The age-herald., 1900-11-03
DUS'S REVIEW

New York, November 2.-R. G. Dun's weekly review tomorrow will say:
 The period of suspense is nearly over. Business has been longing for free field in which to leap forward, but restricts buy ing largely only for immediate consump- tion. Evidences appear of willingness to take speculative chances in the movement of a few standard goods, notably of iron and steel The actual resumption of oper- ations in the anthracite coal fields has added largely to the working force and closing down of a few steel plants is only in the nature of continuing operatio at more advantageous points, and has not much reduced the number of men em- ployed. The weather in some sections has favored business, but at New York has been unreasonable, accounting for much of the loss of 15.S in bank clcarances as com- pared with last year, though the week shows gain of 20.3 per cent over 1898.
 Encouraging signs multiply in the iron industry. Strength in Bessemer and grey forge at Pittsburg shows that the recent increased inactivity for the finished forms have at last affected the market for raw material. Improvement in buying of pig is the more noticeable because of directions in exports. Structural shapes continue in urgent request, plates advancing with ac- tive demand from shipbulders, and talk of a pool to sustain the price. Bar iron would sell readily al former prices, but holders grow stubborn. Reports are current that American concerns have contracted for machine shops in Bremen and numerous bridges abroad, including some in South Africa. Bilets in Philadelphia cost $20 which does not look like a reduction in steel rails. Buyers in these lines decided not to wait for election b place contracts
 Full forces are employed at New England shoe shops and heavy orders insure brisk work for the rest of the year. Prices have not advanced for the finished articles with leather and hides.
 Textile operations are more active, the movement of wool at the three important points of the eastern markets exceeding q T the recent records, with total of 7S0i GOO pounds. This is largely for prompt con- sumption and correctly makes for compari- son for the same week last year when un- precedented speculations made the total 83S6700 pounds, with many large transac tons missed in the excitement of the BoS- ton markets. With the greater activity there appears a tendency toward firmer prices.
 Cotton has recovered a littl of the recent sharp decline attributed to reports that frosts would surely do serious dam age. The market does not show much fear of disaster, and there is no more reason to believe that the slight advance was in- duced by better purchases of spinners who were attacked after the fall of 7.SO bale In les than three weeks. There was also some recovery in wheat, started by the statement that Argentine would not be able ta report freely this year because of the injury to the growing crop.
 Corn did not join the advance to any extent, and provisions were generally quiet except for a corner in October pork, which compelled traders on the short side to cover contracts at s20 when the month ended. Small concessions are made by im- porterS of raw sugar.
 Failures for the week were 19S in the United States, against 1S3 last year, and 23 in Canada, against 25 last year.