The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-17
SCARCITY Of LABOR
lis Worrying Manufacturers
in Middle States.
IRON TRADE is BOUNDING
New Export ReCords--ExCesS
Outward Phenomenal.
IRON TRADE is BOUNDING

New York, Nov. 16-R. G. Dun & Co s
weekly review Of trade tomorrow will
say: Prices of commodities advance al
most without exception. and al the
changes in manufactured goods ere in
the direction Of frmer quotations. The
smanness Of stocks of goods carried is a
feature Of our reports from most Of the
leading centers. Scarcity Of labor gives
manufacturers in the middle states great
concern.
Activity at Cincinnati and steel mills
steadily increases, and there is an equal
ly uniform advance on the quotations.
The gain has been more general this
week than at any previous time this sea-
son, pig iron moving up 25 cents a ton
and corresponding gains appearing in
bars. billets. plates and structural ma
terials generally. Instead Of the recent
agitation for cheaper steel rails, there Is
now talk of an advance to SIS, owing to
the further rise in steel billets. orders
come forward in the best volume since
last spring, when there was severe inha-
'tiOn Of prices, and requests for quicker
delivery are general. The report Of pig
iron production on November 1 by the
Iron Age shows q weekly capacity OF
only 215,394 tons. the smallest since Sep
TENDER 1898. but the reduction Of 5000
tons from October in furnace stocks IS
most encouraging. The figures, with the
activity in all branches Of the industry,
indicate that there VIII be no further re-
duction in output, but the December
statement VIII probably show more than
200 furnaces in blast.
Packer hides at Chicago have ceased to
advance but remain firm at top figures,
and country hides made further gains
Tanners are not buying eagerly and Of
fe1ngs are also moderate. Leather quo
tations are only slightly altered, while
most grades are steady at former figures
Betting butts have advanced sharply.
Boot and shoe manufactures are still
unable to secure any advance in quota
tons, although they are attempting to
raise lists 21k cents. Local jobbers are
well supplied, but more seasonable
weather has stimulated retail trade.
Textile industries are rather quiet, al
though heavy weight goods move more
freely with the lower temperature. Wool
en- manufacturers are not yet seeking
raw mai erial in great quantity, and wool
is not changed in price Sales at the
three chief eastern markets have again
increased, while western consignors still
insist that commission men shall not &C
cent lower bids.
A temporary furry in the wheat mar
ket on Monday took the December option
above soc It was reported that Wall
street operators were turning their at
tention to grain. Publication of the
usual weekly statistics had depressing
effect, however. particularly the enorm-
Gus exports from Russia which were a
contradiction OF earlier statements that
the crop was short in northern Europe.
Liverpool selling was large and the real
ling soon made a decline Of over &C.
which exceeded the previous advance The
muc discussed advance in meats at Chi
case. was not heavy, but scarcity Of first
quality fresh eggs has brought very high
prices. Cotton rose slightly. Exports to
Great Britain continue heavy, even at
-r,ces % HIGHER than a year ago. Total
cotton shipments in October were valued
at SEQ. S91 JOY. exceeding all records and
showing a gain Of 200 per cent over the
previous month.
Failures for tho week we're 217 in the
United states, against 219 last year. and
SO in Canada against % last year.
BRADSTREETS
New York, Nov 16-BradstreeFs viii
say. tomorrow: The tonic effect of season
able cold weather is. again testified to by
reports from practically all markets Of q
brisk demand for winter clothing and
footwear. This in turn is reflected in in
creased recorders from western, north
western and southern jobbers and per
ceptible improvement in tone of whole
sale trade at the east which hopes to
participate later in the results following
from the existing good consumptive de-
mand. The renewed advance IN cotton,
another result Of cold weather, has prov
ed a stimulus to southern trade and also
made cotton goods agents and manufac-
turers rather Indifferent to new business
offered at old rates. What looked Ike
an Improvement in wool demand and
prices seems TO have received a temper
airy setback from the failure Of q large
commission house with woolen mill con-
necuons. Railway returns continue fav-
orable. the demand for iron ard steel IS
expanding and prices are hardening; la
/ Dor is exceptionally wen employed; anth-
racite coal mining operations have been
/ practically resumed and ruling prices for
that product seem assured. New records
of export trade are presented and the
excess of outward trade is assuming phe-
nomenal proportions.
The market for cereals Is a dragging
one, with price changes few and Of lit
tie Importance, and stock speculation,
though Qaieter thaa Of late is strong and
confident in tone. Reelection of the late
enormous business In this line Is found In
/ unprecedented bank cleariDgs, their totals
( echpsing even the large totals Of the
year 1899
The strength of prices is sdu most
manifest In iron and steel. demand for
which continues large both fol-. crude and
finished meateriaIs. The action oF The
billet pool in advancing prices Is claimed
70 have checked demand. Pig iron has
( also been anec,ed by Efforts To advance
! Eessemer pig. bat, though not as active
as last week 1t Is very strong and high
er at the west. while firm and tending up
ward az the south Stocks are estimated
+ "a have decreased 5oe10 tons III October
In finished material the activity IS most
marked, ANA mills are generally Wen sup
Piled with orders ana Indifferent 10 fu-
ture business at present rates. a fair
+ business IS doing IN rails at The west.
SIS per ton IS rhs price talked OF The
. railways are free buyers e cars and
other material, and structural material
tends onward, although the intention q
( beam manufactures 20 advance Qrioes is
not confirmed TIE awarding II the gov
+ eminent contract for armor plate at s4z-
( per ton VIII swell The output O.. TIE stee