The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-01-21
Distribution and Prompt Pay
ments, Except in a Few
Southern Cities.
GAINS IN RAILWAY EARNINGS.
Nothing Disturbed Bright outlook In
Iron and steel lndustry-Wooi Sit
uation-Conditions In Wheat, Corn
and Provisions-The Failures.

Readjustment of prices continued
during tn second week OF January,
and the general average reached a
much lower point than prevailed
when the year opened. Manufactured
products were scarcely disturbed, but
both staples and securities suffered.
Business conditions are sound, liberal
distribution and prompt payments be-
ing reported, except at a few southern
cities. Cotton still fails to command
price proportioned to the estimated
crop, and as a consequence the return
to growers Is insufficient to sustain
business at the rate established by
the previous years most profitable
yield. Transporting interests are less
behind with deliveries, and railway
earnings for the first week of jan
uary show gains Of IA per cent over
last years phenomenal figures, and
14.7 per cent over 1900.
Bright Outlook Not Disturbed.
Nothing has transpired to disturb
the bright outlook in the iron and
steel industry. Deliveries of fuel are
less delayed and furnaces operate
more fully, while mills receive mate
rial with fair degree of prompt
ness. Quotations are maintained firm
ly, especially for pig iron, which Is
In great demand. Large contracts
have been placed for Bessemer at
$1650 On Pittsburg deliveries in June.
Spot sales in small quantities are
much higher. Structural material is
taken almost eagerly and more for.
eign bridge contracts are reported.
Billets cannot be had in sufficient
bulk from domestic producers, so
that imports from Germany are sold
at Youngstown for $27.b0. Produc-
tion OF pig iron on January I, accor-
ding to Iron Age, was 29S, 400 tons
against 324,761 at the high point on
December /.
During the last two weeks condi.
tions have improved so rapidly that
the. present rate of output is probably
at about the top point. Stocks at the
furnaces showed further decrease
to 216,137 tons on January 1. Sales
or copper are made at II cents,
which makes a somewhat striking
comparison with. the so per cent high.
er figure Of few weeks ago.
Advanced Prices Of Footwear.
Footwear producers have at last
made general advance Of from 21a
to cents. Wholesalers have not al
tered lists. Hides are weaker, which
Is natural at this season, when tho
quality deteriorates. Stocks Of cotton
goods are not burdensome. and de-
mands generally expand with the ad-
vancing season, especially for fine
grades. Heavy brown goods move
slowly, both on home and domestic
orders. Woolen goods opened lower
than expected, and purchases were
retarded rather than stimulated by
the declines. Changes were few and
small, yet there had been such con-
fidence in higher level that the
trade hesitated. Woolen and worsted
yarns tend upwards.
Grain reacted sharply from the high
point and large western operator
was caught with more than he could
carry. Forced liquidation OF this long
account facilitated the work of ma
nipulators for decline. Another
unsatisfactory feature was the recent
falling off in foreign demand. official
figures for December showing small
er exports OF wheat than for any
month OF the calendar year, although
for six months Of the crop year
tnere still appears gain of about
5OOO0,O00 bushels over the cores.
PoAetho hiohthb VI iOUO Ut 1888. InlS
weeks exports were 4,348,431 bushels
against 3,40S,725 year ago. Corn
declined sharply, but still remains
about 20 cents a bushel above the
price OF last year. Exports in De-
cember were only about per cent
OF the outgo in the same month of
1900, while for the week Atlantic
ports sent out 12S,674 bushels against
4.695,33O bushels year ago. Provi-
sions weakened slightly In sympathy
with grain, yet the higher level OF
prices In December established new
monthly record in value OF exports.
Activity at Coffee Exchange.
Great activity occurred at the cof.
fee exchange, where spectators for
decline were successfully aided by
enormous receipts at Brazilian ports
and American stocks $50 per cent
larger than We're held year ago.
Failures for the week numbered
S34 in the United States against 325
last year, and 40 in Canada against
Ia ~