The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-08
TRADE is FIRM DESPITE BAD STORMS

NEW YORK March ,7-R e. Dun
& Co.'S weekly review Of trade tomor-
row will say:
Unsettled weather was the most unsat-
isfactory feature of the business situa-
ton. A sudden thaw following an ex-
ceptionaliy heavy snowfall produced
freshetS and foods. Manufacturing and
transporting interests suffered severely
and consumers were urgent for Ship
ment of delayed goods, while great GUAM
titles of merchandise became stalled In
transit. Preparations for an enormous
spring trade continue undiminished.
There is still some uneasiness regard
ing the labor situation at the coal mines
ana at Fall River there is disagreement
as to the length of cut of cloth. al
though increased wages are assured
Not only is there no Improvement to be
recorded in the iron and steel outlook.
but floods in the Pittsburg region added
to the pressure by completely closing
many plants and damagin much costly
machinery. Supplies CT coke failed to
increase because the railways were so
| badly disorganized. and the net result
was a week of light output when re-
quirements were notably heavy.
Structural Material at Premium.
Recent destruction by the elements
| makes an unusual demand for structural
material, and on spot business buyers
gladly pay premiums of Sc a ton above
list prices.
The situation has become so abnormal
that it is impossible to gauge the market
| by ordinary standards or secure quota
lions of any value for comparative pur-
poses. The encouraging feature is that
despite present exorbitant prices the spec
ulative element is not prominent, and
orders are accepted for distant delivery
with no effort at imitation. Coal ship
ments have been curtailed to such an
extent that dealers supplies are low
and quotations very strong
Nothing new has developed in the foot
wear Industry Eastern shops are still
working on old contracts, but buyers are
delaying the placing of fail business in
| expectation of securing more satisfactory
terms. Shipments have fallen below The
figures for the same week last year. but
since Jan 1 there, still appears a good
increase over 1901 Leather is weaker
and hides declined another fraction.
Cotton goods are well sustained, the
stronger raw material giving all the ad-
vantage to sellers, but there is much
uncertainty as to the labor situation
This tends to make the mills conserva-
tive regarding the acceptance of con-
tracts for future delivery
Less activity is reported in the market
tor woolens, buyers having apparently
CoHlpISl6N IHelF- IlFSC rounds of orders,
All staples steadied, and. some rose sharp
ly, the net changes for the week amount
ing to considerable advance
Grain Is Holding Firm
1t was natural for grain to hold firm
when wheat receipts at the West were
2,S99,344 bushels, compared with 3,747, o52
last year, while. arrivals of corn were
| but 2,OOl.9A bushels, against 5000. 43S a year
ago. Exports of wheat, -four included,
were 1894 bushels, against 93.1S5.O32 in
the previous week. and 3,715, $3.50 a year
/ ago. Even corn went out more freely,
Atlantic exports exceeded 10 per cent
! ofs.the movement a year ago, or 81, 9Oi
| bushels, against 1856, 49,
| Speculation was quiet with many guess
| es as to the coming report of farm. re-
| serves. For the first time in this crop
season, cotton showed an advance over
| the price at the corresponding date last
| year. and it is significant that the high
| er figure failed to attract heavy selling
| at the South
Visible supply statistics of coffee were
calculated to depress the market, but
| there was a recovery, which may be at
| trlbuted to gloomy cables from Brazil
| regarding the outlook for the new crop
| Failures for the week numbered 176 in
| the United States, against 2OS last year
| and IL in Canada, against rs last year.