The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-12-08
HOLIDAY TRADE IS
UNIVERSALLY BRISK,
Coed Reports From the South
Cotton Firm and Rice Coming
In at Full Prices.

New York. Dec. 7.-R. G.. Dun n cos
weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
business is proceeding along conservative
lines. 1t is without excitement and with
out great speculative activity. but with a
! confident undertone. which is TO be explained
largely by the fact that leading concerns
in the most OF the great industries have
! orders booked to employ their machinery
I at nearly full capacity during months when
curtaiIment ia usual. No net reduction in
working force has appeared In TIE last 'nGj-
night. and a readjustment OF wages scfei-
u!eS IN some branches of the Steel trade il
! affected without trouble. Prices OF Com
mod.;ies are generally steady and holiday
trade il brisk at all points. TIT south is
] particularly cheerful. with cotton firm and
, the ric. crop coming in al very fun prices.
THere is no cause for alarm in the small
volume Of new business at iron and steel
C.nt.rs. With the first sign OF higher
prices there came forward such a flood of
contract. that mills and furnaces booked
| orders sufficient 10 keep their full force en-
p,oyed for months. Hence there has come
= more quiet condition. with less bidding
for products. Fortunately quotations We're
not forced UP unrcasonably during the
weeks of greatest activity and now there
is NO sign Of depression. TN the o;h-r
hama. nArs ale more FIRMLY he'd. while mtay
Idle mills have resumed in ta!s department
ana snr,tnIakers all insis; Oh better terms.
other hnish materials are steady and az
most FoiGtS pig il unchanged, although con-
ccssicns are made Tor Bessemer at Pitts
burg. Numerous bridges are being erected
BY the railroads. and HI heavy tonnage OF
structural ste'l Is taken. Other railroad
supplies are ia active a. mand, with ro!llH.
STOCK urgently sought. business in iron
l. particularly uri.h at Chicago. NI.h
slight .nUGerGtIvn ia domestic buying. more
attention Is given to exports.
AsI"c from "a further advance OF 5Isc III
mems kip boots and iirnness in grain Shoes.
The ma net Tor footwear has quoted down,
hut with no disposition 10 TeCeIc from the
E,ntraiy nIsner rang. established las;
Mech. Makers Rave fewer new orders. how
eyer. and nedvy winter footwear mas been
purchased Tor the seasons requirements.
iho customary loltuay demand has no;
appeared, though retailers have fUi. lines
Of fancy shoes and slippers. Thei. is a
shortage in some grade. OF hemlOck sole,
lut heather has ceased 10 advance. HIDES
are easier, especially for country lines at
chicago. Even after the decline Of the past
two weeks the average is above jIe CLOSING
prices of October. Wool remains steady
and sales are less than half last years.
Manufacturer purchase carefully. anu fhe
goods market is unusually dull IOg lIe sea-
son.
For the first time in many weeks the
cereals exhibited strength, AMI some adj
vance was To be expected after the extern
siVe decline. Wheat Vas started upward
by the foreign markets. and prompt re-
Spouse here compelled covering OF con-
tracts. Nothing Of importance was learned
regarding domestic COndItiOus aside from
tae heavy marketing at Interior cities. as
indicated nv Ng<fEIn Ee,.ailGS nf y Inp
Du.. against 3.sel, 1%s in the previous week.
and - so" a year ago Tn The other hand.
exports at the Atlantic Coast cities were
ouiy 2,2li, 1913 bJ., against ~5,559,s11 in 1893.