Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-20
Wholesale Trade Quieting.
Down as the Stock-Tak-
ing Period Approaches
ExERTs INFLUENCE
Has Helped Sales Of Furs, Heavy Cloth
ing, and sIeishs-Holiday Buying for
More Expensive Grade of Goods Than
UsuaI-Great Industries Also Affect
ed by SeasonabIe Influences.

New York, Dec. 20.-Bradstreet's
Weekly Review of Trade today says:
Wholesale trade is quieting down as
the stock taking period approaches
and what activity there is notably by
| jobbers in forwarding supplies of goods
needed to reinforce stocks of retailers
depleted by what is conceded to be
the most active holiday trade on rec
ord. Cold weather north and west
has helped sales of furs, heavy clothing
and sleighs and further stimulated
general retail buying. Holiday buy
ing, 1t is noted, is for rather more
expensive grade OF goods than ordin-
arily experienced. Taken as whole,
the mercantile community contem-
plates the approach OF the end of the
year with complacency and satisfac-
ton. Even the knowledge that some
manufacturing plants are, like many
domestic consumers, short of coal and
are contemplating a rather earlier than
usual holiday shut down, fails to arouse
the pessimistic feeling noted earlier
in the year, when the fuel shortage
was more talked about. Hides have
weakened slightly. Shoe shipments are
better this week, but will still fall 8
per cent behind for the season.
SeasonabIe Influences.
Seasonable influences affect the great
industries. Building is less active, but
the tone of the lumber market is one
of undiminished strength. The iron
trade presents surface quietness, but
some important matters are taking
place. The passing of control of large
Independent mills into the hands of
the leading interest unquestionabiy
makes for stability in the departments
of wire, tin plate and sheets. Southern
iron men are reported more inclined to
do business for 1908 at a reduction
from fancy quotations. Very heavy
buying of cars and other rolling stock
Is indicated for the new year, and Ii
beral orders for plates, wire and struc-
tural materials for 1903 delivery are
also noted. Pig iron and steel billets
are quiet. Irregular coke supplies har-
ass furnaces, and interfere with oper-
ationst of the finishing mills. High
prices of coke and raw materials and
higher freigh- rates form d combina-
ton fraught with difficulty to inde-
pendent mills. Practically the entire
rail output of the country for next year
is already sold. Immense quantities
of steel will be needed for new car
building. Hardware buying is very
active for this season Of the year. The
glass production Of the country this
year is heavier than last by fully 10
per cent. The recent advance in pig
tin is attributed to SPECULATION. Raw
wool is firm. Some reduction in
bleached cottons is reported, resulting
in good business.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week ending Dec. IS, aggregate
3,256,037 bushels, against 3.761,047 last
week, 4,432,S32 in this week last year,
and 4,123,350 in 1900. Wheat exports
since July aggregate 123,T63,535 bu-
shells against 140,636,213 last season,
and 90.131,353 in 1900. Corn exports
1,526,141 bushels, against
/ ,301, 1856 last week, 330,941 last year
and 5,465,57S in 1900 For the fiscal
year exports are 6,6s6.32T bushels,
against 20,125,9O9 last season, and co.
81 ,947 in 1900.
Business failures. in the United
States for the week ending Thursday
Dec. IS, number 225, as against 236
last week, 262 in this week last year. |
In Canada failures number Ia, against |
II last week, and "a in this week
year ago.