New-York tribune., 1902-10-27

fused 10 sign special contracts at independent
couieries Moreover. no small percentage of the
men had left the region. and even the country
i'm MANY cases so that il will take weeks to
restore normal conditions. There will be abun-
dant employment for both union and mont union
men although it may be difficult TO make
them assiniIate without friction A much
more serious problem than the production of
coal will be its transportation. This COM
nIica+ion has become alarming in the coke
reeior and mig iron furnaces are banking be
cause fueI cannot be had. All records of pro-
duction are surpassed, but many ovens will soon
he conpeIled to suspend because the yards will
hold m more Looking into the future ii brings
no announcement to find that thousands of tons
Of corn will soon seek transportation, and de-
liyeries of heavy steel and other merchandise
are already sadly retarded. Neither is 1t cheer
ing to consider the possibility of snow blockades
which occur every year Imports OF coal are
now arriving freely and find a ready market, but
not at the attractive prices paid when they were
engaged Receipts OF foreign pig iron and bill
lets also avert much idleness at finishing mills.
Retail distribution OF merchandise. particu-
larry heavy wearing apparel, halts because OF
weather conditions AMI some other lines
more quiet than desirable. But. ON the whole,
business is remarkably active for the season. at
most of the leading cities showing a material
expansion compared with preceding years.
Dealers as a rule are not daunted by smaller
transactions than were expected, and have be
gun ordering supplies for future requirements
on a generous scale. Mills and factories are hur-
rying deliveries rapidly possible. and the
available comparisons are most encouraging.
Shipments of boots and shoes from Boston, for
instance. exceed the corresponding week last
year. which phenomenally heavy. and even
i'm the packing of hogs there appears but little
decrease from last years figures. Hides have
ceased to decline, and the leather market is
barely steady, while a firm tone is reported in
footwear. Textile manufacturers have large
contracts on hand. especially for woollens. the
buying of wool in the large markets continuing
! remarkably heavy. at fully maintained quota
tons Mills that delayed securing raw material
In expectation of better terms have paid the
penalty.
Among the staples there has been much specu-
lative operating. and the markets do not respond
TO natural influences. Delayed frost has facili-
| tated the handling OF the late corn crop and
there is no longer any doubt as TO the unprec-
edented size of the current yield. yet quotations
| are held up by the scanty available supplies.
Practically nothing is being done by way OF
foreign trade in corn. although customers abroad
would take freely at a reasonable price This
must come shortly. despite manipulation. On
the other hand. there IS little occasion for any
material reduction in wheat prices since sup
plies light. mills grinding up TO their capac-
ity, and exports exceeding even the splendid
| movement year ago. The time honored theory
that wheat and corn must sympathize in fuctua
tion WIFI be disregarded during the remainder
of the calendar year. Wheat is coming 10
market even more freely than year ago. while
that movement was considered phenomenal. and
visible supplies beginning to show the effect
of acCumulationS.