Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-22
THE STATE OF TRADE
Comment by Dun's Review on the
Business Of the Week.
IRON AND STEEL IN DEMAND
orders That Have b, en- Held BACK
For Months Are Coming Forward.
Some Lines of Trade Need
Cold Weather stimulus,

New York, Nov. OR, G.. Dun 4
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
voluntary increases in wages b,
some or the largest railway system
IN the country bear eloquent testimon,
to the amount of busitess handled il
the past and emphasize the confidenc,
or officials in continued heavy traffic
Moreover, by this addition of lary,
sums to the purchasing power of rail
way employees there is assurance o.
larger demand for all staple lines o.
merchandise. Temporarily, sales o.
seasonable lines Of wearing apparel ar,
retarded by mild weather, but thi.
loss will be fully made up when low
temperature becomes general. Prepare
tons for holiday trade are ON an un
precedented scale. especially at interior
points. There Is no relief to the con
gestion of railway traffic, nor any
Immediate prospect of free movemen,
at the points of most serious blockade
Orders are now coming forward fol
iron and steel products that have beer
held back many months in expecta
ton of an easier market. Instead Of
making concessions, however, pro
ducers ask premiums for early delivery
and hesitate to accept contracts where
material and fuel are not in sight. Nc
relief is reported as to the movement
of coke, nor is any anticipated for some
time to come; in fact. one authority
suggests that the situation will not be
normal before April. 1t ia to be hoped
that this is all extreme statement, as
many plants would be rendered idle
during part of the winter. and con.
sumers seriously Inconvenience.
Imports to the Rescue.
Imports relieve some departments of
the metal industry. Plans for con.
structive work are now increasing, and
a very large tonnage of structural ma.
terial will be. required. AS the present
congestion is due to inadequate facil
ties the most importvnate inquiry il
for railway equipment Activity is
notable at works making agricultural
implements, bolts and kindred lines
Recent reductions in prices of few
of the lighter forms stimulated deal
ings to fair degree. Silver bullion
declined to the lowest price OH record
and copper and tin also receded from
former quotations. London was con
spicuous factor in these changes.
, Heavy lines of dry goods land foot
wear need the stimulus of cold wealth
er. A fairly steady demand 10 reported
for staple cotton goods. but buyers are
taking only for immediate require
ments. Current unsold production is
thus absorbed, and the absence Of &C
cumulations prevents any weakness IN
prices for early deliveries Weakness
in the raw material gave an easier tone
to forward shipments, yet the margin
between spot and distant deliveries is
exceedingly narrow, while the m0der
ate recovery in raw cotton quickly
steadied the market for goods. Little
is being done in heavy brown cottons
for export.
Spring shoes In Demand.
Orders for spring shoes are coming
forward freely. and there is supple
mentary buying of winter goods on
moderate scale. Inventories are still
being taken. and cutting spring goods
will not commence until next month
Retailers have much money tied up in
rubber goods. for which there has beer
little demand. Both sole and upper
leather are quiet, yet quotations are
steady, and betting butts are firmer
Foreign buying Of hemlOck sole Is some
what restricted. No concessions ar;
obtained on hides except where new
offerings are of inferior quality.
A day of thanksgiving for abundan
harvests is especially opportune. Crops
have largely surpassed all records, and
despite the rapid growth Of domestic
requirements there will be liberal
surplus for export. Producers are ad,
ditionally fortunate i'm the certainty OF
profitable prices, which has not usually
been the case In years of heavy pro,
duction. During the past week receipts
Of wheat at western markets amount.
ed to 8O15,O71 bushels compared with
7.481,529 bushels year ago, while ex'
ports from all ports aggregated 1852.
1915 bushels against 5.04O,4 Alt bushels
wear ago and 2,606, ITO in 1900. Corr.
ia also coming into sight more freely,
receipts for the week amounting to
26O9, $3.50 bushels against 2,272, 948 last
wear. but stocks are low and prices
fully maintained.
Failures for the week numbered Zoe
in the United States against 21S last
wear and "a in Canada compared with
81 a year ago.