The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
LARGE HOLIDAY TRADE
PAST WEEK A RECORD BREAKER
 IN MANY RESPECTS.
Burst of Activity in Steel and Iron. Car Shortage Prevents Further
 Expansion of the Metal Market

New York, Dec. 27.-Bradstreet's will say tomorrow:
 Reports of a record breaking holiday trade, of seasonable quiet in leading wholesale lines, of exceptional activity at top prices in iron and steel of sustained activity in other industries, continued complaint of car and motive power short ages, and general hardening of specu- lative markets for food products, are the features of trade advices to Bradstree+s this week.
 Specially good reports as to holiday distribution come from the East. Central West, Northwest and Southwest. Advices from some parts of the South are tenn pered with pessimism born of the un- satisfactory yields of cotton in some di- reotions.
 Chicago jobbing business is the best or record and 10 per cent. larger than movement are good from there and oth- CT packing centers.
 The year closes with a burst of activ- ity in iron and steel Pig iron sales for the week have never been equalled at this season. and lack of adequate trans portation facilities alone is a bar to a still greater volume of distribution. The outlook is for production of l6Ooo,oVO tons of pig iron. of 30000,0O0 tons of ore and of 100000 tons of steel in 1901: Prices have advanced of late and $1575 to $16 is freely paid at valley furnaces for Bessemer deliveries in the first quar-
 
 the mills are crowded with business. Wire rods have advanced $1 per ton. In the coke trade, supplies are pfling up near the ovens but furnaces are shutting down owing to the lack of cars.
 Wheat apparently cut loose from corn this week and displayed exceptional ac- tivity and strength for holiday week. The winter wheat markets took the leao in this respect buying being specially good at St. Louis. Reports of lack of snow over the winter crop have been received, but report of a smaller surplus in argentina better cables, light receipts West ana Northwest, and smaller gains in the vis- ible supply have all been features. Ex- port business has rather been checked by the rise. Corn has been dull, though steadied by wheat, while oats nave nrmed up a little. Provisions have shown more strength and cheese has been helped also
 Wheat including flour, exports for the week aggregate 4,z91,543 bushels. as against 4332. .S32 last week and 3,S6"' l6o in this week last year. Wheat exports July 1 to date (twenty-six weeks). az gregate IA BPS, ,O90 bushels as against g., 95a "A last season. Corn exports aggre- gate 424,336 bushels as against 33o,9i1 last week and 4,O11, 105 last year. July to date, corn exports are 70. 5oO.5l5 bushels, against g. 17S.3H last season.
 New business in shoes and leather is naturally small. but shipments are enor- nous. Hides are strong and leather IS also. the outlook being for higher prices TOT SnOeS.
 The cut in refined sugar of 1O025 points is really a reflection of the reduction in raw quotations. though talk of the war" continues.
 Coffee is stronger and in better de- mand.
 Quiet is the main feature in the whole sale dry goods trade. Cotton goods for future delivery are strong in sympathy with raw cotton which has strengthened on good buying in face of liberal crop movement Wool Is strong and tends higher. Receipts of wool at Boston for inc wear were 40 per cent. larger than a year ago, but stocks are no heavier at the close than at the beginning. Supplies in the country are smaller also. Woolen goods are firm, with mems wear goods in excellCmt shape.
 Dusiness failures for the week mum Der 219, as against 262 last week. 2l3 in this week last year, 22O in lSSs, Ze m 1S9S and H97 in 1897. Canadian failures number Is. as against A last week, b in this week year ago and p in 1899.