The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-13

NEW YORK, Sept. Pr. G. Dun G.
Co.'s weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say: Industrial activity is greater
than at any recent date. Many new
factories and mills have been added to
the productive capacity, facilities are
being increased at old plants and idle
shops resumed through the settlement
of labor controversies. A coke block
ade still exists, the railways being I'M
able to handle the output, which is
above all records and in urgent re-
quests. Despite the rapid development
of transportation facilities, the ma
TONS needs have grown still faster,
and the situation is distressing fol-
shippers and consumers.
Large crops are being harvested and
the greater abundance of foodstuffs
caused a decline in prices of commodi-
ties during August of 3.5 per cent, as
measured by Dun's index number.
Larger Retail Trade.
Retail trade is large, with a bright
outlook for the future in the jobbing
and wholesale business. There are few
Of the cancellations so numerous at
this time last year, while collections
cent in bank exchange at New York
over the same week last year cannot
be explained by speculation as dealings
in stocks were also heavy in 1901. Rail-
way earnings in August exceeded last
years by AZ per cent and those of 1900
by 1871 per cent.
Although the weekly capacity of pig
iron furnaces in blast on Sept. was
reported as 335,1S9 tons by the Iron
Age, 1T has since been appreciably cur
tailed by the inadequate supply of fuel.
on which account numerous furnaces
were blown out or at least banked. AS
consumptive requirements are increas-
ing it is necessary to place orders
abroad more extensively, and in some
cases, the entire output of foreign
plants has been secured. Not only raw
material, but billets and even rails are
sought in other markets, German mills
offering the best terms in most cases.
Heavy importations have prevented
further advance in quotations, but do
nestle producers have a ready market
for their output, contracts still running
far into the future.
y More Railroad Equipment Needed.
Railways are in great need Of new
locomotives and other equipment. New
England producers of boots and shoes
are insisting on full prices, and some
grades that were slow to respond are
now sharing the Improvement No sign
of weakness is seen in leather, some Sc
lections, rising still more, particularly
the better grades of sole and betting
butts. Slight reactions have occurred
in some packer and country hides, but
most lines are still firmly held. Lib
eral receipts have not depressed for,
eign dry hides. Textile mills are well
occupied, with prices sustained in all
cases, and moderate advances in some
cotton goods which are in demand for
quick delivery. With the completion OF
early orders there has come a quiet
market for woolens and worsteds, but
mills have large contracts on hand.
Low stocks of wheat and poor grad
ing of receipts, together with fears of
frost in corn sections, sustained quota
lions when a decline would have been
imminent if full confidence were plac-
ed in official returns Of condition.
Failures for the week numbered EOS
in the United States, against 1913 last
year, and 20 in Canada, against Is
year ago.