The Saint Paul globe., 1900-10-20
Is brighter IN TIE WEST
RELATIVELY GENERAL TRADE Is
BETTER THERE THAN IN
THE EAST
PRICES GENERALLY WEAKER
Though Slight Hardening Is Noted
in IrOn-Business Is Inclined
to Wait on the
EIcctIen.

NEW YORK, Oct. 10-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow
viii say: A settlement of the coal
strike satisfactory to all interests haV-
ing been effected business breathes more
freely in the East and distribution Of
merchandise is increasing slowly again,
though the election excitement keeps new
buying in many lines down to wants
for immediate consumption. In the West
there is not the same hesitation and
there, as well as in the South, the mar
keting of the crops is responsible for
feeling OF much confidence in the move
ment of business if the nation acts cen
seIvatively at the polls. Prices of COM
mcdities are weaker, and the caution so
e. ttifyytng IN a Prudential year keeps
specula ton at d minimum.
Cotton further declined, making the loss
about Sc a bale in TIVE weeks. Planters
are rushing work and picking is expected
to progress rapidly enough to save most
of the crop from early frost High
prices make it possible to pay good wages
TO pickers. and the movement at re-
ceivlng points increases largely. Domes-
tic spinners are not liberal buyers, but
exports are only slightly smaller than
year ago. Foreign buying increased
with the recent sharp decline. Wheat
has shown more weakness, due in part
to the greater activity at Russian ports;
and Atlantic exports for the week were
only 2.647,235 bushels, against 327G,2-6 a
year ago. Corn also declined, but is 6
cents above last year, which may ac-
count for the loss in exports, in three
weeks 1854, i6o bushels, against 1924 4G6 in
1899.
THE BAROMETER OF TRADE.
Few important fluctuations occurred in
iron and steel, but there were small ad-
vances in Bessemer pig at Pittsburg and
billets at Philadelphia. Moderate gains
ere reported in the volume of transac-
tions, although the tendency is to delay
large contracts a few weeks Impie-
ment makers take bar iron freely, how
ever, and orders for pipe are urgent
with severe weather coming on Struc-
tural shapes are taken for foreign points
as far as Egypt, and domestic bridge
builders buy freely. More mills have
gone into blast and the general tone is
improving. Production Of coke has in
creased but prices are easy and many
ovens still idle. Tin declined again, MAX
Ing the fall 1%c in two weeks, and s
cents from the high point in July.
Leather and hides are firm, asd Selling
freely because of steady Improvement
In demand for boots and shoes. Jobbers
ere placing large orders with manufac-
turers and demand is no longer limited
to fall goods Spring contracts are in
Creasing at as encouraging rate, al
sales as quiet as possible, owing TO the
effect on the market for raw material
While woolen mills are not working at
full capacity, more reasonable weather
he's Increased buying In this line and
purchases of wool at the three chief
Eastern markets increased to 4,524,u,O
pounds, the best total for long time,
although still far below the amount talk
en- through speculative activity a year
PGo. Prices are steady and holders show
no loss of confidence. In other textile
markets cotton goods are less freely
bid for and are selling well below parity
with the raw material. Sellers do not
weaken III their ideas as to price Many
mills which recently shut down or -e-
bfricted production are running again
On full time, but these are making
ahiefy heavy goods.
FIXTURES for the week were 2O9 in the
Tinted States, against 40 last year. ana
Henty-six in Canada, against twenty
lst year