Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-13
Comment BY Dun's Review on the
Business of the Week.
HOLIDAY TRADE IS BETTER
Retail sales Ren"rtrd Largely NIX
cess Of These l'~r Crr-~xDordir
Period lWN hrr---Th" Nr,n,
Cereal and TrNsi'r Markets.

luOSt fruitful. ne aNliLIl meeting oil
the Civil federation brought togei her
labor leaders and capitalists and faci-
itated Interchange Of opinions. Little
friction occurred and there is every
prospect that herea fter amicable al.
Justment OF most disputes will be
reached. This organization effected
numerous settlements during the year
in some cases involving important in
duStries. but the work has been done
so quietly that the public does not ap-
preciate its service. Business will be
greatly benefited by the large amount
of money put in circulation by work
Oh the Pennsylvania railway tunnel
which is expected to begin in the near
future. while occupation will be pro-
vided for an army of wage ealners.
Lower temperature and holiday de
mands have combined to accelerate re-
tail trade, sales largely exceeding the
corresponding week in preceding years
Much postponed business is being made
up, and shipping departments ARE
crowded with work, but wholesale
trade has ruled quiet.
Considering the extent to which blast
furnaces We're handicapped by innda-
Quate supplies of fuel, the production
of 1,464.4 23 tons of pig iron during
November was much larger than gen
orally anticipated, although smaller
than in any other month of the half
year except September. According TO
the Iron Age. the weekly capacity OF
furnaces in blast on Dec. | was 343.
5S1 tons against 337 500 tons weekly
ON Nov. and 3o4 76l tons a year ago,
Numerous furnaces have been blown
in, and it is certain that the output will
rise far above 1.50O,OO monthly as
soon as normal conditions exist in re-
gard to the supply of coke. With the
added interruption OF snow blockados,
however. it is not probable that Il free
movement IS TO be expected in the inn
mediate future. At first glance the
sudden rise in furnace stocks of pig
iron to "a ,2295 tons compared with H.
S5S on Nov might suggest that con
sumption was below production, but
obviously any accumulation that oc-
ours is due to inadequate transporting
facilities. since needs are urgent. as
evidenced by the imports of eastern
steel works. The pressure is still
greatest for railway supplies. with
structural material next as to urgency
OF demand
The Market For Footwear.
Small supplementary orders for spring
shoes are received by New England
shops. but the season is practically over.
Buyers are urgent for delivery on early
and factories are now fully
engaged. 1t is encouraging that many
leading producers are compelled to re-
fuse orders calling for delivery before
which turns the business over
to other concerns. distributing activity
more uniformly Statesmen at the west
have thus fair sent in few orders for fall
and winter goods. Local jobbing and
retail trade in footwear have been brisk
with the seasonable weather. Aside
from activity in union sole. the leather
market has been quiet. Further reces
uiOns have occurred in domestic hides |
On the other hand. foreign dry hides
are firmly held despite increased re-
ceipts. Conditions are practically un
changed as to cotton goods, a fair vol |
lme Of orders preventing accumulation
1t the mills. Quotations are steady |
and export sales of heavy brown cot
IONS continue very small. In special
ines of wide sheetings small advances |
N prices occurred
Decided strength appeared in the |
wheat market owing chiefly to higher
,ables and eager purchases for export !,
The upward tendency Of foreign mar
kets must be attributed to less favora,
Die crop reports from producing coun-
rles, notably Argentina, while esti-
mates of the Manitoba yield were re-
luced. Some decrease in western re- |
.eipts also had strengthening infu- |
nee on quotations, for the week ar
'ivals aggregating 6,133,653 bushels
lgainst 1904 1854 bushels last week and
], 1872 $40 bushels a year ago. Total ex-
,orts from all ports of the United
states, -four included, were 4.354, O42
'ushels compared with 5,34O, 100 bush
lis hast week and 3,847,S59 bushels in
he corresponding week of 1901. Ac-
ording to the official report, both acre
ge and condition Of winter wheat
'oint to much heavier yield than last
ear, which is the one factor that tends
0 prevent a Target advance in prices.
luiet conditions prevail as to corn, re-
eipts of 3,35O.240 bushels compal ing
With 4,133,431 bushels last year, while
Atlantic exports were 1862 bushels
gainst 307SO3 bushels in 1901. AL
hough smaller than last weeks out
%. shipments are beginning to exhibit
material gain over last years figures.
Failures for the week numbered 269
n the United States against 273 last
ear and 30 in Canada, compared with
a year ago .s'.