The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11
By RICHARD F.. JOHNSTON

With practically every industry at a maximum capacity and the only drawback to perfect conditions being the insufficiency of cars with which to move the maximum production of all mills, mines and factories at the same time, this week assumes an even brighter aspect in the wage ad- vance at coal and ore mines going into effect next Friday, March 16.
 Taken with the wage advances of 10 per cent last May and 20 per cent September 1, the latest advance of 12ls to 15 per cent makes cumula tive increase of approximately 50 per cent in the past ten months.
 The advance affects 27,000 coal miners and 5000 to 5000 ore miners an army of $500 men. All mines will grant the advance.
 VIII Affect 5o,ooS Men.
 Advances of practically 15 per cent have also been announced at the sanitary pipe shops in the Gadsden has announced wage increases at It's iron works in Gadsden. Before the wage advancing is completed this week it is safe to say that 5o.000 miners and other workers in the Ala bama industrial field will be receiv- ing the wage advance.
 Tho Tennessee company Is on the same double turn this week as usual. It would produce more If 1t could. All plants are at maximum. The same Is true of the Gulf States Steel, the American Steel and Wire, the Corners Steel and others. The Con- hoop and band mill and II hours in nf
 Iron at S28.
 The Iron market is at a minimum of s26. Practically all business has gone at that base this week. Two makers asking s27 for third quarter admit doing mighty little" in that direction All makers have a prompt call for all the iron which they can supply for rest of the first half and spot metal is difficult to get at all. Probably 30,0o0 tons represents the sales of last week.
 Large Pipe orders.
 Pressure pipe could not be strong CT. The U. S. Pipe has booked 1,200 tons for Marion, N. C.. which has specified the De Lavaud pipe on ac- count of its superior strength. Ma rion Is mountain town and extra strong pipe is necessary. The U. S. Pipe has also booked 1000 tons for Dayton, Ohio.
 The American Cast Iron Pipe com pany is filling a s400000 water pipe order for Fort Worth, Tex At an early date first deliveries are to be made through solid trainload which will be gaily decorated with banners telling where the pipe was made and where 1t is going.
 Sanitary pipe is strong at $7o, with all shops having all the busi- ness they can well care for for some time to come.
 Exports Continue.
 Notwithstanding the rush of do- mestic business the district is al ways doing a fair share of export. China sent in an order last week for rush shipment of 100 tons of steel hoops, which will go In one of the vessels taking steel rails and other steel products to the Orient and is now loading cargo at Mobile.
 The Southern Railways place. ment of it's 6.600-car order was a disappointment to Birmingham .n that none of the quota came here However the Kilby Car and Foundry company at Anniston got orders for zUU SlOck cars.
 O O O
 Gulf And Pacific Trade.
 The movement of wire mill prod ucts to Galveston and Houston goes on regularly via the Warrior river and barges out of Mobile that also carry coal and bring back sulphur for Birmingham acid plants. A barge of wire nails for Texas went down the river last week. The river also carried a barge of wire mill prod ucts for the Pacific coast, which is as regular a patron of Birmingham iron and steel mills as local con- cerns are.
 Strategic position of Alabama iron was strengthened last week on mo- tice of state furnace yard stocks. which showed 50,000 tons March l, vs. 53,000 tons February 1. Of this only 37,000 tons is merchant iron available for the general mark ct