Show REVIEW OF IRON TRADE cleveland ohio jan 4 the iron trade review says with 50 per cent of the pig iron production 0 1900 sold in advance though not all oe this for shipment in the first six months it is not to be expected that any sensational market turns will be encountered for weeks it at all the significant fact today is that the sensational sat ional crash in wall street and the dullness ot holiday time have left pig iron prices thus far untouched against the fact that production has overtaken demand sellers of iron point to the general urgency with which deliveries arc called tor and the further fact that a good many important consumers who began in november to wait tor prices to decline have yet to buy for a round percentage of their requirements in the next six months in some eases the test will be made on the advance iron and steel frei glit rates effective january 1 whether buyer or seller shall stand them on the next purchases made bessemer pig remains at Pittsburg 25 and is very firm in view 0 a slight curtailment of operation due to the recent interruption of ore movement from the docks Foundry irons are un changed la all markets in steel billets the indications are that while the mills are not so well filled with orders as are the blast f u tion of buyers who have been waiting cpr a decline will be disappointed for the present at least bessemer steel capacity has not increase in the year apart from the completion of a new plant in the wheeling district and with rail mills so heavily sold for 1900 they will not be heard from in the billet market all lines of finished material are quiet with prices for plates a trifle easier bars strong and sheets stationary structural mills were well occupied and the prospect of spring work is counted excellent if money conditions do not change unexpectedly for the worse official returns show that the amount of iron ore received in the past season of navigation at lake erie ports was gross tons an in chease 0 38 per cent over 1898 which with has been the record year dijt |