The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-19
No FALLING OFT IN TRADE
BUSINESS IN ALL LINES CONTINUES
TO BE REPORTED
GOOD
PRICES ARE WELL KEPT UP
Iron and Steel Men Are Kept Busy,
and Show No Disposition
to Make Con-
cessiOns.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.-R. G. Dun &
Cos weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say: In most directions the condt-
ton of general business has improved
steadily this week. Prices of staple cot
ton commodities are steady, as are most
manufactured goods. Orders to manufac-
turers are sustained in volume, and
pronounced easy money in the interior is
still stimulating business as shown by
bank exchanges at leading. cities outside
New York: for the week, 14.26 per cent
larger than in 1900 and 17,8 per cent above
1899. At New York the record is a gain
of T.3 per cent over 1900 and 1913 per cent
over 1899. Retail trade has not declined
as much as usual since the holidays.
Textiles show more life: A small but
steady improvement in the demand has
appeared and in the cotton goods di
vision it is the more noteworthy because
of the weakness in the raw. material.
Sellers of both staple and fancy cottons
are able to maintain a position of in
dependence
THE IRON TRADE.
Steadiness is the chief characteristic
of the iron and steel industry. The past
week has brought no new developments
of striking Importance and quotations
are unchanged. There is a notable lack
of new contracts covering large opera
tons. but many small orders are placed
and mills are we'll occupied on old bust
ness that in most cases will take months
to complete, even if nothing further
offers On this account there Is no urg-
ency about securing orders and no con-
cessions are made by leading concerns.
Export inquiries are fewer, but manu-
facturers exhibit no concern on this
point. Work is so vigorously prosecuted
at the furnaces that demand for fuel in
creases and coke production in the Con-
nellsville region expands. Coal also moves
more freely at Pittsburg, delayed ship
ments being hurried forward with the
aid of high water There is still some
uncertainty regarding the proposed tubs
and sheet plants, and action by the Car
negie company Is awaited with interest
WOOL MARKET.
Another moderate increase occurred in
sales of wool at the three chief Eastern
markets. raising the total for three weeks
to 10,3S2,3O0 pounds. There is still a
heavy loss, compared with preceding
years, for in the same period last year
the total was 14920S 800 pounds, and
16, $500 two years ago; 22,322,270 in 1885,
and 10 1856, 200 in 1897. These figures give a
good idea of the present dullness in this
industry. Manufacturers stock are gen.
orally considered low, nevertheless they
buy only for immediate needs and con-
tinue to take mainly the cheaper grades
Results at the London auction sale were
more satisfactory than anticipated, buy
ers competing vigorously for the offer
ings, which were quite as heavy as eX-
pected. Prices We're from to ~ per
cent better than the previous sale, and
this moderate advance had some in
fuence on the tone here without affect
ing actual prices. The raw material for
I'D 7c+~ 1,ar
been in less satisfactory position, owing
to depression in the yarn market which
caused the associa ton to recommend re-
duction in output by one-haIf Large
estimates Of the cotton crop also assist
ed the decline.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
Boot and shoe shops are, as a rule,
we'll occupied, but it is noticed that bust
ness is unequally distributed. Statesmen
furnish moderate orders from the West
and South although the rapid growth of
manufacturing atzinterior points has eX-
erted perceptible influence on sales.
Sales of leather are of only moderate
volume and much below expectations of
holders, with no speculative operations
Supplies Of hemlock sole are still limited,
and scarcity of Unionbacks caused a
further advance in quotations.
FAILURES.
Failures for the week were 325 in the
United States, against 242 last year, ana
4S in Canada, against 40 last year.