The age-herald., 1901-02-16
WEEKLY REVIEW
 OF GENERAL TRADE Business in All Parts of Coun-
 try is of Good Volume LITTLE CHANCE IN PRICES Purchasers Find Difficulty in Securing Even Approximate Dates for De- livery of Goods in Many Iron
 and Steel Products.
LITTLE CHANCE IN PRICES

New York, February 15.-R. G. Dun & Co., In It's weekly review of trade, will say tomorrow:
 Business continues of good volume in nearly all parts of the country and re- ports from the West and Southwest of & satisfactory distribution of merchan- disc by 1obbers begin to have a familiar sound. Heavy orders come from agents on the road. There Is no important cnanse in prices in any department of manufactured goods. Some staples de- ciined, but the longer the situation re- mains as at present, the surer the busi- ness world feels about rise in prices in the future demand for merchandise while prompt consumption does not decrease.
 Purchasers find difficulty in securing even approximate dates for delivery of goods in many iron and steel products and mills are so far behind orders as a rule that no nsw contracts are sought structural material and railway supplies are in greatest request, numerous heavy orders being accepted this week at full prices. There Is no inclination to shade quotations of finished forms and pig iron
 
 No sign of weakness Is apparent in any department of the boot and shoe indus try. Some manufacturers have booked orders that will insure running on full time well into May, and it is an excep- ticnal case where buyers can secure March delivery, even from the smaller shops. Statesmen are returning from the West and South with most cheerful re- ports, and while local jobbing Is less brisk than last week, there Is no com plnint. Forwardings from Boston were S7.4s7 cases against ss,255 in the previous week, and for two weeks Is 1s5, ,068 cases, The movement in 1900 shows a contrast likewise of depression in the correspond ing fortnight of any other year.
 News regarding the textile manufacture Is less encouraging despite the fact that sales of wool at the three chief eastern markets rose to 6,972,600 pounds, far ex- ceeding all recent records, and showing a gain of 960, 900 pounds over the same week last year. It was at this time in 1900 that the movement commenced to fall off and the depression began which has continued ever since. Cotton fabrics continue quite dilu uOlneStlC HILLS dTe HOl luliy OcCu- pied. Liverpool cables have given no support, while Manchester Is securing raw cotton from India In unusual large quantities. These Influences caused a further decline in middling uplands, talk ing the price to the lowest point in thir- ty-ave months. Exports in January were valued at sS5. ,9S4 against $27,oS9, ,261 in 1900 but the increase was entirely due to an advance of 2.2c a pound in the price, as the quantity was 1S42 bales smaller. Wheat was advanced this week by reports of receipts at the mills unfit for grinding. Flour output at Minneapo- lis is much smaller than year ago, and further decrease is expected.
 Atlantic exports of wheat, including flour, for the week were 2,478,521 bushels against 1,529,533 last year.
 Failures for the week number 257 in the United States against 21S last year, and in Canada 40 against 42 last year.