The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-14
TRADE OUTLOOK IS VERY BRIGHT
Dun and Bradstreet Reporters Find Little to
Complain Of.

NEW YORK, Dec. 13.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say:
1t is most fortunate that the vagaries
of speculation are not always deleterious
to legitimate business Railway stocks
fell sharply, yet full returns for Novem-
Der show that earnings We're lib per cent
greater than in the same month last year
and 1871 per cent over those of 1899 In
dustrial and traction shares were even
more violently disturbed, yet the manu-
featuring plants of the nation were new
er more fully occupied. Numerous labor
controversies have been settled, and the
rate of wages is at the highest point
ever attained Retail distribution is of
massive proportions, with dealings In
holiday goods the conspicuous feature.
This class of business so far surpasses
all previous records that it alone gives
an unmistakable indication of the ma
tons prosperity, even if other more def
mite measures were not available.
Conditions in the leading industries
are still most strikingly promising Sta
bility of prices continues the best fea-
ture, imitation being wisely prevented by
controlling interests.
The Iron Age has issued most en-
eoura ging report of 266 furnaces in blast
on Dec. l, with a capacity of 34,7 6l tons
weekly. Thus a new high record was at
tanned under circumstances which late
in November appeared anything but pro-
pftious.
Raw textile material industries have
developed distinct firmness. Cotton not
not only retained the spasmodic gain
that followed the government report, but
made a further advance, and indications
of continued strength attracted liberal
purchases by spinners. The goods mar
ket is quiet, with no urgency to force
sales, and prices of some lines are high
er.
Grain Producers Rest Easy.
Western grain producers and dealers
have expressed great faith in the future
of prices, many announcing their inten.
ton to hold their supplies until spring,
when the scarcity would be marked and
quotations reach a more profitable point.
Speculative operators, as usual, antic1-
pated this tendency of legitimate bust
ness and inaugurated a vigorous cam
paign. The upward movement of option
prices eliminated on Monday, when May
deliveries at this city commanded SS7sc
Exports of wheat, including -four, from
all ports of the United States were $685.
GIL blu during the last two weeks
against 1877, POS bu last year and 7,262, 219
bu two years ago. Fancy prices have
not yet materially restricted foreign buy
ing, but there Is evidence that Western
holders are being tempted to part with
their supplies; in two weeks interior re-
ceipts have been 14,7S7S17 blu, against
1884 1874 blu last year and S,975 745 blu two
years ago.
Corn at 731hc was a new high point
for nearly decade, exceeding the price
year ago by 60 per cent, and approach
Ing close to the quotation commanded
by wheat last year, when the yield
was short. Naturally exports are insig-
nificant, from Atlantic ports for two
weeks amounting to but 5S6,01S blu,
against 10,499, 551 bu last year.
Failures for the week numbered 279 in
the United States, against 240 last year,
and II in Canada, against &c last year