The age-herald., 1900-10-13
WEEKLY REVIEW OF
 TRADE CONDITIONS Coal Strike Has Been the Re-
 straining Factor. IMPROVEMENT LOOKED FOR Pig Iron Production Still Further Re- duced-Price of Staples Hold Firm
 After Substantial Advance
 The General Summary

New York, October 12.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say: More seasonable weather had important influence throughout the country, but the coal strike continued as restraining factor in business. As shipping everywhere is on small scale, the result Is minimized. Low prices recently for some iron products have been without disturbing force, and the 1rm- CT market for print cloths, and strong quo tations for lumber show that small in- crease in demand Is capable of raising prices. The situation still promises recov- cry when politics and the strike are set- tied. Distribution of merchandise at the west is still very active. The working force is increasing rapidly, and in railroad and manufacturing circles in the middle west scarcity of labor is causing uneasiness
 Fear of light money has made some men hesitate but higher rates result from the activity of the movement of cotton at high prices in the south. At the moment, the movement of gold in Europe has tended to relieve the tension in New York, and gold is still coming from Australia.
 Pig iron production has been further re- duced, according to the Iron Age. On Octo- Der l, weekly capacity of furnaces in blast was 223,1s9 tons against 231, ITS September 1, and 2e6 376 June l. Stocks at furnaces con- tinue to accumulate, gaining S6S4 tons In September. A gratifying feature Is the evil dence that supplies in consumers hands are low.
 Quotations of iron products are steady and foreign buying continues two contracts of importance being placed Pipe-makers are buying quantities of pig, while car and ship-builders are also urgent bidders for material
 Much disappointment was apparent among cotton traders when the official cotton crop report appeared, for the antiel- patton or gloomy report had put the price up to Il cents. When the statement indi- cated a point improvement in Texas September prices dropped sharply. Wheat also declined without the aid of a gov ernment report. Domestic conditions are generally satisfactory and foreign crop news more cheerful Corn remains steady
 in the face of the decline in condition.
 Foreign buying Is small, Atlantic exports in two weeks amounting to 4,S51,S7S bushels
 against 6,177,14S last year.
 Shipments of boots and shoes from Bos- ton at the rate of SS 415 cases weekly means the most active business since April and exceed the heavy forwardings of last year. Improvement is general, with orders from all parts of the country and frequent
 requests for immediate shipments. These signs that excessive accumula tions have now been distributed are encouraging. Leather is sharing the increased activity at the shops and the average price of hides at Chicago advanced Ac.
 Sales or wool at the three chief Eastern markets steadily increased, reaching 3,941,- GOO pounds against BAY 265 the preceding week. There is no such speculation as year ago, but the sales go immediately to the mills. Prices were not affected by lower figures at the London sale, which
 had been discounted.
 Failures for the week were 223 in the
 United States against 164 last year and 32 in Canada agt nst 2 last year.
 ;stilD .rj. ::Ts REVIEW New York, October 12.-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 Though some measures of business vol ume and value, make unfavorable compari- l sons with a year ago, and speculation Is | certainly on a reduced scale in nearly all 1 lines, other registers of trade activity are | still very favorable and it is hard to resist the conclusion that with few notable ex- | captions the actual business of the country is, as a rule equal if not slightly in excess | of the corresponding period of 1899. This, too, is the case in spite of the distinctly repressive tendency exercised by the pres | ent Presidential campaign. Prices of sta- | ples, as a whole, were firm, after a sub l stantial advance for month past, succeed | ing a summer of quiet steadness and the l unhealthiness of the short side in specula-
 ton has brought forcibly to the attention