The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-23
FUEL SCARCITY Is
 SERIOUS HANDICAP BradStreet'S and Dun's Weekly
 Review of Trade STRIKE BEGINNING TO TELL Freight Blockade of Trains Has Closed Many Furnaces, While Increasing
 Call for Moving Crops Gives
 Little Chance of Relief.
STRIKE BEGINNING TO TELL

New York, August 22-R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomrrow will say:
 Fuel scarcity is still the one serious industrial handicap. Protraeted idleness at anthracite mines increased the pres- sure for soft co al and coke, and despite new records of output, deliveries are ut- terly inadequate owing to the lack of mo- tive power Freight blockade of trains has closed many furnaces, while the in crossing call for transporting facilities on crop account gives little prospect of early relief. Notwithstanding the congestion, railway earnings thus far reported for August show gains of 34 per cent over last year and II per cent over 1900. The weather conditions have been less uni forinly favorable for agricultural prod uts, vet no severe loss Is reported. Cur rent trade is of good volume for the sea- son, while the outlook for the future is bright Buyers are numerus in all the lea0ing markets placing orders literally at well sustained quotations.
 As the active blast furnace capacity or this courtry decreases through want of fuel, soreign pig iron is purchased more freely. and Scotch warrants have ad- vsnced because of the steady demand Domestic ne sds are now far beyond all precedent, and even with the available home capacity active, there would be im- ports, although less than are now arriv- ing. There Is much that is gratifying in this state of affairs, but there is also drawback During the recent period for exceptioral dome stic demand, many ex- port orders have been sacrificed, which German and Belgian makers secured.
 Cutput of the Connelsvll1e region con- tinues above all records but stocks ac- cumnlate.
 Textile mills are well occupied with business gradually increasing in the cot ton goods division. Export trade In brown cotton is insignificant, but more inquiry Is reported New lines of light weight woolens and worsteds for spring wear are now fully opened and buyers are plac- ing much business. Quotations are stead- ily maintained with the market in healthy condition. There Is some evidence that supplementary orders will command higher prices. especially If raw wool makes any further advance. Footwear shops at the east have assurances of full operation for two months, although there is much complaint of quotations in con- nection with the sensational movement of the material. Packers hides at Chi cago have attained new high-record prices and oak sole leather has ao- vanced. There Is a general disposition 10 delay making contracts at present quo tations, legitimate purchasers or malerlai fearing an artificial element in the mar ket, and shoe manufacturers will be eau tious while spring contracts are uhoer consideration.
 higher in price owing to less uniformly good news from the agricultural sec lions No serious disaster occurred put excessive rains retarded the deVeiopihen' of grain and interrupted harvesting. In many cases where the date or maturi.s has been postponed there IS aiWays the possibility of injury from early frosts. h., otber extreme of weather caused comnlaint at the south, drouth being In evidence at many points. on the other hand there were good reports or early r,cking especially in Oklahoma Conee recovered from within an eighth or the lowest point on record, rumors of trost Tn Brazil proving more potent than over whelming supplies oo- l., the Tinted States, against 2O5 last year, and 3O in Canada, against 30 year ago.
 eRADsTaEET's REVIEW.
 New York, August 2.-Bradstreet to- morrow will say:
 Trade developments are still largely favorable, fall jobbing activity being widespread, and reports as to collections are more uniformly encouraging than for a long time past. Weather conditions have not been altogether favorable to corn at the north, or cotton at the south, but decadence In crop prospects Is still largely matter of trade sentiment re- f1ecting some reaction from earlier buoy ant agricultural prospects. Industrial activity has apparently never been sur passed and what checks are noted or either as in the case of anthracite coal stoppage, of an ancient date, or as in the case of furnace shut downs in iron and steel trades, the results of superabund- ant railway traffic curtailing fuel sup plies.
 The high prices of cattle. sheep, hogs and produce are temptinR and fuducinQ