The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-17
By RICHARD F. JOHNSTON

ANON puy lHS peloW in almost all lines. The lull in pig iron has lasted for two months Steel has eased up. Lumber has been slower. Sanitary pipe has been in active. Commercial coal demand has slackened considerably. Production has continued at maximum on back log orders requiring many weeks and, in some cases, many months to fill.
 Producers regard the lull as sea- sona1 and look for renewal of large buying in the very near future. They regard capacity production going on for months as natural forerunner of some decline in new business; catching breath" as it were.
 Meanwhile the production enters promptly into consumption and there are no stocks. These are the op- timistic features.
 For instance. Alabama furnaces produced in the first five months of the year 1905. 900 tons of pig iron, an increase over 1922 of 60 per cent and one of 115 per cent over 1921.
 
 at opening of the year has gone to consumers ana Alabama furnace yards have bare 20,0OO tons of mer- chant iron on hand.
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 Blow In Furnace.
 Sloss Sheffield Steel and Iron. largest merchant iron producer in the south, will blow in it's seventh aJy ffolJ xIi eating confidence in the demand for iron. Alabama furnaces have sold all or larger part of capacity pro- duction through September. They have stood firm for s27 and now has sold under that base. The market standpoint toward the close of the week.
 New Pipe Orders.
 Pressure pipe has not been quite so active. but substantial orders have continued to come in. The U. s. pipe booked 6.O00 tons for Portland, Ore, Flint, Mich, recently. The nominal base of s49 is understood to have been underquoated to be s47 in recent competition for business.
 Some piling of stocks at some sani- tary pipe shops has been reported. The market is inactive at S7o. Big Rail Orders.
 Feature of the steel market at large last week was placement of rail orders totaling 250,O0O tons Railroads are also big buyers of bars.
 Virginia Bridge and Iron booked 400 composite hopper cars for the Seaboard Air Line.
 Commercial coal demand has fur ther eased up and production in the week ending June was 353,00o tons, compared with $500 tons the two prior weeks. Maximum record pro- duction was that of the week ending March 31 with 416.000 tons. Pro duction of steel mills and furnaces Is still at maximum.
 Coke Is At Peak.
 Coke production remains at peak with steady demand for every ton at from s9 to $10 for spot.
 Southern Railway placed its con- tracts for years coal supply from Alabama mines during the week, a total of about 1.400,000 tons. Pratt Consolidated, Bankhead and Railway Fuel got largest slices it is under stood, with Cane Creek, Burnwell, Stith, dagger and others sharing the business.
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 Mills At Capacity
 sSteel mills are at capacity on back log of orders supplemented by steady influx of new business, although the new business is not equal to produc- ton Cotton tie mills are at capac- ity producing for the coming sea son. Hoop and band mills are also active. although there also the new business shows easing off from the peak. Pacific coast has been taking quantities of, Birmingham hoop and band mill products via Mobile.
 Sche dulles of the Tennessee, Amer ican Steel and Wire. Gulf States Steel and Corners Steel continue to register capacity operations
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 New Warrior Barges
 Some of the Tennessee company steel barges for use on the Warrior river will soon come from the plant of the Alabama Dry Dock and Ship Building company at Mobile and enter the river service. Being built espe- cially to fit the locks on the Warritr they will enable transportation with A minimum of time lost for lockages. Mississippi end of the Mississippi Warror barge line reports record tonnage and earnings for May and June. This is regarded as forecast of the net profits that the Warritr will earn as soon as the rail car riers agree voluntarily or are forced bv the interstate commerce commits sion to accord fair division of the through rates. Distinct progress along these lines is reported The business tn the Warrior be- ----------- - = - ---