The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-12
Fly RICHARD F. IoHNsroN

Birmingham iron is again becoming a real factor in the north following long period during which it was practically confined to a limited market in strictly southern territory.
 Shipping northern Alabama iron by barge up the Tennessee river to Ohio gateways for middle and far eastern distribution at lower than rail rates begins this week and will further serve to recoup competitive territory for southern iron.
 Sloss- Sheffield Steel & Iron com pany, which has furnaces at Shelf field and Florence and is now operat- ing Sheffield stack, has engaged barges for northbound movement of | Sheffield iron and will at once begin movement to Metropolis, from which place rails will take to destination. St. Louis can be reached by water direct.
 This business has been heretofore done by the Sloss- Sheffield and there were instances in which the iron by barge beat the record of iron by rail to the same destination. Trade papers report scheduled time as 40 hours.
 Alabama iron has gone into more far afield places in the past two weeks than in as many months. This causes the Chicago correspondent of the Iron Age to say: For the first time in several years southern iron is getting on competitive base with the northern product in this vicinity" The Iron Age of the week says: For the first time in several years south ern iron is becoming a real factor in the north, especially in the Chicago district"
 Alnbama's Advantages
 Sheffield district has an Advantage i Of 40 to so cents in freight rate over Birmingham as starter. Added the advantage of river transportation and 1t is in that much stronger strate- 1 gic position.
 Most scattered bookings of the week totaling 2,500 to 5000 toss. were made by an interest meeting northern competition by all rail route. This company sold iron into Michigan, Louisville. Ohio, Illinois and Kansas and made one Baltimore booking.
 Birmingham base Is $15.50 to s16 according to quantity.
 yS to so Per Cent Tennessee company will this week continue operation of seven of the nine open hearth furnaces at Ensley. This Is at the rate of 70 to so per cent of steel production compared with a recent run of 50 to 60 per cent. Finishing mills active this week will be Bessemer plate, guide and bar mills on double turn, rail mill pro ducing 5000 tons, car works and tie plate plant. Structural steel mill at Fairfield is down again after week s run to fill orders.
 American Steel and Wire is under stood to be at 50 to 50 per cent. Gulf States Steel is reported as doing as well. Wire drawing orders have not been active. Price cutting has oblit- erated the Pittsburg plus for the time being. It has also, trade says. serv- ed to make consumers hold off for ward buying pending more stable prices.
 Pipe Ia Buoyaut
 High pressure pipe people feel very good. The National Cast Iron Pipe company booked 1900 tons for St Paul this week. Large business from Pacific coast Is impending. Portland and Seattle each wish 2,0o0 tons and government at Honolulu wishes S,o0o tons. Base is S33.
 Pacific coast came into market to- ward close of week for another 500 to 600-ton order of Birmingham iron. Ocean rates enable this movement, of which one interest did good January