The age-herald., 1901-02-09
WEEKLY REVIEWS
 OF GENERAL TRADE Prices of Staple Products Show
 But Moderate Decline STEEL IS IN GREAT DEMAND BilIets Cannot be Secured at the Pool Price-lmpossible to Get Prompt
 Delivery of Any Finished
 Steel at Pittsburg.
STEEL IS IN GREAT DEMAND

New York; February S.-R. G. Dun x Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say
 More seasonable weather in the East has brought up the volume of business In retail lines a little this week and at the West and South distribution of merchandise is on a satisfactory scale. Prices of staple pro- ducts show but moderate decline and quo tations on manufactured goods are steady in all directions. Pressure to sell is every where conspicuously absent. Jobbers re- port good odds for spring goods, particular ly for the western trade and the only com plaint still comes from the wooden goods market in the East which has not yet felt the expected stimulus. In this line, how ever prices do not decline and agents ex- pect better conditions.
 Steel billets cannot be secured at the pool price Structural forms are also in notably brisk demand and it is impossible to secure prompt delivery of any finished steel at Pittsburg. Chicago markers also have orders far ahead and at all leading points the placing of new business is limit ed to small contracts. Bessemer pig is firmer at the recent advance to $13.50, al though no large sales are reported Cut nails have followed the lead of wire nails advancing $2 per ton, while many other forms are expected to be put on higher level when producers meet.
 Activity continues in foot wear, jobbers placing large contracts at well sustained prices No alterations are reported in quo tations but there Is some evidence of slight reduction in quality, purchasers refusing 10 advance their figures and accepting some what lower grades instead. This appears to be practically equivelant to a rise in prices. The large number of buyers in the Boston market indicates that heavy con tracts will be placed, insuring busy shops for many months. Local jobbing and re- tail trade was helped by seasonable wealth CT, notably rubber footwear. Textile in- dustries do not revive appreciably, even the lower temperature failing to infuse life into woolens, aside from better retail deal ings.
 Manufacturers make small purchases of raw material, showing preference for the cheaper grades and even then insisting on small concessions. London auction opera tions became less satisfactory as the sale progressed Cotton goods are uniformly dull,with some labor controversies added to the other troubles at the mills. Another reduction in the average price of raw silk makes a loss of nearly g per pound since January 1, 1900.
 Spot cotton lost an eighth op Monday and another on Tuesday making the decline s12.50 bale within a week. After such a severe reaction to the lowest point since early in December 1t was not surprising that prices should steady. Figures of supply have been somewhat confusing; last week there was an increase, while in the same week of the past six years.
 This week. however, port receipts show a heavy loss compared with 1900. Planters are stdll holding back part of their crop at some points and active preparations for the new yield have been commenced.
 Wheat fell below S0o ample snow afford ing the desired protection in winter wheat states, while the chief support was a bet ter inquiry on foreign account, including moderate purchases for Spain. Atlantic ex- ports for the week. including flour, were 2,S74111 bushels, against 2,247 402 in the week preceding and 2,115,S75 year ago. Corn Is quiet, maintaining an advance of over 7c compared with the same date last year.
 Failures for the week were 269 in the United States against 245 last year, and S5 in Canada against S3 last year.