The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-20
HOLIDAY TRADE
Is GREAT
Most Sanguine Expectations
Have Been Exceeded.
REP0RTSARE ENCOURAGING
Adverse Feature of Situation
Is Lack of Fuel.
REP0RTSARE ENCOURAGING

New York. Dec. 19.-R. G. Dun & Co s
weekly review OF trade tomorrow VIII
say:
Holiday trade has exceeded even the
most sanguine expectations and retail
dealers in all staple lines Of merchandise
are well maintained, with the better
grades of goods in brisk demand. Whole
some conditions prevail in most sections
OF the country, although IN parts of the
southwest the season has fallen behind
the average. Even in these cases re-
ports are encouraging for the future. IN
dUstrial plants are well employed, orders
running far into the future. and labor
controversies are rare. The only adverse
feature of the situation is the fact that
supplies of fuel are utterly inadequate.
bo--. for household and manufacturing
uses, snow increasing the delay of de-
liveries Railway earnings thus for re-
ported for December exceed last years
by ~ per cent and Jnose of 1900 by 1o.4
per cent. Two events Of importance
have occurred in relation to the leading
manufacturing industry The United
States Steel corporation has greatly ex-
tended its scope by absorbing many out
---e plants and certain desirable rail-
way connections. The other was the an
nouncement of advanced freight rates TO
take effect January !, showing an aver
age increase OF about 10 per cent on pro-
ducts of iron and steel. Otherwise the
situation is unchanged. the largest pro-
Queer having over $500. 900 tons OF untitled
orders on its books and work is being
pushed as rapidly as supplies OF fuel and
material viii permit. Supplies of coke
do not increase and many furnaces are
idle. Contracts for bridge work and track
elevation are freely offered by the rail
ways. and accepted only on condition
that the exact date Of delivery shall no;
be specified Despite the fact that nail
mills are close up to the end Of the year
new business is offered and urgent buyers
are compelled TO go abroad. New Eng
land producers of boots and shoes are
not seeking new business. which comes
forward moderately in the formerly sup
Elementary orders. Prices ere firmly
held, but no further advance is reported.
Although larger shoe manufactures are
fairly well supplied in leather. there is
steady demand from the smaller shops
The hemlock was advanced by the pro-
ducers. Further deterioration in quality
of hides has again produced a lower
range of quotations in western markets
and heavier receipts of cattle add to the
depression.
reduction in quotations Of leading
lines of bleached cottons stimulated
trading. many buyers having DELAYED
placing contracts in anticipation of this
change. This division of the textile
market is now in good condition, with no
immediate prospect of excessive supplies.
Otherwise the domestic situation is prac-
ucally unchanged. but in export grades
there has been increased interest on the
part of buyers. although few contracts
are placed as yet. In the wooden goods
market there is a fair volume OF orders.
in many cases exceeding available offer
ings- Worsteds and yarns are also firm.
while few grades Of raw wool secured
another advance. Heavy arrivals of silk
have not weakened the tone.
Failures for the week numbered 2s7. in
the United States. against 265 last year
and IS in Canada. compared with 2
year ago.