The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-25
ALL FEATURES FAVORABLE
ALTHOUGH RETAIL TRADE IS NOT QUITE
"s.3 so ACTIVE. s,.


so ACTIVE. -
New York. Oct. 25.--Bradstreet's to-day says:
Favorable features still dominate the trade and
industrial situation. Some reduction in the de-
mand for fall and winter goods at wholesale is
noted, but 1t Is shown at the same time that
the completed business in dry goods, clothing,
shoes, hats, millinery and host Of other lines
| Is In excess Of 1901 and preceding years. Busl-
pand. and similar tendency is noted in retail
business particularly at the east, where the
fear of coal faminine has been removed by the
actual resumption Of work.
1t Is true that in the northwest retail trade
Is not meeting anttcipatiOns, possibly because
OF warmer weather. but partially because the
farming element is still busily engaged in crop
work. The money situation shows little that
Is unfavorable to general business. Reports
as to collections class them being generally
good. and in some cases better than year ago.
Woolen manufacturers are actively employed.
and they have large stock on hand, 1t Is said,
thus strengthenin the raw material. Improved
retail trade at the east gives tone to the entire
dry goods market.
The situation In the iron trade is full of inter-
est While pig iron is frmer and the coke
shortage continues. necesstating shut-downs in
the PENNSYLVANIA valleys and high premiums paid
! for immediate delivery of what little iron Is
| available. still billets have weakened. partially
| because Of the effects Of foreign imports, but
also because of less urgent demand from some
finishing mills. The heavier forms of finished
material all retain their former strength. -
Structural iron and steel plates for ship
building purposes rule strong, but sheets are
dull and slow. while steel rods tend to weaken
and tin plates are depressed pending the settle
ment of the question to whether the tin
plate mill employees will accept the cut in wages
necessary If large contracts going abroad
are secured A compro mise this point may be
announced Mt any time. That high prices have
exercised q deterrent effect upon consumption
Is easily denonstrable. A cut in the prices Of
wire and nails has already had the effect of ell
couraging consumption. Hardware retains eX-
ceptlonal activity, both for light and heavy sort,
and considerable sale of builders hardware for
| next season is reported at different markets.
The lumber business. while naturally noting
| some quieting because Of the advanced stage of
the season, is still Of good volume where weather
conditions permit Of the carrying out of work.
| Demand for building materials continues active.
| In the lumber producing regions strength Is the
| main feature. The southern lumber trade re-
| ports unusual activity.
Wheat, including flour, exports for the week
ending Oct %, aggregate 7,oeo.317 bushels, the
! largest total for fourteen months past, against
o.24o,6s last week, 1852. 134 in this week last
year and 4.935,97S in 1000. Wheat exports
since July aggregate s5, 431 .317 bushels against
| lOOO36051 last season and 60, 235, 143 in 1900.
| Corn exports aggregate 81. 564 bushels against
1sO,674 last week. 1,19S, 2SS last year and 8
| Dol IN 1900. For the fiscal year exports are
$50 bushels, against 16, 1873, ,131 last season
| and So, ,642, $50 in 1900.
Business failures in the United States for the
week ending Thursday, Oct %, number 1874, as
against 2o3 last week. 223 In this week las.
! year, 161 in 1900, 211 in 1899 and 219 in 1898.
| In Canada, for the week. 49, as against Is last
week.