The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-25

NEW YORK, Oct. par. c.. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say: No better evidence Of in
dustrial and commercial activity is
needed than the present inadequate
transportation facilities. Every form
OF railway equipment, from track roll
ing stock, has been increased and per-
fected during the past few years to an
extent that appeared almost excessive,
yet the nations business mas more
than kept pace. Unseasonably mild
weather has retarded retail trade at
many points, yet the movement of
goods is fully sustained by undimin-
ished preparations for future sales.
Distribution delayed by high tempera-
ture is not lost, while the agricultural
community will profit very materially
by the hardness of frost, increasing
it's ability to overcome the products of
factories and mills.
Labor is more fully employed than
at any recent date, only a few small
controversies interrupting. Money
market pressure has been removed and
although securities do not respond,
legitimate trade is not retarded by
quiet speculation. Earnings of the
railways during October thus far ex-
coed last years by AS per cent and
those of 1900 by IL per cent.
Coke a Leading FACTOR.
Coke is still the vital factor in the
iron and steel situation. Not only has
no improvement occurred, but the sup
ply of fuel is falling further behind
n the outlook is alarming. Pig iron
is in great demand, imports promising
to continue large, and as the higher
duty on steel will not be exacted, there
is eason to anticipate a liberal move
ment from Germany. The demand for
rails is so great that large purchases
abroad are being negotiated, while
practically all railway supplies find an
eager market.
Structural shapes and other heavy
lines of steel are in a strong position,
but there is evidence of irregularity in
wire rods and actual weakness in a
few lines that are now offered freely.
The plate manufacturers are making
a hard fight to secure the large for
eign business done here under the
drawback arrangement and a new
method of production is being perfect
ed that promises to cheaper the cost.
Among the other metals, both tin and
copper advanced sharply, but the for
mer reacted.
1t is still conspicuous in the cotton
goods market that buyers are slow to
anticipate further requirements, ap-
parently having confidence in cheaper
raw material. Yet many lines are now
below a parity with the raw cotton
market, which is a supporting element
from the sellers point of view.
Future Business in the Balance.
There is a steady absorption for i'm
mediate requirements which prevents
any accumulation of supplies, and the
market must be considered in good con-
dition, since 1t is obvious that much
future business is only awaiting some
thing more definite as to raw cotton.
Only a small trade is reported in
heavy brown sheetings and drills for
export, the large buyers being prac-
tically out Of the market. Further
sales of print clothes are reported. No
improvement appears In the demand
for mems wear wooden or worsted fab
RIGS, new orders being for small guam
titles only and not suggestive of a
| genuine supplementary demand for
spring weights. Although the move
ment of sample pieces from first hands
is on a liberal scale, there are still nu-
merous complaints Of late delivery.
Silk goods are firm, with a scarcity in
many descriptions. Deliveries of foot
wear on old orders are very heavy,
and New England producers are re-
ceiving fair contracts for staple lines
running into mex March.
Failures for the week numbered 232
in the United States, against $40 last
year, and e in Canada, compared
| with 90.