Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-26
DUN'S REVIEW OF TRADE.


Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade
Tomorrow will say:
| Rarely has there been more bust
ness in staples and in manufactured
! goods at practically unchanged prices
! than during the period since Novcm-
| Der l. This week seems to have mark
ed the climax of enormous dealings at
| figures which have become familiar.
| The heavy trade in pig iron at better
prices, the larger distribution of dry
goods at a firmer range of quotations
and the rush to secure prompt deliv-
cry Of boots and shoes, all indicate
that business may have escaped one
of those weary readjustments of prices
which have proved often so trying in
recent years. Jobbing trade in the
interior is good and collections con-
tinue excellent. Bank clearings at
New York gain ST. per cent over 1900
and 1.3 per cent over 1899 for the week,
while at leading cities outside of New
York, there is a gain of go per cent
over 1900 and 34 per cent over 1899.
| After week of quiet conditions,
partly due to uncertainty regarding
competition among leading interests,
| the iron and steel industry has taken
| another long stride forward. The fea-
ture was enormous buying of pig iron
| at an advance to s1325 at Pittsourg.
This sudden activity in the raw mater
ial removed fear that stocks might be
accommodating at furnaces and gave
some idea of the heavy contracts for
| finished products taken by the mills
| In some directions there is less foreign
| inquiry, although an unusually heavy
| shipment of billets went to Glasgow
and exports of rails have not ceased.
| Freight rates to the seacoast are still
| considered excessive by manufacturers
and there is more inclination to push
| domestic business on this account.
| Arbitration is expected to prevent sus-
| pension of work at the furnaces, where
a strike was threatened on February
| list. Pooling of coke interests outside
the Connellsville region is being dis
cussed but the quality has always been
inferior and sales only affected at con-
| ceSsions
Further improvement is seen in foot
wear and manufacturers are receiving
| ample orders. Shipments from Boston
for the year thus far amount to 1885,
422 cases, against 3S0,936 in 1900,
which is a much better showing than
in recent months Leather has been
irregular in demand, although prices
are steady. Hides at Chicago fiuctuat-
ed widely with more grades sold at
concessions than advances.
1t is difficult to find ENCOURAGING
features in the wool situation. Sales
| for the week at the chief eastern cities
were a million pounds smaller than in
| the preceding week, and in four weeks
the aggregate is only 13, 275, 100 pounds
against q ,504700 last year. Not only
| is there an utter absence of specula-
tive operations, but purchases by man
ufacturers are restricted TO require
ments for orders on hand. Domestic
quotations have not hardened in sym
pathy with the better prices obtained
at London, while a few sales are re-
/ ported at moderate concessions. Hopes
| for the future are based on Indifference
of dealers and growers to sell at cur
rent prices. but present heavy stocks
will be augmented in a few months by
the new clip. Dizziness in the wooden
goods in the difficulty, and while the
manufacture is depressed there is lit
tie encouragement for the raw mate
rial.
! Staple products have moved within
narrow limits, little attention being
given to widely varying estimates from
| Argentina or reports of damage in the
northwest through insufficient snow.
/ Despite the advance in prices over
those prevailing a year ago, exports
of wheat. including -four, from Allan
tic ports for the week were 2.568,Si8
bushels. against 1.644, 194 last year. and
of corn 3,4T2,614 bushels against g.
097 607 in 1900. Western receipts of
/ corn were heavy. amounting 10 4.315,-
$50 bushels. against 2,911 ,035 last year,
but there is complaint OF poor quality.
Cotton maintained the advance above
/ ten cents but port receipts did not fall
of as predicted, and final returns OF
| British exports of yarn in 1900 proving
/ to be 80 per cent smaller than in 1889.
while Of cloth the reduction amounted
to 100000 900 yards.
| Failures for the week were 306 IN
the United States against z31 last year,
and 46 IN Canada against 38 last year