The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-07
DUN's TRADE REVIEW.
Scarcity of Cars is a Disturbing
 Factor in Traffic.


 New York Dec 6--R G. Dun & Go. 8 weekly review of trade will say tomor- | TOW:
 | Current trade is of ample dimensions but traffic congestion grows worse and | labor controversies add to the embar- | rassment of shippers. If Consgnments of fancy goods for the holiday trade are delayed much longer there will be se- riCus loss. Prices of commodities tend upward.
 Although nominal quotations of iron and steel are unchanged. figures refer | only to future deliveries and in most cases prices for current shipment de mand a considerable premium Since this | margin is influenced by local conditions at the various mills and furnaces. be- sides being further complicated hy scar | city of freight cars and strikes. it is al most impossible to arrive at fairly rep resentative price level. In general how ever, the tone is distinctly firmed with | especial scarcity of biilets and further ] importations, Steel rail mills are still aC- | cepting orders with their capacity en- gagged about to the end of next year. and l there is much concern regarding the fill ing of contracts. since the lack of fuel grows more alarming. Instead of pig iron production showing another new high rec ord December l. as was indicated by the urgency of demand. it now appears prob able that a loss will be officially an- nounced because coke was not available Instead of furnace stocks being entirely eliminated an increaSc may be recorded
 
 move supplies. Merchant steel mills have orders for months ahead. reasonable decrease has occurred in the movement of pipe. while independent mills have furnished sufficient competition in sheets and wire nails to bring slightly lower prices. he corner In .in collapsed, prices failing about cents in a few days, and silver declined to the lowest point since September, 1897.
 Activity and strength are conspicuous in the markets for domestic wool. Coates Brothers circular. makes tho average of one hundred grades l7.51 cents. which Is the best price recorded since May. Con sessions are not secured by purchasers but OF the other hand holders grow more sales at Boston. there is steady buying and stocks dU not accumulate although arrivals are liberal. Makers of heavy weight woolens received good duplicate orders while contracts for spring lines como forward freely
 Cotton goods are in better request but mills delay new undertakings because of the sIdden rise in raw material and if 1t is sustained there will probably be n new price list of prints. Coarse colored cottons are selling well. largely for ex- port
 Footwear factories are busy on spring goods. many having contracts for some months full occupation. Chicago hides show further decline, but imported dry hides are well sustained
 Staple products continue advancing corn making a most sensational gain Extraordinarily high prices for this cc real tempted many traders to soll future contracts in expectation of sharp re- action but further violent rise to thu, highest price for many years compelled covering at severe losses This grain is not governed by precedent the smalles. exports for many years failing to pro aucP any effect. Shipments from Allan :ic ports for tn" week reached the low est point since 1891 amounting to only 21S.2l5 bushels
 Wheat was sharply advanced to inc best price of the season. largely through | sympathy with corn. for which if wss | freely substituted. Poor weather for tbe new crop winter wheat and liberal mil ing demands were also strengthening fac | tors, besides exports from all ports of | the nited States amounting to 4.sl5. 752 | bushels for the week against 3.265.2ll a |