The age-herald., 1901-01-12
WEEKLY REVIEWS
 OF GENERAL TRADE Iron and Steel Prices Are Held
 Without Trouble ORDERS FOR RAIL WAY CARS Plate and Sheet Mills Have Large Bus mess, and Mercnants' Steel is in
 Brisk Demand - Competi-
 tion is Very Keen.

New York, January Il. = R. G. Dun 6 Co.'S weekly review of trade will say to- morrow:
 Only in the textile industry is special hesitation shown All products are firm. iron and steel prices are held without any trouble, boots and shoes and woolen fab rics are steady and all in fair demand so that manufacturers are busy. In textiles, however, the improvement which seemed to be promised with the new year is still delayd, and in cotton goods stocks are growing in some quarters, though still not progressively heavy anywhere. Throughout the country distribution of merchandise continues on good scale and collections are unusually prompt.
 Construction of bridges and buildings, to- gether with contemplated track elevation, crowds the capacity of all concerns mak- ing structural shapes of iron and steel. Orders for locomotives, cars. rails and all forms of railway equipment are also abundant, and there is no sign of reaction in the industry Plate and sheet mills have large business and merchants steel is in brisk demand Competition is keen, how ever, and increased operations fail to af- rect pTlCeS. NeW SCHtuuiSo dlO PiOiiiioS iii the near future and lower freight rates are anticipated. Stocks increased little in December and there is fear of accumu- lation, and quotations at Pittsburg and Philadelphia have declined during the past week.
 Investment of Wall street capital was rumored as supporting cotton and wheat, but the effect was not permanent. Cotton advanced temporarily only to react when Liverpool cables failed to respond. Traders express widely divergent opinions as to the size of the current crop and its sufficiency. Meanwhile port receipts continue to large ly exceed last years figures at prices 30 per cent higher. Wheat was agitated by reports of a corner in the May option and for a time exhibited strength A sharp re- action followed, holders parting readily with their contracts. Despite the advance of about 10 per cent over the price year ago, the Atlantic exports show an increase to 3,255, ,053 bushels, flour included against 2,315,5SS In 1900 Even more remarkable is the comparison as to corn, of which ship ments abroad amounted to 4,543,149 bushels, against 3,40S, 793 last year, while the quota ton is nearly 15 per cent higher Wet weather is nterrupting the movement from the farms and there is still much complaint of low grading at Chicago.
 Wool has ceased to decline and sales at the three chief, estern markets increased slightly to 3,30S7 700 pounds against 3,121, 900 in the week. A year ago sales were in creased remarkably for that season at D. 900 pounds. Manufacturers purchase with extreme caution and domestic feeces suffered by increased competition of chief wool from Australia and China.
 Makers of boots and shoes insist on full prices and as result shipments from Bos- ton have declined 5,450 cases for the week. Jobbers in this cicinity doing well and wholesalers orders are urgent. Sales of leather increase with the leather sole fairly held although concessions are made in up- per stock. While the hide market at Chi cago is unchanged the tone is irregular
 Failures for the week were 34 in the United States against 274 last year, and 37 in Canada against 25 last year.