The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-02-01
TRADE REPORT.

TRADE REPORT.
New York;. G.. Dun & Co.'s Week
ly Review of Trade for last week is as
follows:
Rarely was more business in staple
and in manufactured goods at practi-
cally unchanged prices than during the
period since November l. Last week
seems to have marked the climax of the
enormous dealings at figures which
have become familiar. The heavy
trade in pig iron at better prices, the
larger distribution of dry goods at
a firmer range of quotations and the
rush to secure prompt delivery of boots
and shoes, all indicate that business
may have escaped one of these weary
readjustments of prices which have
proved often so trying in recent years.
Jobbing trade in the interior is good
and collections continue excellent.
After a week of quiet conditions,
partly due to uncertainty regarding
competition among leading interests,
the iron and steel industry has taken
another long stride forward. The fea-
ture was enormous buying Of pig at an
advance to $13.25 at Pittsburg. This
sudden activity in the raw material re-
moved fear that stocks might be &C
cumulating at furnaces and gave some
idea of the heavy contracts for finished
products taken by the mills. In some
directions there is less foreign inquiry
although an unusually heavy shipment
of billets went to Glasgow and exports
of rails have not ceased. Freight rates
to the seacoast are still considered ex
cessive by manufacturers and there IL
more inclination to push domestic bust
ness on this account. Arbitration Is
expected to prevent suspension of work
at the furnaces, where a strike wa:
threatened on February 1. Pooling Of
coke interests outside the Connellsvill'
region is being discussed but the quail
ity has always been inferior and sale
only effected at concessions.
Further development is seen in foot
wear and manufacturers are receiving
ample orders. Shipments from Boston
thus for amount to 335,432 case
against 9SO,963 in 1900. Leather ha
been irregular in demand, although pr
ces are steady. Hides at Chicago fiuC
tuated widely, with more grades sol
at concessions than advances.
1t is difficult to find encouraging fea
lures in the wool situation. Sales 70
the week at the chief eastern cite
were ], 200, 900 smaller than the precet
ing week, and in four weeks the aggr,
gate is only 13,275,700 pounds agains
21,504, 200 pounds last year. Not onl
is there an utter absence of speculativ
operations, but purchases by MANI
. facturers are restricted to require
ments for orders on hand. Domesti
quotations have not hardened in syn
pathy' with the better prices obtaine
at London, while few sales are r
4 ported at moderate concessions. Hope
for the future are based on indiffe
ence of dealers and growers to sell ;
current prices, but present heav
stocks will be augmented in fe
4 months by the new clip.
Staple products have moved With
narrow limits, little attention bein
given to varying estimates from Argel
\ tina or reports of damage in the mort
west through insufficient snow. De
pite the advance in prices over thos
prevailing year ago, exports of whea
including -four, from Atlantic ports fC
a the week, were 25OS,S1S bushe
against 1,644,149 last year.
Failures for the week were 306
the United States against 231 last yea
a and 46 in Canada against 3S last year