Show improvement IN TRADE demand for steel made by railroads new york march 17 Further improvement pro in the iron trade Is noted by the iron age in its issue of today the demand from railroads however baa not yet increased in proportion with the increase in other quarters the review bays the better feeling in the iron trade continues it has found expression thus far chiefly in a livelier buying of pig iron jn all quarters with a moderate advance in many instances the majority of sellers have marked up their prices and it remains to be seen whether or not this will check buying now that the urgent requirements tor delivery during the second quarter appear to bo covered cast iron manufacturers are studying closely the arguments which would come up it the project to supply a high pressure fire service for new york and brooklyn should mature it would call for about tons the pennsylvania tunnel job has made progress since it calls for about tons of tons of steel plates the work means a good deal of employment to shops and mills when wo turn from the lines of iron and steel products which enter into general consumption to those are chiefly eold to the railroads the situation Is less bright in the lines which are not protected by agreements very low prices continue to prevail while the of those products which are controlled by associations Is still light there seems little prospect of an improvement in the purchase of the railroads until they are able to market securities to better advantage than now |