Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-11-27
BETTER WAGES
BOOM BUSINESS
Improved Demand for Staple
Goods Due to Increase
in Pay.
WINTER TRADE IS BACKWARD
Absence Of Cold Weather Retards
Traffic In Heavy decentralization
and Steel Products in Request-sit.
uation In tho Leather Goods Market.

New York. Nov. PAR. @. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review says:
voluntary increases in wages by
some of the largest railway systems
In the country, bear eloquent testi-
mony to the amount of business hand
led In the past and emphasize the
confidence of officials in continued
heavy traffic. Moreover, by this ad-
dition of large sums to the purchasing
power Of railway employees there is as.
surance Of large demand for all
staple lines of merchandise. Temper,
arily, sales Of seasonable lines Of wear,
ing apparel are retarded by mild wealth,
er. but this loss will be fully made up
when low temperature becomes gen.
eral.
Prepare for Holidays.
Preparations for holiday trade are
on an unprecedented scale. especially
at interior points. There is no relief
as to the congestion of railway traffic
nor any immediate prospect Of free
movements at the points Of most ser
ious blockade. Coal freight is steadily
gaining and all railway earnings thus
far reported for November exceed last
years by So per cent and those OF
1900 by 15.9 per cent.
Iron and Steel Are Higher.
"Orders are now coming forward for
iron and steel products tt at have beer
held back many months in expectation
OF an easier market. Instead of max
ing concessions, however, producers
ask premiums for early delivery and
hesitate to accept contracts where ma
terial and fuel are not in sight. No
relief is reported as to the movement
OF coke nor is any anticipated Tor
some time to come; in fact, one author
ity suggests that the situation will not
be normal before April.
Railway Facilities Inadequate.
"Plans for constructive work are
now increasing and very large ton
mage of structural material will be re-
quired. As the present congestion is
due to inadequate facilities, the most
importunate inquiry is for railway
equipment.
"Silyer bullion declined to the low
est price on record and copper and tin
also receded from former quotations.
London was conspicuous factor in
these charges.
Heavy lines of dry goods and foot
wear need the stimulus of cold wealth
er. A fairly steady demand is re-
ported for staple cotton goods, but
buyers are taking only for immediate
requirements. Weakness in the raw
material gave an easier tone to for
ward shipments, yet the margin be-
tween spot and distant deliveries Is
exceedingly narrow, while the moder-
ate recovery In raw cotton quickly
steadied the market for goods.
Leather Goods.
Orders for spring shoes are COM
inS forward freely and there is sup
Elementary buying of winter goods on
a moderate scale. Retailers have much
money tied up in rubber goods, for
which there has been little demand.
Both sole and upper leather are quiet
and steady and betting butts are firm
er. Foreign buying of hemlock Is
somewhat restricted. No concessions
are obtained on hides except where
new offerings are of inferior quality,
although stocks have increased and
the Western markets are quiet. For
eign dry hides are fully maintained in
the local market. supplies being light.
Failures for the week numbered
266 in the United States, against 21s
last year, and twenty-four in Canada.
compared with thirty-one year ago."