Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-01-25
GREAT RETAIL TRADE
Comment by Dun's Review On lie
Business Of the Week. :
SKILLED WORKMEN NEEDED
Demand Reported to Be In Excess al
S~uppIy-IrOn and Steel Mills
Kept Busy-TextiIe ard
staple Markets..

Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
Little of u novel nature has devel-
oped in the business or financial situa-
ton during the past week. Conditions
Of the preceding week were accentuat-
ed as a rule. active manufacturing
plants becoming still more busily Ell
gagged, while the downward tendency
of prices was not checked. Retail
trade is of immense volume. and job
bers have large spring orders to fill.
Western cities send the most satisfac-
tory returns. but nearly all sections are
enjoying wholesome activity, v the
south showing evidence of improve
ment. Wages were voluntarily ad
vanced at Il number of manufacturing
plants, hours reduced at others, and.
aside from the teamsters' strike at
Boston, there were few labor contrO.
versies. while skilled workmen are in
greater demand than supply.
Conditions in the iron and steel in
dustry are shown by record breaking
production at many plants and rapid
increase of facilities at others. When
orders for rails cannot be taken be
cause delivery is desired before the last
quarter of the year, it would seem tina
new figures of output We're assured fol
1902. Structural mills are equally well
occupied, having contracts for office
buildings, factories, bridges, track ele'
walton and other constructive work.
Large steel structures are going up
-~ux, foc+ l., f,, u,octnvn oitioc YDlofas
and sheets are available more prompt.
ly owing to enlarged capacity Of mills.
Railways handle coke with less delay,
which accelerates blast furnace opera
lions and tends to restore normal
prices for fuel. Despite the pressure
for nearly all steel products and pis
iron, there is no tendency to force quo.
tations, but rather a stubborn resist
ance to every upward movement.
The Textile Markets.
Textile markets are quiet, both buy
efs and sellers showing a disposition
to wait. although reports of the job.
bling trade are most favorable, except
at some southern points. Cotton mills
are busy as a rule, but uncertainty as
to the future Of the raw material tends
to unsettle prices. Specialties have
been put on the market, with a fair de.
gree Of success. Heavy goods for Chi
ma are in better inquiry, although the
views of sellers are still above prices
offered. Home buying of fine yarn
goods Increases. Print cloths are nom
finally 3 cents and scarce for near de
livery. Wooden mills are working over.
time AID have much business in sight
More linens opened at slightly lower
figures than a year ago, which was
natural in view of the difference in
cost of raw material.
Hesitation is general in the markets
for staple products. There is no longer
the reckless buoyancy so conspicuous
a short time ago. Disaster to one prom.
inent operator had a calming influence
and in the case of corn the insignifi.
cant exports cannot we'll be e~ntirelS
ignored. From Atlantic ports for the
week the movement was but 1852, 45C
bushels against 3.472,614 a year ago
Foreign buying Of wheat. flour includ
ed, is much more liberal, all ports OF
the United States sending out 4,32O,OO5
bushels during the past week compar.
ed with 4,03S,3S bushels a year ago.
It is surprising that the outgo is SO
we'll maintained in view Of the higher
level of prices and the record breaking
exports that have already gone out
this crop year. Meats have weakened.
especially lard, and dairy products ar
also less inflated. Eggs declined sharp
~, but partially recovered. Coffee sold
down to 6 cents for No. Z Rio on az
count of overwhelming Brazil receipts
Raw sugar stiffened owing to restrict.
ed arrivals, which are natural since
Cuban holders await favorable tariff
arrangement and bounty discussion
affects conditions in Europe. Cotto.
ia not receiving the support anticipat
ed, reports of exhausted stocks ot
plantations being refuted by undimin
ished receipts.