Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-12
.HlNDRANCES TO TRADE
Weather and Strikes Combine to Re.
tard Volume Of Business.
BUT SITUATION DEEMED GOOD
iron and Steel Men Are Reported to
BE - Busy A. Ever-MOre AMI
nation In the Markets
For Cereals.

New York, April 12.-R. G. Dun 4
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
Good news predominates in the bust
ness world notwithstanding two some
what serious drawbacks. Weather
conditions have been unsatisfactory at
many points, retarding retail distribu'
ton and delaying outdoor work, while
excessive rain has put many southern
planters behind with work in the cot
ton fields. Still more Of handicap il;
the strife between wage Garner and
employer. Not only the rate Of wages,
hours Of labor or recognition of the
union, but the number Of looms and
the use Of time cards, are among the
causes Of controversy. At some mills
concessions have been made, but at
other plants there has been complete
suspension of work. Manufacturing is
exceptionally active in lines not dis
turbed by strikes, and there is vigor.
GUS movement of goods through regu
lar channels.
At the close of last week negotiations
were concluded for a large sale of pig.
iron at $3.50, furnace, deliveries be-
ginning in October and covering six
months. This price sin line with the
avowed conservative intentions of the
leading interests, yet spot transactions
are reported at 81 higher quotations
whenever buyers are SO fortunate as to
secure prompt shipment. Not only pig
iron, but bars billets and structural
shapes, are all sold 80 far ahead that
new business is comparatively light
although consumers would quickly alb
sorb any early deliveries that might be
offered.
The situation may briefly be summed
up In the statement that it is the eXcep-
ton when order books are not filled for
full capacity we'll toward the end of
1902. Buyers are still placing CEN
tracts abroad and on urgent business
this will probably occur during the re-
mainder of the year. AS anticipated,
The Iron Age statistics of pig iron pro-
duction show new record of 377, 424
tons weekly on April Il exceeding the
previous record by over $4,000 tons.
Despite this phenomenal output, fur
mace stocks on April Were reduced to
81, 2B3 tons.
The Staples Market.
More animation has appeared in the
speculative markets for staples. Fluc-
tuations We're more irregular in corn
which broke sharply here and at the
west, but made a partial recovery, al /
though still remaining below the hes,
price Last month. Whent moved within !
narrow limits. varying fraction ac-
cording to the preponferance of good /
or bad crop news. Line most definite l
dispatches indicated slightly lower /
condition in the southwest, but it iS /
still too early for Anything positive. |
Western receipts foE the week were.
1-I22,542 bushels against 2.96S,O42 n
year ago. and the tatal tor the crop \
year IS gradually falling back to last
years figures.
Lower prices stlm nlated exports for u
time. but shipments Of wheat and fipur
from all ports Of thu United States DUR
ing the week were. only SS49,97O BUSH
els against 4.976,sE@ last year, and At
lantic exports of corn We're only 15A2l3
bushels again 20:s),349 year ago. Cot.
ton moved up to the highest point of
the season. and i'm the option market it
was noteworthy that heavy liquidation
failed to produce weakness, offerings
being readily absorbed. Coffee. was de.
pressed by excessive stocks and re-
ceipts. the spot price falling Close to the
low record.
Footwear manufacturers, have Sc.
cured lttrNs more business and shops
have been able to avoid the reduced
time thnt was feared. Jobbers have
nlaced orders for fall supplies earle.