The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-23
TRADE VERY LIVELY
Brisk Business Springing Up
All Over the Country.
WORKING OFF STOCKS
Very Little Local Complaint
Has Been Heard.

New York. Feb. Pr c. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review Of trade VIII say: BUsi-
ness in the east and particularly along
the North Atlantic coast has been catch
ing up with the rest Of the country lit
tie this week SO that, in the few lines
where complaint has been heard locally Of
lats thu tone Is better. This comes from
The working or OF retail stocks which
owners feared would haya TO be carried
over untA next season. II builders hard
ware the buying has been notably better
and the distribution in the grocery JOB
bing trdae has been given considerable
stimulus Even the laggaTd dry goods
market has shown a good measure Of in
provement: though in cotton goods there
is still much 70 be desired, for the large
buying has not brought any Improvement
in general tone, and in some directions
the market IS slower than a week ago
From the interior advices are almost uni
formly favorable, with a very heavy
movement Of general merchandise and
farm implements over the northwestern
railroads. Activity grows more pro
nounced in wool. sales ar the three chief
eastern markets aggregating s.52S.5o
pounds for the last week, against s,927, 100
in the previous week, and 2,ssS,4 100 2 month
ago Although transactions are heavier
than at any time in over a year, the stu
alton Is far from satisfactory and each
week brings a lower Level Of prices.
There is little evidence Of q better de-
mand for goods and while some holders
Of wool are sacrificing stocks in order 70
make room for the new clip, the actual
supply is not materially decreasing. Pur-
chasers are larger because Of the feeling
that prices must be near the bottom and
this impression is deepaned by statements
that the average IS now down 10 the
point from which the great advance be-
gan IN 1899. It IS not down to that point
by more than half a cent, however, al
though a few grades are nearer the price
on May /, 1899. than the general average.
Unless manufacturers receive large orders
and reduce excessive stocks before sup
plies are augmented by another clip. it IS
difficult to see why prices should sd
vance. even If the yare at the level Of two
years ago.
The other large textile Industry IS in
not much better condition.
Instead Of being able to advance prices
of cotton goods IN proportion to the high
quotations recently made for raw cotton,
the mills are meeting with light demand
and even at the reductin to cents for
print cloths there is no activity.
Many mills have already restricted
operations and more will stop spindles on
March /. When the raw material was ad-
vanced OF the highest price in ten years
It could not defy the law Of supply, de-
mand and prices, which ultimately re-
stored an equilibrium. on Tuesday. a de-
cline Of S1S75 a bale from the top poiat
had occurred, making it possible for man
ufacture at a profit. but this does not
help mills which have goods on hand
made from cotton purchased before the
fan Of the lowest price in eight months.
Foot wear is firmly held at unchanged
prices, with good buying Of spring Ines
in the Boston market Western trade IS
less active and some orders have been
couutermanded. Leather IS firm 10
dmunition appears In the movement q
iron and steel products Mills are rUsheI
with orders and new contracts are taken
at full prices Pig iron IS freely bought
ard prices tend upward.
BiUets and other partially maaufactur-
"a forms are frmer, and finished goods
would command high prices if lmmedi-
ate delivery could be secured. Structural
shapes are stiu a feature. with large
operations pending IN bridges and track
elections. Coke ovens are added TO the
active list making the output much
heavier than at any recent date. Lum-
Der and materials are in good demand.
owing 10 extensive preparations for spring
building. and at Buffalo there is special
activity on account Of hotels and other
work in Connection with the exposition.
Grain markets are devoid Of wide fuc.ua-
tons. although many reports are circu-
lated regarding the condition Of winter
wheat It is too early TO secure definite
Information an dtra6ers are not inhu-
enced by rumors. News from india and
Australia indicates larger crop than
lsat years
Failures for the weak were % n the
United States, against 20i last year and
g in Canada, against g last year.
MCo4G AND DRAMA.