The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-06
Mild November Helped Restore
Fuel Equilibrium il the East,
Says Dun's Review.

New York. Dec. 5.-R. G. Dun & COS
weekly review tomorrow viii say:
Aside from the interruption 10 retail trade
in winter goods at many points by UNREASONABLE
weather. business activity continues IN excess
Of previous years. ant It IS probable that all
the postponed trade VIII b. made mp. no" thai
low temperature has become general.
While the warnlest November on record AT
the East affected sales 81 clothing. Il helped TO
restore the fuel equilibrium. Manufacturing
plants are well engaged. and an evidence Of the
successful season is found IL much Larger Fan
River dividends.
The course o: commodity pcIces IS shown by
Drn's index number. which was $50 ii- Oh lie
c-mber !. against $50 on E"'"nlber l ana
slgl.3.S on December !. 1901.
Higher prices for dairy and garden P~roI':cts
account for the Use during November. but it ~
particularly gratifying 10 the consumer that
tn. present level is nearly p"r cent lower
than al the corresponding date last year. This
change is also in focis;u'f-. whe:- the cos; d;
living was abnorma!iy expanded by snort cT-ps
In 1901.
Cotton mills have light stool 5. and the demand.
although quiet. is sufficient L, prevent accunIGia-
tion OF sos:s il. first hands. Export ttade in
heavy brown cottons ia unsatisfactory. Pc
order demands for l~icht-wsig1 It wooiens are lin
tied. and there is much conservatism in placing
spring business because Of the siowaess with
which seasonabie goods are moving. Owing to
heavy Initial orders. however mills are busy. \
Further advance in raw wool gives 4 better value
TO the finished product. but selling prizes axe
without alteration.
N4w orders Tor spring shoes az still coming
forward. although the bulk of thr seasons con
racls have been clpsed at New England shops
and some plants are assured of fail occupation
until April.
Irresularity g reported in The iron and steel
market. most departments having much BUSINESS,
while 4 few are seeking n.w orders and seem
disposed to make slight concessions stability il
naturally most conspicuous in those divisions
where Il has been possible 10 prevent imitation,
while In cases OF extreme pressure and high
premiums fer early delivery. III" imports that
have been attracted hither have 4 deruvralizins
influence.
In view Of the scarcity Of coke. il Is not ea.y
for domestic producers 10 noer :his foreign com
petition, and WHEN any material reduction IS
mad. il may he found tnat foreign concerns Will
also cut prices. Thus far. however. only a
slight tendelCy is noted In the direction or
cheaper Iron. and In such products a. Steel rails
ana structural material IN. consumer cannot
hope for early concessions. As il j. well known
there Is no prospect Of drlinsss IL IN" near fu-
ture. Any decided reduction Of quotations wuEl'l
bring out these postponed orders. Consequently
the only disturbing feature In this Industry con
tinues 20 be the inadequate supply Of fuel. and
even the most sanguire do ri0t anticipate a To-
turn to normal conditions before spring. Farm
products are remarkably well sustained. consid-
erinG the liberal quantities moved To market.
Statistics of failures during November dis
the contrary. there is every evidence OF strength.