The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-30
Affords StimuIouS to Various De-
partments Of Trade Which
Were Already in Extremely
Good Condition
SHORTAGE IN FREIGHT
CARS CONTINUES
Strikes by SWitChmen Have Help
ed to Block Transportation
SomeWhat-SituatiOn in Wool
en- Goods is One of Best in
Years

New York, Nov. 29.-Bradstreet to-
morrow will say:
The advent of more seasonable wea-
Their has given the apparently only
needed stimulus to trade in the North,
East and in portions Of the South.
From now on retail rather than whole
sale demand will attract the most at
tention. Colder weather and snow,
would, however, benefit northwestern
trade and industry, though the open
weather prevailing has enabled more
than ordinarily complete farming pre-
parations and extended building activ-
ity.
Accompanying the improvement in
the tone of trade there has been a
broadening and deepening in specula-
ton in leading food staples and, all in
ALL there is rather more cheerful feel
ing prevailing. The great basic con-
ditions of wholesale trade industry
show no particular change, though in
iron and steel the situation is appar-
emily further Strengthening the posi-
ton Of producers. The car shortage
has not improved perceptibly, and has
in fact, been aggravated by switch
mems strikes at several points. There
is rather calmer view taken of re-
cent events in the cotton goods trade,
while the wooden goods situation is as
strong as ever. The only unfavorable
feature noted is the continuance of the
drought in Kansas and Missouri, the
effect of which upon the winter wheat
crop is not yet definite.
Trade at the South still notes the
dulling effect Of the smaller than-ex-
pected cotton crop, and the lower pric-
es obtained as compared with last
year.
No sign of the usual seasonable uuf-
citing down in the demand for iron
and steel is apparent and buyers are
as eager as ever to obtain supplies
In finished products. bars, sheets and
structural material are all active and
there has even been an Improvement
in plates. Light and heavy hardware
is active, and the supply Of tin has
been practically cornered, with the re-
suit that prices are five cents per
pound higher on the week.
Less is naturally doing in the whole
sale distribution of dry goods, but the
reassorttng demand is reported of good
volume. Sales for next spring are not
as heavy as expected. At the East
business in print cloths is slow and
there is less doing in brown cottons
for exports but these goods are re-
ported largely sold ahead to March
The furry in prints is over. No bust
ness in printed goods for future deliv-
cry can be placed at the recent cut
rates. In wooden goods the situation
Is one Of the best for years. Dress
woolens are steady, hannels are active
and heavy oVercoatings are in excep-
tional demand. Indeed, many mills
are starting on reassorting orders for
the goods at advanced prices. The
1901 wool clip will be five per cent larg-
er than last year, and supplies are
heavier than a year ago, but demand
on the other hand, is also better. East
ern shoe manufacturers are asking and
getting two, to two and one half cents
advance price over that of two months
ago. -f.-..-.
Leather IS still firm at the late adj
vance, and betting leather is 20 per
cent higher at Philadelphia. Eastern
shoe shipments are very large, those
for the week being 20 per cent heavier
than the corresponding week last year.
Business failures for the week num-
Der 1879. as against 223 last week and
1S4 in the same week last year.