Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-08-23
CONDITION OF TRADE.
The Great Industrial Handicap Is
Scarcity of Fuel.
LOSING EXPORT BUSINESS.
The Decrease In Our Active Blast
Furnace Capacity Gives Foreign
Metal Workers a Chance to
Capture the Market.

New York, Aug. OR. G. Dun &
Co. S weekly review of trade says:
Fuel scarcity is still the one serious
industrial handicap. Protracted idle
ness at anthac cite mines increased the
pressure for soft coal and coke, and
despite new records of output, deliv-
cries are utterly inadequate owing to
the lack of motive power. This freight
blockade of coke trains has closed
many furnaces, while the increasing
call for transporting facilities on crop
accounts gives little prospect Of early
relief.
AS the active blast furnace capacity
of this country decreases through want
of fuel, foreign pig iron is purchased
more freely, and Scotch warrants have
advanced because Of the steady de-
mand. Official reports show that dur
ing July alone Great Britain sent
59,442 tons of pig iron to the United
States compared with 1898 tons in the
corresponding month last year, which
was a normal shipment. Domestic
needs are now far beyond all prece-
dent. and even with the available home
capacity active there would be imports,
though less than are now arriving.
A Serious Drawback.
There is much that is gratifying in
this state of affairs, but there is also
a drawback. During the recent period
Of exceptional domestic demand many
export orders have been sacrificed,
which German and Belgian makers Sc
cured. When the time comes that this
foreign business is desired, it will be
no easy matter to regain our lost po-
sition. Aside from this remote inter
national factor there is no unfavOrable
sign in the situation except the tempo
rary idlenesS of furnaces that are I'M
able to secure fuel. either because of
the strike or the traffic congestion in
coke transportation. Output of the
Connellsville regions continues above
all records. but stocks accumulate.
Textile mills are we'll occupied, bust
ness gradually increasing in the cotton
goods division, and demands for quick
delivery emphasi size the fact that stocks
are low and requirements for consump
IAOII OAC pa SN'lHS. IAApolL way al
brown cottOns is insignificant but more
inquiries are reported New lines of
light weight wOOlens and worStedS for
spring wear are now fully opened, and
buyers are placing much business.
Quotations are steadily maintained.
with the market in healthy condition.
There is some evidence that supple
mentary orders will command higher
prices, especially if raw wool makes
any further advance.
staple Products Higher.
Staple products average somewha,
higher in prices owing to less uniform
ly good news from the agricultural sec
tons. No serious disaster occurred,
but excessive rain retarded the devel.
opment of grain and interrupted har.
vesting. In many cases where the date
of maturity has been postponed there
is always the possibility of injury from
early froSts The other extreme of
weather caused complaint at the south.
drought being in evidence ut many
points.
Light stocks continue to facilitate
speculation for an advance in the early |
options of grain. and losses abroad con- |
tributcd to the good tone. The down |
ward tendency of meats received d |
check from the tirmneSS in grain. Wheat |
comes into sight at about the same |
rate as a year ago. western receipts |
for the week amounting to G.130.250 |
bushels against 6.GOl.925 bushels in !
1901. There is a striking difference I'll
the OutgO. however, exports from the
United States amounting to only 4.116,-
712 bushels compared with 5,529.G59
last year. when August was establish
ing a record. Corn is arriving slowly
at the interior. oSS.Gl' bushels being
received against 2.:3S1 90 year ago,
and Atlantic exports were A, 144 bush
els compared with $50. 1Gt; in the cor
responding week of 1901. when high
prices had begun to restrict shipments.
Coffee recovered from within an eighth
of the lowest point on record. rumorS
of frost in Brazil proving more potent
than overwhelming supplies.
Failures for the week numbered POI
in the United States against 205 last
wear. and 80 in Canada against 35
year ago.