The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-11-14
TRADE CONDITIONS.
situation shows Few Points of Weak
ness Lack of transportation
Facilities "A Handicap.

New York, Nov. 9-Bradstreet's says:
tThe trade situation presents many points
az strength and few Of weakness. CoIuer
weather throughout the country has sum
ulated retail trade in heavy clothing. SHOES
groceries and rubber goods and TINS mas
Already been reflected in an improved re-
order demand from western and southern
iobhers. Collections, too, are more satls-
factory. Country merchants are reported
IN good financial shape, and one result OF
this Is found In the rather better supply
and easier tone Of money Hololng OF COZ"
ton is reported from the south, TINS oelhs
aided by the strength of the business com
nunity generally. Higher prices have been
made for cereals. Bradstreets ngures OF
the worlds visible supply favor the pears
but little, foreign cables are better, ana
export demand has been improved botn tor
wheat and corn the strength Of these being
shared in by -four, the production OF whlch
at Minneapolis and other centers Is very
heavy. and by oats. The price situation is
one Of steadiness, though some hesitation
was shown during October. While nearly
all industries are active, special strength
and activity has been displayed in iron ana
steel Production as yet seems TO be run
ming behind consumption. The shortage OF
cars Is an additional obstructive feature
lust at present, and the effect upon the
coke trade has been so marked as TO cause
Pittsburg district. Pig iron is in good de-
rnand east and west. Railway material IS
very active at Chicago. and 5000 tons Oh
steel rails have been ordered by western
roads this week"
r. G. Dun G. Co, in their Weekly Review
Of Trade, say: Little relief has been at
forded the leading manufacturing Industry
IN the matter of transporting facilities. In
fact the situation on the whole is less sat-
isfactory since inability 60 secure coke has
brought about the banking Of some fur
naces This, in turn, tends to harden the
market for pig iron, though no actual al
iteration in prices has occurred, except at
Philadelphia, where % cents more ton IS
readily paid AS this industry Is cOnsld-
cred the best business barometer, present
conditions and future prospects are GER
tainly most encouraging, for orders are
abundant and plants charging capacity In
order to handle the growing business. Ma
terial Is purchased now for much struc-
tural work in the spring, and additional
contracts are seeking acceptance. Railway
needs were never as pressing. every form
Of equipment being sought, and 1t Is posi-
BILE that more orders will be placed abroad.
Labor troubles and low water have added
TO the difficulty arising from car shortage,
making three retarding influences affecting
the output Of coal Just when the export de-
mand has become factor OF Importance.
weather conditions were the chief fac
tors In determining price changes Of
staple products. Low temperature in grain
growing states brought higher level Of
quotations, corn rising q cents above tho
figure ruling at the corresponding date last
year, and 20 cents over 1899 These ad-
vVances Of more than % per cent. are far in
szeass OF the ratio Of loss in production aud
establishes a fictitious price level which
curtaRed Atlantic exports to 642,l42 bush
els for the week, against 2,520.17O bushels
last year and g. 45S.14 two years ago. On
the other hand, wheat is moving out free
ly at both coasts, shipments from the Unit
ed States for the week amounting to $751;
472 bushels, against 3,210l64 bushels in the
same week Of 1900, and 3927, 203 in 1899.
Failures for the week numbered 243 in
the United States. against Dl last year, and
50 in Canada, against Is last year"