The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04
By RICHARD F. JOHNSTON

Manufacturers of all kinds of iron and steel products agree that the i'm mediate present and the future, so far as can be seen ahead. show strongest positions in history of American industry. They point to the stabilization rather than to price lists as the real achievement.
 They declare that relations be- tween producer and consumer were never on a more even keel and that production was never better financed at the consuming end. They lay em- phasis on the cash considerations involved in the tremendous tonnage being produced for the railroads.
 Average improvement over the same time last year in this district seems to have been approximately 60 to 70 per cent, with some lines show ing 90 per cent improvement.
 January pig iron production was 232,o00 tons, largest in five years, and compared with 121,o ,o00 tons in January, 1922, and 143.O00 tons in January, 1921. The increase over 1922 is 93 per cent and the increase over 1921 is GA per cent.
 Coal production In January aver aged 60 per cent above the same month in 1922 and is now at the rate of A per cent over both 1921 and 1922. Coke production Is so per cent greater than at this time last year.
 Bank clearings in January showed an increase of 65 per cent, those of February an increase of 76 per cent and those of the two months com bined an increase of 70 per cent. The showings being made on the same
 ,e a from the figures.
 New Residence Record.
 Permits for residences in February made a new high record for all months, there being 232 of them, compared with a previous high of l76 in March of last year. lead ing department store made an in crease of e9 per cent in gross busi- ness in January.
 100 Per Cent Strain.
 All steel mills are straining to make and deliver on a 100 per cent
 production base. One mill is re- fusng all new business of newcom- CTS and is unable to promptly ac- commodate all regular customers with full requirements. Agents of northern steel mills decline all new business in all products.
 The double turn schedule of the Tennessee company continues. Ameri- can Steel and Wire, Corners Steel, and Gulf States Steel have all they can handle. Steel bars are quoted s25O f. O. b. Birmingham.
 Pipe Being Booked.
 Pressure pipe is no longer prom ised for delivery prior to June and that is difficult on small sizes. The U. s. Pipe has booked 2,ooo tons for Dayton, Ohio. The base is mini mum of S45.
 The McWane Cast Iron Pipe com pany went into operation the past week and began with well-fiiled order book based on its capacity ot 5000 feet per diem.
 The De Lavaud pipe is in such de- mand that the North Birmingham plant of the t. s. Pipe is at capacity in that department. Five new ma chimes are being installed.
 Sanitary pipe brings s1o. All plants have all they can handle and some are declining new business. me Central Foundry is operating US sanitary and universal pipe shop at Holt.
 Pig Iron at $2O.
 Pig iron has gotten to $26, the sl advance coming immediately on the heels of the mine wage advance an nounced by the Tennessee company and other large open shop operators last week. The advance was expected and sales were made promptly al that figure following it's announce ment Friday and Saturday.
 O o O
 Water Power Development.
 Interest attaches to the develop ment of water power in southeastern Alabama. The Houston Power com pany is about ready to install ma chinery for a 5000 horse power plant at Newton and the River Falls Power company is installing machinery TOT A 5000 horse power plant at River Falls. The Alabama Power expects