Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-01-03
TRADE SHOWS PROSPERITY
expenditures for Gifts Are Annie
Proof Of Prosperity-Trad~ In
some instances In over 100 Per
Cent Better-The south show. Lea.
Gains-From Brad.treet's Report.

New York. Dec. 30.-R. G. Dun G
eo.s Weekly Review Of Trade says:
any evidence was needed OF the
unparalleled prosperity with which
THIS nation has been blessed during |
the past year the expenditure for |
Christmas gifts and decorations should |
be ample. Distribution OF Christmas |
goods among the employees of large |
firms and corporations was on a large
scale. often the increase over last
year amounting to 100 per cent. while
the profit sharing at the end OF the
year Will reach an unprecedented fig.
ure 1t is now noticed that the south.
ern trade shows less satisfactory gains
over last year than at other sections.
which is not surprising. as the prin.
cipal product of the south has ay.
eraged from IS to $40 bale less than
year ago, while the quantity thus far
marketed shows no commensurate in
crease
Following closely upon the inter
ruption by floods and storms last week
the transporting and manufacturing
facilities We're further handicapped by
numerous accidents. Iron furnaces
and steel mills were tied up and the
movement of coke was hampered
This resulted in much insufficient sup
plies of fuel that many stacks were
banked at time when full activity
was especially desired The situation
as to coke is more critical than at
any previous time this season. The
output in the Connellsvlle region has
been at recordbreaking pace for a
at the ovens because motive power and
cars cannot be secured. Pig iron pro-
duction is no longer at the high mark
, recorded when December opened and
with fancy prices for fuel 1t is natural
that Bessemer sheets advance.
Business In wholesale drygoods has
been interrupted by holiday influence
and stock taking among jobbers. Cot
ton goods ruled quiet. apart from the
demand for converters. which was on
liberal scale. Cotton mills are sold
ahead for several months as a rule
and there is no urgency to make new
, contracts. especially in view OF the
uncertain raw material.
Wool is strong and tending upward,
with good demand not only from
mills and dealers. but on speculative
: accounts. Stocks are closing the year
in much better condition than at the
, start, exceptional consumption having
made large inroads. Footwear shops
are actively engaged and are shipping
: much more heavily than year ago.
Leather and hides are strong but com.
paratively quiet
. A decidedly high price level has been
: maintained in the leading cereal
: staples, with option trading OF good
dmentions. despite the double holt
day at the produce exchange. Wheat
recovered most OF the recent moder-
ate decline, supported by fairly
steady demand. Notwithstanding the
high level OF quotations as compared
with earlier years. exports for the
week. from all ports OF the United
States. including -four. amounted to
: .540.972 bushels. compared with g..
765.0l4 bushels year ago. and q
4l7,01S bushels two years ago. In,
terror receipts were light and four
mills have been handicapped by the
corn shortage which made II difficult
to bring in raw material, or take out
the finished product.
Failures for the week number $50
in the United States against 237 last
wear. and % in Canada against IS
last year.
New York, Dec. 30.-Bradstreets re
port says: Reports OF record break
ing holiday trade. of reasonable quiet
in leading wholesale lines, of eNcep'
tional activity at the top prices in iron
and steel; of sustained activity in
other industries, continued complaint
: of car and motive power shortage and
general hardening OF speculative
markets for food products are the
features of trade adviees 10 Brad.
streets. The year closed with the
greatest activity in iron and steel
Wheat apparently cut loose from
corn this week and displayed ex-
ceptional strength and activity for
holiday week. The winter wheat mar
kets took the lead In this respect,
buying being especially good at st.
Louis.