five more are to be built
 The Warrior river self-propeiler. the Mobile, will he launched at St Louis April 1s, and the Gulfport. the fourth. little later. The Warrior will then have four self-propellers and package freight between Birmingham and New Orleans will have semi-weekty move ments both ways
 I8s ALL-WATER RATE The all-water rate between the east and Birmingham by the Mallory line and the Warrior river went into effect Satar- day. The rate is % per cent off the all-rail rate from eastern ports and 1b per cent off the all-rail rate from in terior eastern cities. Wimberly & Thom- as Hardware company are first Birming- ham shippers to patronixe the new line. having ordered a carload of hardware to come that way.
 T. C. I. operations continue to be as follows: Five blast furnaces at Ensley on basic and one at Bessemer on foun- dry; blooming and plate mill at Fair field blooming and rail mill at Ensley. shipbuilding and car material works at Fairfield Bessemer rolling mill Is idle.
 Woodward Iron company. which TO- gently resumed at one of it's blast fur naces, resumed at its large ore mines last week This company's yard stocks arc at low point, and that means steady operation at the active stack.
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