Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-26

the same week last year by 2.3 and 1899
! by 1.3 per cent, while at the other leading
cities there was practically no change.
Railway earnings thus far available for
December show gains of SO per cent over
last year and pol per cent over 1899.
| Retarded shipments caused higher pri-
ces for prompt delivery of pig iron and
steel products at Western cities, but con-
servatism still marks the course of pro-
ducers regarding contracts for the future.
In Few cases the enlarged capacity
makes 1t possible to promise concessions
| on future business, wire nails especially
showing the effect of competition. Wealth
| er conditions are responsible for the slow
| or movement of prices in which conccs-
sions are secured. Pig iron has risen
slightly on account of the short supply
| ana injury to furnaces. by storm. De
spite the present unparalleled demand,
prices are u per cent lower than during
the imitation of 1900, indicating the better
/ basis on which the market is now estab-
llshed. Although the leading metal il en-
Joying exceptionally satisfactory condi-
lions. 1t is very different with the minor
metals owing mainly to the fact that fio-
/ titious prices have been asked by the
leading producers. General reductions oc-
Cured during the past week, copper now
being quoted at 10, tin 21ha and lead &c.
The declines were heavy, but failed to
produce activity, buyers looking for still
better terms.
Footwear shops continue busy, large
producers rs a rule having good orders
for spring lines although smaller concerns
are not as fortunately situated. Firm
prices prevail, and specialties command
premiums. There is no accumulation of
leather and prices are firm, while no re-
action has followed the recent advance
in domestic hides, but foreign dry hides
are sustained with difficulty. In the tex
tile industry new lines of WOODEN goods
opened satisfactorily. Advances are paid
for certain lines of vorsteds In cotton
goods there is much business offered but
sellers are to accept large contracts for
future delivery while the raw material
market remains unsettled. Jobbing trade
is quiet but retail dealings are heavy.
Print cloths are unchanged for regulars
with narrow odds firmcr and cotton yarns
generally higher. Last weeks gains in
these lines are fully maintained.
In the grain market wheat has held
fairly steady at some reaction from last
week higher point and there Is still
much evidence OF a firm undcrtone Sc
we're weather stimulated the western
market for live stock feeding and also
interrupted receipts which are only 4,6Si,
$50 bushels against $40 in the preccd-
ing week and 4,SO2. 10 a year ago Hereto
fore this season these have been large
in comparison with the corresponding pc
Rod of 1900. Higher prices have at last
aliectod the export movement and instead
of the usual splendid gain over last year
there was an outgo Of only 36i6,s43 bush
els from the United States, flour, included
against 4,030,301. Corn is also well sus-
tanned Western receipts for the week
reaching only 2,5l9S5l bushels against D.,
S1l.SUj a year ago Atlantic exports of
Hl,24 bushels against 4,745,169 "A year ago,
indicate the foreign attitude toward cur
rent quotations. Cotton is little changed
at about two cents below the price of a
year ago.
Exports of merchandise scarcely fell
below the phenomenal movement in the
corresponding month of 1909 although con-
ditions were then favorable. Imports OF
the other hand were stimulated by heavy
purchases abroad of materials of manu-.
faCture.
Liabilities of commercial failures thus
far reported for December aggr gatc S..
; 199.62S, of which $1,999 $50 were in manufac-
turing and $25el, 32s in trading. Fam re
for the week numbered Do in the United
. States against 293 last year and z in cam
ada against IS last year