Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-29
THE STATE OF TRADE
Comment By Dun's Rcview on the
Business OF the Week.
PIG IRON Is VERY SCARCE.
Inquiries For That Commodity Be-
come More Urgent-Great Demand
For Railway Equipment Ce.
real Quotations Show Decline.

New York, Nov. Or. G. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
weather conditions have provided
the only important developments of the
past week in the business world. Ex-
cessive rains in some sections, notably
IN the southwest, facilitated distribu-
ton of heavy footwear, overshoes and
kindred lines, while seasonably low
temperature at other points increased
the movement of winter wearing ap-
parel. These influences. together with
large Thanksgiving trade in food
products, stimulated retail dealings
very materially. Jobbing and whole
sale trade are fully maintained, and
manufacturing plants have orders fur
ahead, but in many cases the coke
shortage retards operations. Railway
officials are making every effort to re-
lieve the freight congestion, especially
in the vicinity Of Pittsburg, but thus
far there is little evidence of improve
ment.
Inquiries for pig iron become more
urgent as the scarcity grows more
acute. Furnaces are added to the idle
list when there is full occupation for
every plant in the country, but the fuel
shortage is not perceptibly improved
Coke commands high premiums, ac-
cording to the needs of consumers, and
iron is similarly held at an abnormal
position by the insufficient supply. Even
foreign pig iron has not arrived at
specified dates, while new orders have
been placed abroad covering distant
deliveries. 1t is fully apparent that do
nestle needs will continue to exceed
available supplies for many months
to come.
The pressure is less severe in the va
rious finished lines, aside from struc-
tural steel and railway equipment.
Numerous projected additions to mile
age, improved terminals and increased
rolling stock assure activity DIT the
shops for months to come. Machinery
houses. boiler works and makers of
heavy hardware are all far behind
with orders, and practically every Sec
ton of the iron and steel industry is
entirely in control Of sellers, prospec-
tive purchasers having to make all the
concessions. Minor metals. on the 9TH
er hand, are generally weaker, tin
being especially depressed. Silver-bul-
lion has fallen to much the lowest
rice ON record, the intrinsic value of a
silver dollar now being about "a cents.
The Cereal Market.
n-o 81 %1,o ctn v1Ao he vA
tended downward on the whole, with
out any severe loss except in the case
of corn. As the interior movement of
this cereal confirms statements of a
heavy yield, and it is reported that in
adequate transporting facilities alone
prevent a much heavier movement, it
is natural that prices should seek a
more normal position. For the first
time this season there appears consid-
cradle decline in comparison with the
quotation ruling a year ago, but COM
pared with preceding years of big
crops there is an advance of 80 per
cent or more. W.S ern receipts of corn
for Ave days were 3,1O3.975 bushels
against 2,2OS.279 bushels year ago,
while Atlantic exports have. expanded
to 35S,477 bushels. which compares
poorly with even the light movement
| of 528,172 bushels year ago. Numer'
GUS inquiries for foreign account, how
ever, promise decided improvement
shortly.
Wheat has been affected by encour-
aging crop news and liberal offerings
abroad. but the undertone is very firm
and fluctuations small. Receipts were
1.149,3O8 bushels against 6,2SO,443 a
wear ago, and exports from all ports OF
the United States aggregated 3,5O4, OH
bushels compared with 3.975s19 last
wear and 1880 O7O two years ago.
The advance in cotton eliminated on
| Monday with news of foods ana fros'
in various parts of the south. Subse
ouentiy there was profit taking. accel
Grated by an authoritative estimate
| that the yield would be 11,oOO,OOO bales
A distinctly firmer tone pervades thf
! market for footwear, orders coming Tor
ward freely for spring goods. MOS
| Factories have secured sufficient bust
ness to assure activity for two months
| and some order books are full up te
March. Both mems and women's satlr
shoes sell at 2ls cents higher, and nc
concessions are obtainable In any d1vl
sion If the industry New Englanc
nroducers have concluded inventories
and begin cutting spring shoes nex'
week. ~.
Failures for the week numbered 2l'
IN the United States against ~ las
! your and 16 in Canada compared witt
25 year ago.