The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
TRADE HAS BEEN
 QUIET AS USUAL
Christmas Goods, However, Sold
 Quite Freely
COMMODITIES HOLD FIRM
Bradstreet and Dun Very We'll satls- fled With Conditions and Say There Is Nothing of Unusual
 Order to Cause Alarm,

New York. December 26.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Trade and speculation experienced the usual holiday quiet. except in Christmas goods, which sold freely. many packing and shipping departments being still en- gagged on this class of work which could not be completed at the specified time. Industrial undertakings are interrupted in many cases by the taking of inven- tories. while other plants are closed be- cause fuel cannot be obtained. Orders still come forward freely. and the new year will open with more business on the books than ever before. Prices of com modities are firmly held by the steady domestic demand and there is a good ex- port movement of the leading staples. In this as in many other instances, how ever there is still the drawback of in- adequate transporting facilities which restrict shipments to the seaboard. FL nancial conditions are satisfactory Rail- road earnings thus far reported for the month of December surpass last year by , per cent and those of 190O by 1l.6 per cent.
 Quiet conditions In the iron and steel industry, unaccompanied by any sign of weakness, testify to the healthy tone and suggest a bright outlook for the com ing year. Furnaces and mills will ex- tend the season of idleness beyond the usual time, not because orders are lack ing, but in order to accumulate a moder- ate supply of coke. The situation in re- gard to shipments from Connellsville has not improved. A very large amount of business will be carried over into next year, probably more than in any pre- vious season. New contracts have come forward more slowly of late, mainly be- cause of the uncertainty as to date of delivery although there are prospective purchasers who still anticipate better terms in 1903
 Foreign pig iron is offered slightly be- low domestic quotations but neither i'm ported nor homemade Iron is available for immediate use in large quantities In- dependent steel mills claim that they are unable to pay present prices for billets, which cost S31 or more for early ship ments. Reports from the south show a large increase in production as com pared with any preceding year. The strongest department of this industry ap- pears to be steel bars.
 New England shoe factories are in full ! operation, and have liberal orders on hand. Quotations are firm but without change, as there is little new business coming forward at this time to produce fluctuations Staple lines are especially strong in tone. Statesmen at the west send in large sample orders for fall styles but no contracts of importance have been placed as yet. Leather dealings have been restricted less than usual by the holidays, shoe manufacturers coming into the market for large quantities of hem- lock sole.
 An unexpectedly favorable feature has appeared in the market for cotton goods. After long season of stagnation in the export division. the demand for China suddenly became considerable, notwith- standing the depression in silver and lib- eral stocks of cottons in Shanghai h. quiries on this account are still numer- ous. although prices became f1rmer, with the stimulus of more business. Domestic trade is limited to immediate require ments, as is seasonable yet there is sufficient buying in most lines to pre- vent undesirable accumulation of sup plies. Collections are satisfactory In wooden goods there Is a good demand, overcoatngs being the chief feature but cloak manufacturers also have bought freely, especially of light, colored lines. Woolen and worsted dress goods are quiet but steady, and light supplies sustain hannels. Wool is strong with a further advance anticipated next year.
 Failures for the week numbered 20e in the United States against 250 last year and 21 in Canada compared with 23 A year ago.