Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-29

sections is the only apparent drawback to
d~istributive trade, but early holiday buying
has tended to minimize this. deficiency.
That a large, in fact, Unprecedented, holi-
day demand Will develop Is confidently pre-
dicted, all sections OF the country sending
Wholesale trade as a whole is In excess OF
a year ago, and comfortable increases are
expected to be finally shown in nearly every
country over, manufacturer ana producers
still being urgently pushed to deliver on
orders booked some time ago.
Some Improvement is noted In the trans
pCrtation CONGESTION, largely because Of spe-
eial efforts made TO break the blockade at
P~tttsburg and further west, but the car
shortage - still a matter OF worry TO rail-
road mfd and the merchants whose goods
are delayed thereby.
THE influence OF last years crop shortage
Is gradually disappearing. Lower prices for
cereals, provisions and finished iron and
stee. give hope OF better export trade, and
the possibility of cutting down some Of the
unfavorable balances shown earlier mis-
year.
Collections are In a majority of cases
still good. exceptions noted being me effect
of mild weather in the n~orthwes and too
much rain in Texas.
There is a rather more CHI ae''Il tone in
the iron trade, partly the result of inn
provement in fuel supplies In the west and
partly the result of larger putting at the
east. Little or no improvement in the coke
shortage in that Immediate district is
noted. Finished products are tirmer in
tone.
This is a duh season usually in the iron
trade, and with the q~uieting down has
coTls some talk of cutting prices In the
west. but of these reports is
generally lacking. The eagerness of con-
sGmers to get supplies, added to the te-
lLctancy of sellers to engage for deliveries
any further ahead than 1903, Is taken to
Indicate that next years business viii he
large, Rather more than usual seasonable
activity Is noted in hardware.
Among the other metals cope ~ weaker
In tone and tends downward on Increased
offerings and weak foreign markets, while
tin Is also lower.
Cotton goods feel the stimulating effects
of higher prices for the raw material.
Spe~ ciaities in imported cottons were active
with jobbers. Mercerized products espe-
cially so.
The wooden mills are kept actively en-
ployed, those engaged on mems wear be-
ing particularly so. The strength OF raw
wool is undated, the latest London sale
showing a higher range. Foreign woods
sold here now are at lower prices than new
woolens can possibly be exported for. The
wool clip for 1902 shows a slight gain. The
fifth annual increase from the depression
of 1897 and the production Is not now far
from the record figures of 1898.
Wheat. including flour, exports for the
week ending November q aggregate 4,119,6S9
bu., against 5.27,672 last week, 5,117,47S in
this week last year and 2,497,SS0 in 1900.
Wheat exports since July l aggregate
II, O42, OOs bu., against 127,s1S, 1852 last season
and a, 790.267 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 255,175 bu., against
243, 5S1 last week, 630.96S last year and 4,S01, 900
in 1900. For the fiscal year exports are
2,137,8 27 bu.. against 1885, 81 last season
and 1881, SCI in 1900.
Business failures in the United States
number $50, as against POI last week. l9
in this week last year, 1874 in 1900, III in 1899
and 22 in 1898.
Canadian failures number nineteen, as
against nineteen last week ana twenty-siX
In this week a year ago.