The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-17
By RICHARD F. JOHNSTON

Like practically every preceding week this fall, the past one ushered in an increase in production. The year comes to close under highest head of industrial activity of the 12 months. The f lure of 1922 has been the steadiness with which improve ment has progressed month by month.
 The Tennessee company is produc- ing as muc-- iron and steel as it's ability admits The finishing mill schedule this week is the same as the past several ones, double turn at Bessemer, Ensley and Fairfield, with schedule of 10000 tons of rails for the week, and ingot producing all that Is possible.
 The Tennessee company is. produc- ing more pig iron than in it's history. Blowing in another stack on foun- dry iron at Bessemer last week gave it three on foundry and seven on basic. A fourth Bessemer stack is to go in next week.
 The independent steel mills con tinue practically full turn of oper- ations owing to the remarkable con tinulty of demand from the agricul- luIdl kEduey lHelT IudlIl uepenuenC6.
 Large Iron Sales
 Birmingham pig iron is stronger than in six or eight weeks. Sales made the past two weeks have ap- proximated 100000 tons, possibly more. One interest is believed to have hooked 10000 tons. The sales were made on base all the way from S22 to s23. At close of the week $23 was firmer than 1t has yet been. The United States Pipe alone is believed to have bought 75,000 tons.
 A New Commodity
 Outstanding event of the week in industrial circles was landing of the contract for 15 miles of cast iron pipe for Alexandria, La, by the United States Pipe, whose bid was on DeLavaud pipe made under the cen trifugal process at North Birming ham. That marks the entrance of this new Birmingham commodity into the pipe trade in competition with steel pipe.
 The National Cast Iron Pipe com pany will begin construction of a foundry for manufacture of the De Lavaud pipe early in 1923, an in crease of s500,O00 of capital stock to be voted next week, and the added capital to go into new fundry equipped to that end.
 Big Job Coming
 Specifications on the 20,000 tons for Porto Rico are expected at any date by local management of the United States Pipe. Bessemer shops will probably do a lot of the work. Thi shop did most of the work on the order for 5000 tons for Atlanta.
 Pressure pipe makers have much unfilled tonnage on hand. The base is about SAP. Soil pipe Is still dull and shops will take a two weeks re- cess around the holidays. The base is $50. Big business Is confidently expected early In the year.
 Export Steady
 Esport of iron and steel products via Mobile goes on steadily. Last week Cuban points took a considerable ton- age of barbed wire, wire staples and cast iron pipe. while Puerta Tarafa. Cuba. took 1.15o tons of steel rails. Among the shipments to the Pacific coast were heavy tonnages of nails and cast iron pipe.
 Cargo For Orient
 Steamer Memphis City. one of those built by the Chickasaw company of Birming gham steel. is in Mobile to load a cargo of Birmingham steel products for the Orient. This will be the fourth movement of that class since August. The cargoes average 5000 tons.
 AH-Around Briskness
 Miscellaneous factories report trisk operations continuing right up to the eve of the holidays. The vir- ginia Bridge and Iron is on full turn and expects to take only the week end for Christmas holiday. It Is busy repairing cars for the railroads as well as on structural steel. In gals Iron Works and other fabri eating plants are also on or very near full turn. Practically every line pre- diets a really excellent business in 1923 for at least six months.
 Brick Prospect Good
 Brick makers had satisfactory