The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-13
WEEKLY TRADEREVIEW
jBRADSTREET'S FINDS THE
SITUATION ENCOURAGING.
South Reports More Doing at Nearly
All the Centers-Coke Shortage
Affects the Output Of
Pig Iron.

AVG" ioFh, oept. lz.-br dusutets To-
morrow will say:
Taken as whole, fall trade Is still ex-
banding in volume bee ause Western and
Northwestern markets report undated
activity, Eastern jobbing Is as active as
heretofore and the South reports moro
doing at nearly all centers. Frost held
off until the close of the week when
scare was worked up. ANY deteriora-
ton now, however, can only be as to
quality, because the crop seems secure
as to quantity. Industry is active and
except In the Eastern shoe manufactur-
ing trade, the hard coal region and iron
furnace work, the latter because of the
coke shortage, present outputs equal,
and in most cases exceed, records. De-
spite the fact that the new crops are only
moving in small volume and the usual
activity in anthracite coal is absent, the
pinch of the car shortage Is steadily
growing.
That the trouble is not entirely one OF
too few cars seems evident from the
heavy orders for locomotives given by
the leading railroad lines. Scarcity OF
help is noted in the South for picking
Wage advances are not entirely absent
and there is talk of a general movement
for better compensation on Western rail-
roads Collections are uniformly satisfac-
tory except at the South, but even there
improvement is noted at various points
"ue to increased movement of cotton.
One fact brought out in the reports as
to activity in dry goods. clothing, shoes,
millinery and groceries, Is the very gen
eral demand for higher class of goods
which manifests itself. Retail trade the
country over also seems better stfnu-
lated partly by cooler weather. From a
number of cities complaints come from
distributors that manufacturers are be-
hind on orders. The corn crop made sat
isfactory progrtss toward maturity I'M
til Friday when general frost was re-
ported, without, however, much effect on
prices. Altog .ther government and pri-
vate advices as to crops of cereals, fruits
and tobacco are quite encouraging for
a large yield. The quality of oats will
be below the standard owing to the wet
weather in harvesting and much winter
wheat is below grade. The reduced move
ments of hogs to market is apparently
based on fewer animals on the farm Rice
yields will be liberal in the South and
sugar cane is making good progress. Dry
weather will reduce the crop of citrus
fruits in Florida.
Another notable feature is the gen.
eral strength exhibited by prices. The
smallest stock of wheat supplies since
1898 Ia indicated both here and abroad. 1t
has been a weather market for corn,
reports of damage yet to come from
frosts inducing a fractional gain on the
week. Export business in wheat was
large early in the week and the ten
dency OF this branch of the business TO
expand at slight concessions is notable.
Cotton goods are firmer, as much be-
cause of the steady insistent demand as
because of the strength of the raw ma
terial which closed l-16dl-Sc below last
week. The situation in wool and wooden
goods is very favorable to sellers. The
strength in hides is the keynote to the
leather and shoe markets. Building ma
terial is active and lumber leads in ag-
gressive strength. feature in keeping
with the advancing season Is the higher
range of farm products. Eggs are higher
and butter is advancing on larger con-
sumption and reported manipulation by
cold storage interests.
The shortage of fuel still exasperatss
the iron trade, which sees the foreign
flood of iron and steel growing steadily.
The July import is probably not far from
100000 tons. The Use Of large numb ,rs
VI cars 10 carry SOU coal 10 Inc antnra-
cite regions aggravates the shortage of
coke in The Pttsburg district. But the
same complaints come from Chicago and
st. Louis. Rails and structural materials
are still the prominent features West
ern mills will, however. only accept rail
orders for delivery IN the last quarter
OF 1903. Pittsburg reports 10000 to 1900
tons of foreign Bessemer pig iron COM
ing in monthly to that district. German
blliets and foundry iron are also coming
In incre using supply. German rail max ers
are reported to have made large sales
to Southwestern roads. The trade in
wire is improving, but tin plates are
dull Hardware is IN excellent demand
at all points and in fact anything with
iron in 1T finds ready sale. Among the
other metals tin is weaker but copper is
stronger in tone than last year.
Wheat Including -FOUR exports for the
week aggregate 5.44,142 bushels against
6,276, 299 last week, 6,64s 500 in this week
last year and 4,665. 9S2 in 1900. Wheat ex-
ports since July l aggregate so, 101, 7l2
bushels. against 6s.341 III last season and
1883. 1888 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 9l,519 bushels
against 21.196 last week, 1881 last year
and 2402, 1855 in 1900 For the fiscal wear
exports are 93l ,351 bushels. against H.
Gl6I6 last season and 37.657,OS6 in 1900
Business failures for the week ending
September IL number 1877 as against 133
last week, 1872 in this week last year 1877
in 1900 149 in 1899 and 1T3 in 1898. For
Canada for the week Is as against Il last
week.