The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-16
TRADE ACTIVITY KEEPS Up.
BUSINESS BOOMING IN EVERYTHING
EXCEPT COTTON AND WOOL
MARKETS
HIGH PRICES PAID FOR STEEL


NEW YORK, March 15.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review Of trade tomorrow
will say:
Improving wheat crop reports, a pig
iron production seldom exceeded, strong
cash prices for all iron and steel pro-
ducts that can be delivered heavy gram
exports at good prices, activity in minor
industries and a money market that i'm
poses no hardship upon business COM
prise the bright side of the picture OF
the week. Threatened labor troubles
seem more remote Textile markets.
long backward, have again failed to re-
spond to the general confidence in COM
mercial circles. A slight recovery in
cotton was not held and the goods mar
ket shows decline in a month from
SIC to 51zc in standard brown sheetings.
22c to 21c in wide sheetings, 5s4c to size
in brown drills, and 512c to 5Hc for
staple ginghams.
Steel mills are still much behind their
orders and contracts for Bessemer pig
for July delivery indicate that the activ-
1ty is not considered temporary. Yet the
wide difference in quotations between
immediate and distant dates suggests
some fear that present high prices can
not be maintained. While the various
pools and associations are extremely
conservative about advancing nominal
be transacted at premiums which vary
according to the urgency of purchasers
Structural material is still a feature
and the rapid development OF newly dis
covered oil fields is creating an unusual
demand for plates, pipes and drilling
machinery. Steel rail contracts have
been increased and railways need rolling
stock. Fig iron production according to
the Iron Age has increased to 292, 29Y
I1ioI7 ohA
below the high record of Feb 1, 1900 1t
is surprising to find, despite an output
at the rate of over 15,000,060 tons an
nually, that furnace stocks decreased
21,326 tons during February, making the
total 535, 443 tons on March l, against CO.
531 tons five months ago.
Boot and shoe shops are well occupied,
Eastern factories having their full ca
pacity engaged in some cases up to Sept
have contracts for some months
Leather is active and we'll sustained,
especially for henlock sole.
Slight improvements in special lines of
textiles are occasionally noticed, but
prices are maintained with difficulty.
Print cloths were reduced another eighth
and FAN River mills are preparing to
curtail production. Heavy brown cot
tons have been depressed and reduced
output is probable in this department.
Aside from little better recorder bust
ness in light weights reports are not of
an encouraging nature from the wooden
mills. Further declines are reported in
wool, making material fall since the
month opened. At the ,last concession
Boston holders exhibit an inclination to
refuse bids and there is more Indication
Of steadiness than previously this
season.
After the long continued season Of
sagging prices for cotton, the market
seemed ready for reaction and Mr..
Neills circular was issued at what
seemed to be a propitious moment. BuL
it fell fiat in this country and the tritling
response at Liverpool was brief
Predictions of visible supply of only