Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-07
GOOD WEEK FOR TRADE
Cold Weather Has Had Stimu-
lating Effect on the Re.
tail Business.
Holiday Trade Will Be Large and
Demand for Good Quail
ity Goods.
Switchmen's Strike at Pittsburs
Aggravates Car Shortaee--
Trade Reviews.

dS Iolls CodI, iuiIfUeL, lhS teAtiSS, JSNT
elry. boots and shoes, and the various
kindred and subsidiary branches, acttv-
ity has been Widespread. The rise in
food staples and metals is the basis for
the apparent resumption in the advance
in the general level of prices noted for
Nov. Iron and steel are stronger at the
highest prices of the year. Inability to
obtain supplies is complained Of all the
way from the furnace to the finished
product The switchmen's strike affects
Pittsburg and further aggravates the
car shortage. Some mills are closed for
want of steel and some furnaces for
want of fuel. Merchant furnaces are re-
ported running only half their capacity.
Steel is practically unobtainable for
prompt delivery. Wire nails alone are
weaker in price on competition. Plates
are stronger and structural mills are
crowded with orders. Bar steel is scarce
at Chicago Rail buyers are more nu-
merous, but sellers are Indifferent.
Foundries have booked orders months
ahead Orders for railroad cars are very
heavy. The original impetus for the
advance in wheat, the scarcity and high
prices for the coarser grains, has this
week been aided by the widening out OF
speculation, outside buying being
feature, aided by the smaller run OF re-
ceipts at the northwest. The highest
price paid for seventeen months has
been reached in the face of the largest
gain in stocks, both here and abroad
reported In any month for years past.
Wheat in the United States and Canada
Increased 81, 900 900 bushels in Novem-
Der, an increase of nearly five times the
gain shown a year ago. Corn and oats
are higher than at any time since 1891.
Hog products and provisions generally
are IN better speculative demand and
statistically the position has many
points OF strength. The dead level OF
the cotton market was sharply dis
turbe6 this week by the government es-
innate of $4,000 bales as the total
crop. This estimate, while. surprise
to the trade, inducing a net advance OF
Il cents In spots and 80 points in fu-
lures, was in keeping with the earlier
published government figures OF condi-
ton and yfel The strength in raw ma
terial has made the dry goods market
firrner The export branch is In gooo
shape, with many marks OF heavy cot
tons sold head to March. Wooden ma
chinery is buslly employed, worsted
manufacturers especially SO, and raw
wool is hardening. Wheat, including
-four, exports for the week aggregate
4.604,s46 bushels, against 5,11747s last
week and s, 432.159 in this week last
year. Wheat exports from July to-
date (twenty-three weeks), aggregate
132. 423,so6 bushels, against S0175,102 last
season Corn exports aggregate 362, S44
bushels, as against 630.968 bushels last
week and 5,371, 377 last year. From July
] to date, corn exports are 19,516,s31 bu-s
shells, against 7S.s4S.20s last season. Bus
mess failures for the week number 237.
as against 1S9 last week and 224 in this
week last year.
Dun's Review.
New York, Dec. 7.-R. G. Dun &
Company's Weekly Review of Trade
today says: Current trade is OF am
pie dimensions. but traffic congestion
grows worse, and labor controversies.
add to the s. embarrassment OF ship
pers. II consignments of fancy goods
for the holiday trade are delayed much
longer, there will be serious loss.
Prices OF commodities tend upward.
Altho nominal quotations of iron and
steel are urged, figures refer only to-
future delivery. and In most cases
prices for current shipment command
q considerable premium. Since this
margin Is influenced by local conditions
at the various mills and furnaces, be-
sides being further complicated by
scarcity OF freight cars and strikes. 1t
is almost impossible to arrive at a
fairly representative price level In
general, however, the tone Is distinctly
firmer, with especial real scarcity of
billets and further importations. Steel
rail mills are still accepting orders with
their capacity engaged about up to the
end of next year, and there is much
concern regarding the filling of con-.
tracts, since the lack of fuel grows
more alarming. Instead of pig iron
production showing another new high
record on December i, as was indi-
Gated by the urgency of demand, 1t now
appears probable that a loss will be
officially announced because coke was
not available. Instead of furnace
stocks being entirely eliminated, an
Increase may be recorded, since cars
could not be secured to remove sup
plies. Merchant steel mills have orders
for months ahead. A seasonable de-
crease has occurred in the movement
of pipe, while independent mills have
furnished sufficient competition In
sheets and wire nails to bring slightly
lower prices. The corner in tin col
lapsed, prices falling about cents in
a few days, and silver declined to the
lowest point since September, 1897,
Activity and strength are conspicuous
In the makets for domestic wool. Coal
& Bros. circular makes the average
Of 100 grades 17.b1 cents, which is the
best price recorded since May. Makers
Of heavyweight woolens received good
duplicate orders. while contracts for
spring lines came forward freely. Cot
ton goods are in better request, but
mills delay new undertakings because
OF the sudden rise In raw material.
Coarse colored cottons are selling well.
largely for export. Footwear factories
are busy on spring goods. many hav-
ing contracts for some months full
occupation Chicago hides show fur
Their decline, but imported dry hides are