Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-27
CHRISTMAS SALES HEAVY,

New York, Dec. Or. G. Dun 4
Co.'s weekly review Of trade SAYS:
Trade and speculation experienced
the customary holiday quiet except II,
Christmas goods, which sold freely
many packing and shipping depart
ments being still engaged on this class
OF work which could not be complete,
at the specified time. Industrial un
dertakings are interrupted in man,
cases by the taking of inventories
While other plants are closed because
fuel cannot be obtained. Orders still
come forward freely, and the new yeal
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
export movement of the leading sta
pies. In this, as in many other in
stances, however, there is still the
drawback of inadequate transporting
facilities, which restricts shipments to
the seaboard.
Quiet conditions in the iron and steel
industry, unaccompanied by any sign
Of weakness, testify to the healthy
tone and suggest bright outlook for
the coming year. Furnaces and mills
will extend the season of idlen6ss be-
yOnd the usual time not because Or
ders are lacking, but in order to accu-
mulate moderate supply of coke.
The situation In regard to shipments
from Connellsville has not improved
A very large amount of business will
be carried over into next year, proba-
bly, more than in any previous season.
New contracts have come forward
more slowly of late, mainly because of
the uncertainty as to date Of delivery.
although there are prospective pur
chasers who still anticipate better
terms for 1903. Foreign pig iron is
offered slightly below domestic quota.
lions, but neither imported nor home
made iron is available for immediate
use in large quantities. Independent
steel mills claimed that they are I'M
able to pay present prices for billets.
which cost $3l or more for early ship
ments Reports from the south show
q large increase in production as COM
pared with any preceding year. The
strongest department of this industry
appears to be steel bars.
The Cotton Market.
An unexpectedly favorable feature
has appeared in the market for cotton
goods. After a long season Of stagna.
ton in the export division the demand
for China suddenly became considera-
BILE notwithsta nding the depression in
silver and liberal stocks of cottons in
Shanghai. Inquiries on this account
are still numerous, although prices be
came firmer with the stimulus Of more
business. Domestic trade is limited tc
requirements, as il seasona
bic, yet there is sufficient buying in
most lines to prevent undesirable accu
mutation Of supplies. Collections are
both at the mills and with
jobbers. In wooden goods there is q
good demand, overcoatings providing
the chief feature, but cloak manufac
turers have also bought freely. especial
~ of light colored lines. Opening prices
at 5 to 10 per cent above last years fig.
ures are easily maintained. Wooden
and worsted dress goods are quiet but
steady, and light supplies sustain fan.
nels. Wool ia strong. with further
advance anticipated next year.
The leading agricultural products, with
only a moderate volume of speculation
and many exchanges closed for dou.
BILE holiday Corn has not recovered
from the recent severe decline, al
though cash prices were not depressed
owing to the ready alb
sorption of receipts. The car shortage
held back much grain that would have
come to market otherwise. Statistics |
If movement We're interrupted by the !
holiday, four full days comparing with |
I've last year, yet receipts Of corr +,
reached 3, 15b, 1O8 bushels against 1856,
1870 bushels year ago. Shipments
rom Atlantic coast ports steadily gain
1926 comparing with only 3l3,25s
bushels year ago. Wheat has
slightly because of some
diverse weather reports from abroad
vhile the domestic winter wheat con
lition is most favorable. Interior ar
ivals of 3,213,OO9 bushels compare with
!. 76S, 49, bushels last year, and totn
,xports from all ports Of the United
states. flour included were 1880 ~
,ushels for the week against 3,54O97.
asst year.
Failures for the week numbered 2U.
n the United States against $50 last
ear and II in Canada compared with