The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-02-10
State of Trade.

r. G. Dun Co.'s Weekly Review of
Trade states that this year starts with
much of the years business already
done and all comparisons will prove
misleading if that fact is not taken in
to account. Last year the certainty of
great Improvement had come before
the year opened and there was rush
to get in orders before works became
crowded and prices advanced. This
year the works are already crowded
for months ahead in most lines and
prices had already advanced so far
that recoil had already commenced In
some branches and was thought prob
able in others.
With the exception of wooden manu-
features the chief industries have met
less new business in January than last
year though deliveries on previous
contracts have been larger than year
ago. In work turned out the past
month probably surpasses all others
and rightly considered the fact that
new contracts for work already well
supplied are smaller than last year Is
not of itself discouraging. The great
burst of speculation last year swelled
January payments through clearing
houses far behind those of this year at
New York and such payments at other
(54O) cities also averaged per busi-
ness day a shade larger than this year.
But a much greater decrease must have
appeared in transactions connected
with the formation of new companies.
Wheat rose 1 cent, but soon reacted.
Atlantic exports, 1,462,462 bushels
| flour included) for the week, against
942, 436 bushels last year. had more in
1uence than the decrease in eastern
receipts which have been for the week
43 per cent and for five weeks 40 per
cent less than last year, while the de
crease in Atlantic exports for five
weeks has been 81 per cent. Pacific
exports have been 4,209 800 bushels il
=, Eve weeks against 3.670,S54 bushels
last year.
Speculation in cotton has raised thu
price to s IA per cent without improve
ment in demand. The receipts from
plantations still fall so far behind las
years that low estimates of yield ar
expected.
Wool is rather weaker In som
grades, but stronger in others, so tina
the average of quotations Is ready, moi
withstanding some sales at conces
sions. The mills which have take
extraordinary orders for the heav,
; weight season without afterwards lool
ing for wool obviously have on han
large stocks, so that the market d.
ponds upon the sufficiency of the SUI
plies they hold. The goods are risin
. little but are relatively lower tina
E the material
: Boot aud shoe manufacturers haN
g passed all records in deliveries, nearl
20 per cent beyond those of Januar
s last year, but new orders have bee
S greatly restricted. Recent sales
J. hemlock sole and of rough white hid'
q at Chicago continue their gradual d
cline
The iron and steel industry Is so Il
q tied up by contracts reaching throue
most of the year that production e
ceeding consumption is felt only
I some instances. A little lower pric
!. have been made for foundry iron
n considerable transactions though BE
. semer does not yield. but steel billie
. are offered by Pittsburg $33 per to
}. The difference between producers al
some of the largest consumers of ste
blocks the market.
Failures for the past week have be
9 232 in the United States. against 2
e last wear and "a in Canada against
e last year.