The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-25
WEEKLYTRADE REVIEW
TENDENCY OF
 PRICES NOT CHECKED.
Manufacturing Plants Become More Busily Engaged Despite This
 Feature-Retau Trade is of Immense Volume.

New York, Jan. AR. G. Dun & Co. s say:
 Conditions of the preceding week were accentuated as a rule. active manufac- turing plants becoming still more busily engaged. while the downward tendency or prices was not checked. Retail trade is of immense volume and jobbers have immense spring orders to fill. Western cities send the most satisfactory returns but nearly all sections are enjoying wholesome activity. even the South show ing evidence of improvement.
 Conditions in the iron and steel indus try are shown by record breaking pro- ductfon at many plants and rapid in- crease of facilities at others. When or ders for rails cannot be taken because ter Of the year. it would seem that new figures of output were assured for 1902. Structural mills are equally well occu- pied Plates and sheets are available more promptly owing to enlarged capac- fty of mills. Despite the pressure for
 nearly all steel products in pig iron there Is no tendency to force quotations, but rather stubborn resistance to ev- cry upward movement. This feature of the market is watched most intently, as the abnormal activity would lose it's chief value as an indication of prosper ity if business were stimulated by ex- cessive prices. Incidentally. foreign com petition would also be invited and mills abroad are in position to take full ad- vantage Of any such opportunity. Tex tile markets are quiet. although reports except at some Southern points. Cotton mills are busy as a rule. but uncertainty as to the future of the raw material tends to unsettle prices. Specialties have been put on the market wit ha fair de- gree of success. Heavy goods for China are in better inquiry. although the views or sellers are still above prices offered. Home buying of fine yarn goods in.
 pStV nfn be. ,a1f cents and scarce for near delivery. Wool en mills are working over time and have much business in sight. More linens opened at slightly lower figures than a year ago. which was natural in view Of the difference in the cost of raw mate rial. Raw wool is strengthened by the higher prices secured at the London sale.
 Footwear holds firmly to the advance reported last week with only moderate volume of business. Sole leather is firm with stocks low. but some other varieties are slightly easier.
 Betting butts and harness leather have declined fully a cent. Upper leather is fairly steady. concessions being chiefly to move large lots. Export sales of hem lock to England are liberal. Hides are st-Il declining, especially for imported goods.
 Hesitation is general in the markets for staple products. There is no longer the reckless buoyancy conspicuous a short time ago, Disaster to one promi- nent operator had a calming influence and in the case of corn the Insignificant cannot well entirely be ignored. From Atlantic ports for the week the was but 352, 450 bushels. against S.+72,6l4 2 year ago. Foreign buying of wheat, four included, is much more lib- eral. all ports of the United States send ing out APO. .005 bushels during the past week, compared with 4,0SS, ,SS1 bushels a year ago. Meats have weakened, espe- cially lard and dairy products are also less inflated.
 Raw sugar stiffened owing to restrict ed arrivals which are natural since Cu- ban holders await favorable tariff ar and bounty discussion af fects conditions in Europe. Cotton is not receiving the support anticipated, re- ports of exhausted stocks on plantations being refuted by unliminished receipts.
 Failures for the week numbered 301 in the United States against 306 last year and in Canada 2s against 46 last year.