The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-02
SHORTAGE OF TRANSPORT
CAR DEFICIENCY A SERIOUS DETER
RENT TO BUSINESS.
Mild Weather Another Retardins Fac
tor, but the Aggregate Is, New
ertheIess, Enormous.
NEW YORK, Nov. 1.--R. G. Dun & Co s
weekly review of trade tomorrow will

NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-R. G.. Dun & Co. s
weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say:
Although the latest railway returns in
dictate that transporting facilities nave
greatly improved. the Nations business
has expanded more rapidly. Car shortage
has. in fact. become the chief retardlng
influence. From all parts of the country
and many lines of industry complaints are
heard regarding the inability to move
goods. Probably the delay has been most
asgravating in the case of coal, unseason-
ably high temperature alone preventing
serious inconvenience. Not only are DO
nestle requirements enormous. but coal is
becoming an important article OF export,
France and Great Britain and also to the
British export tax. Mild weather AFFECTS
retail distribution TO a very marked degree
orders for heavyweight goods being can
celed i'm some cases where manufacturers
were behind with deliveries. That the vol
ume of legitimate business is not being
curtaied, however, is evidenced by the gain
in bank exchanges at New York of "a per
cent over last year and 80 per cent over
the same week in 1899. At other leading
cities the increase Is equally StrlklnS-ZUl
per cent. over 1900 and 90 over 1893.
Not only are steel mills many months
behind orders and prompt deliveries COM
handing premiums, but even where goods
ready for customers it is often 1mpossi-
bic TO ship because of inadequate railway
facilities. Structural material is urgently
sought and mild weather prolOnSS the sea
son for buying pipe. Steel rail orders In
crease. and the fancy prices asked for bill
let's have brought imports from Germany,
where industrial depression makes 1t posi-
bic to sell at very low figures. Domestic
quotations do not alter. though list figures
are not considered on deliveries before the
new year and copper is artiicially sus-
taiTsed by closing mines.
Footwear manufacturers have made
general advance in prices, restoring the
figures OF early spring. 1t is obvious that
the average rise of PIP cents does not cover
the enhanced cost of material. yet new or
ders have been extremely light since the
charge. as jobbers are resisting the natural
tendency Textiles are well sustained
Wooden mills have ample orders and take
large quantities of raw material, holding
wool prices firm. Cotton goods are in brisk
request, with no evidence of excessive
stocks.
"Irregularity prevailed in the markets for
staples. Spectators secured a distinct de-
cline from the usually high position recent
~ attained 10y pork products. while at the
same time corn made a further advance.
Poor husking reports were held responsible
for the rise in the cereal. and there was
natural falling off in exports. Shipments
from Atlantic ports for the week were only
49S. 495 bushels. against 1.140O9 last week
and 3.S2S. 631 year ago. Interior receipts
also were light-2.217.l26 bushels. against
3 s3S 020 last year. Wheat came To market
more freely. arrivals at Western cities
amounting TO 7,060 790 bushels. against 6,1s2,