The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-20
eRApsT7EET's REVIEW.

New York, December 19.-Bradstreet
tomorrow will say:
Wholesale trade is quieting down as the
stock-taking period approaches Cold
weather north and west has further slim
ulated general retail buying Holiday buy
ing. it is noted, is from a rather more
expensive grade of goods than ordinarily
experienced. There are, of course some
drawbacks, but taken as a whole, the
mercantile community contemplates the
approach of the end of the year with
complaisency and satisfaction. Knowing
as it does that most lines of goods will
show gains over 1901, and therefore over
any preceding year, the feeling is that
the year has been a good one while the
fine wheat crop outlook and the volume
of orders already booked for next year
gives promise of future good condition.
Even the knowledge that from manufac-
turing plants are like many domestic con-
sumers, short of coal, and are contem-
plating a rather earlier than usual holiday
shutdown, fails to arouse the pessimis-
tic feeling noted earlier In the year when
the fuel shortage was more talked about.
Hides have weakened slightly but hem
lock leather has been advanced ] per cent
per pound by the leading producers; shoe
shipments are better this week, but will
still fall per cent behind for the sea-
son.
Seasonable influences affect the great
industries. Building is less active, but the
tone of the lumber market Is one of I'M
diminished strength. The iron trade pre-
sents surface quietness, but the passing
Of control OF large Independent mills into
the hands of the leading interests I'M
questionably makes for stability in the
departments OF wire, tin plate and sheets.
Southern iron men are reported more III
clined to do business for 1903 at redue-
tion from fancy quotations. Very heavy
buying of cars and other rolling stock is
indicated for the new year, and liberal
orders for plates wire and structural ma
terials for 1908 delivery are also noted
Pig iron and steel billets are quiet r.
regular coke supplies harass furnaces and
interfere with operations of the finishing
mills. High prices of coke and raw mate
rails and higher freight rates form a
combination fraught with difficulty to In.
dependent mills. Practically the entire
rail output of the country for next year
is already sold Immense quantities of
steel win be needed for new car build
ing. Hardware buying is very active for
this season of the year. The recent ad-
vance in pig tin is attributed to specula-
ton. Raw wool is firm. Wooden ma
chinery IS well employed and next heavy
weight goods are being gathered in quite
literally. Some reduction in bleached
cottons is reported. resulting in good
business. Jewelry manufacturers report
a auieting down in business, but a fair
trade has been done.
Rubber goods and footwear are active
in eastern manufacturing centers. Wheat,
including flour, exports for the week ag-
gregate 3.256,037 bushels against s,76l. O47
last week; 4.432. 1872 in this week last year
and 4,12S,35O in 1900 Wheat exports since
July 1 aggregate 1913. 763, 5SS bushels against
40 636, 213 last season, and sO,131, 1853 in 1900
Corn exports aggregate 1,52614l bushels
against 1901 2S6 last week, $40 last year
and 5460.57S in 1900. For the fiscal year
exports are G,6S6,327 bushels against TO-
125. 800 last season and 9O.371,974 in 1900.
Business failures in number 225 against
23s last week, 262 in this week last year.