The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-22
HEAVY TRAFFIC
DURING The WEEK
Dun and Bradstreet Make Opt
mistic Reports
LARGER DEMAND lNSTAPLES
There Is No Relief as to the conges-
ton Of Railroad Traffic Nor I'm
mediate Prospect of Free
Movement.
lARGERDEMANO lNSTAPLES

New York. November 21-R. G. Dunn
& Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say
Voluntary increases In wages by some
of the largest railroad systems in the
country bear eloquent testimony to the
amount of business handled in the past
and emphasize the confidence Of officials
In continued heavy traffic. Moreover,
by this addition of large sums to the
purchasing power of railway employees,
there is assurances of a larger demand
for all staple lines Of merchantable goods.
Temporarily, sales of seasonable lines OF
wearing apparels are retarded by mild
weather, but this loss will be fully made
up when low temperatures becomes gen.
eral. Preparations for holiday trade are
on an unprecedented scale, especially
at interior points There is no relief as to
the congestion of railroad traffic, nor any
immediate prospects of free movements
at the points of most serious blockade.
Coal freight is steadily gaining and all
railroad earnings thus far reported for
November exceed last years by So per
cent and those of 1900 by 1853 per cent.
Orders are now coming forward for iron
and steel products that have been held
back many months in expectation of an
easing market Instead of making con-
cessions, however, producers ask pre-
miums for early delivery and hesitate to
accept contracts where material and fues
are not in sight. No 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. Imports
relieve some departments of the industry.
Plans for constructive work are now In
creasing and a very large tonnage of
structural material will be required. As
the present congestion is due to mad
equate facilities. the most important IN
quiry Is for railway equipment.
Activity is notable at works making
agricultural implements, bolts and kin
dred lines Recent reductions in few or
the lighter forms stimulated dealings to
a fair degree. Silver bullion declined TO
the lowest price on record, and copper
and tin also receded from former quota
tions London was a conspicuous factor
In these changes.
Heavy lines of dry goods and footwear
near the stimulus of cold weather. A fair
demand is reported for srap-e cotton
goods, but buyers are only taking for
Immediate requirements. In the weakness
In the raw material there was an easier
tone to forward shipment, yet the mar
gin between spot and distant deliveries
is exceedingly narrow while the moder-
ate recovery in raw cotton quickly
steadied the market for goods. Orders
for spring shoes are coming forward
freely, and there is supplementary buying
of winter goods on a moderate scale.
Retailers have much money tied up in
rubber goods, for which there has been
little demand. Both sole and upper leather
are quiet, yet quotations are steady and
betting butts are firmer. Foreign buying
of hemlock is somewhat restricted. No
concessions are obtained on hides except
where new offerings are of inferior quail
ity, although stocks have increased and
the western markets are quiet. Foreign
dry hides are fully maintained In the
local market. supplies being light.
Failures for the week numbered 266 in
the United States against 21S last year,
and "a in Canada compared with 81
year ago.