The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-26
By RICHARD F. JOHNSTON

By RICHARD F. JOHNSTON
 An ironmaker, hitherto quoting 1 s15 to s15.50, marked up Saturday to l sl5.50 minimum.
 One other maker was already on the s15.50 base. The iron market is hardening.
 One maker booked 5000 to 10000 tons more than March make for March delivery and has booked 5000 to 1000 tons more than present ca pacity for April delivery. This means that, if this maker does not in- crease production, 1t will not have ton of iron on yards May l. Two makers operating on a one l furnace active capacity, booked 5000 tens each last week and turned down almost as much as booked. In one instance the company was unable to handle offered tonnage with justice to customers already booked for the period of delivery specified. In an- other instance the maker was not open for third quarter business at present market base.
 Large tonnages have been sold into Cincinnati and St. Louis territory. Belleville. H., stove makers have taken 10000 to 15,000 tons A small lot was booked in Connecticut Louis- vile has bought literally. Alabama II oh 10 aS&Ah HI SOihPNNANAAe NNAA tory.
 Full Turn Steel
 Tennessee company Is on double turn in the Bessemer mills and the blooming rail mills at '1nsley tls!s week. Eight of the nine open hearth furnaces will operate. nine If pos sibe. The company is producing steel at utmost of ability to do so. Hundreds of men have been added to | 1 tion and reopening or mines. New high records are being made at the finishing mills in Ensley and Fair | field.
 Coal Is being mined at rate of | 2S5.000 tons weekly compared with 220,0o0 in beginning of year. Spot coke Is selling at S5.25. Honolulu Takes Pipe
 High pressure pipe plants are re- ceivng a steady influx of new bus mess. U. S. Pipe company low bid der on $500 tons for Honolulu last week and this pipe presumably will be rolled in the Birmingham district plants. Birmingham plants missed the 1 1,200 tons for Milwaukee and the | 1000 tons for Toledo, O., awarded last week on a bid of s32.70. Bir- mingham prices are believed firm at a base of s33.
 Export Steel Corners Steel Hoop and Band mill 1 at Woodlawn resumes Monday for a two weeks run. which may be sx- tended. The hoop and band mar ket has begun picking up Some ex- port business has been secured American Steel and Wire and Gulf States Steel are at about 70 per cent of capacity with business steadily | improving. Of the Gulf States Steel operations the Wall Street Journal says: Not only is improvement seen in the domestic demand, but ex- port orders from South America and the far east are showing com siderable gain. A particularly heavy demand is coming from the Pacific coast"
 Good Culvert Business American Casting company. makers of iron culverts for highways, re- ports about 70 per cent of operating capacity and President Dan Dimicll said: We expect fine business this year. The great amount of high way construction will call for & large amount of our product. We feel as- sured of the future"
 Hollow Tile Picking Up Birmingham Hollow Tile company says operations this year have been 
 plant from January tofMay last year. Demand for silos Is up and construc- tion of large buildings using hollow tile this year will cause large de- mand. Birmingham hollow tile goes to the eight contiguous and adjacent states.
 Business has been little quieter, says the Birmingham Stove, and Range company. but 1t Is on five day turn even at that. M'Cormack Retires Industrial circles were interested in the retirernent from the presidency of the Pratt Consolidated Coal com pany of George B. Mccormack this week He becomes chairman of the board and his son. Carr McCarmack, successful coal operator. succeeds him as president. The senior Me Cormack will conserve his health by taking less active part in business affairs. H
 New stock Issues
 Birmingham Water Works com pany stockholders this week author ized issue of $500 900 of additional per cent cumulative preferred stock. Proceeds are going into plant betterment following s700.000 raised in the same manner last year and invested in the same way. Birmingham Trust and Savings company announces that it will re- turn to it's old home on Twentieth street April 26. Just before it does that a stock holders meeting will au- thorize an increase in capital stock from $500. 900 to $l.000. 900. The en- larged and beautified home of the bank is almost ready for occupation. Employees of Gadsden Car Works met this week and accepted re- ductioh of cents an hour. The plant will go on full turn following this action and additions made to the present force of 700 men
 New Lumber Road
 The Raul Lumber company has comnlAted a 12-milN railroad reach-