The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-18
LACK OF TRANSPORTATION
THE ONLY DRAWBACK IN THE PRES
ENT INDUSTRIAL SITUATION.
Settlement OF the Coal Strike Clears
the Horizon in All Directions-Brad-
street on Trade-Bank Clearings.

NEW YORK, Oct 17.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will
say: Settlement of the coal strike removes
the only serious handicap to industrial
progress. Five months of restricted fuel
production had begun to check the wheels
at many manufacturing centers, while
there was a perceptible diminution in con-
sumptive demand. as the purchasing power
Of the wage Garner steadily decreased. Saw
ings have been exhausted and much money
has gone out Of the country because of this
struggle. but the Nations remarkably
strong position assures a speedy restoration
Of prosperous conditions. Transportation
is now the worst feature and threatens to
continue disturbing. While the grain crops
are being moved the supply of rolling stock
and motive power would prove insufficient,
although every effort is made at the shops.
liberal premiums being offered for early de-
livery. That the railways are well occupied
is evidenced by earnings for the first week
of October, 3.5 per cent. larger than last
year and 1913 per cent above 1900.
Inadequate supplies of fuel caused fur
ther banking of furnaces, but the effect Of
a decreased output of domestic pig iron has
been partially neutralized by larger ar
rivals from abroad Practically no price
can be named for Immediately delivery of
home iron, and there Is no disposition to
make concessions for distant contracts ow-
ing to the abnormal coke situation. Fortu-
nately there has been little interruption at
finishing mills, and the output of rails,
structural material and kindred lines is
well maintained. Consumers not only find
difficulty In securing steel from the mills,
but encountered a further delay the
railways, which are unable to handle
freight promptly. Orders come forward
freely for the heavier lines. numerous con-
tracts being offered for steel rails for next
years delivery, and the plans for buildings
and bridges keep lot Of business in sight
in beams. channels and angles Plates for
shipyards are also sought freely, prices
tending upward on tank steel. Higher
freight rates have checked imports of fin
iShed steel.
Footwear shops are actively engaged
many producers having added to the long
list OF orders, and while practically all the
New England manufacturers are assured
full time up to the end of the year, they
are also taking orders for deliveries in
March. Prices are easily maintained.
sharp fall in hides, which has been ac-
centuated by the poorer quality now COM
ing on the market. Large imports have
weakened dry hides.
In cotton goods the feature was the pur-
chase of about 10000 pieces of print cloths.
While quotations were not altered, the
tone became decidedly firmer. In the divi-
sions of the market buyers are only inter-
ested I'm meeting current demands, future
requirements being held back by evidences
of weakness in the raw material.
Failures for the week number 206 in the
United States, against 229 last year, and
twenty-four in Canada, compared with