The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-29
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
SITUATIONS SUMMARY BY DUN
 AND BRADSTREET.
Weather Conditions Provide the Only Important Developments-Low Temperature is Beneficial
 to the Retail Men.

New York. Nov. 28.-R G. Dun & Go. s
 weekly review of trade tomorro" VIII
 say:
 Weather conditions have provided the only important developments Of the past
 week in the business world. Excess!ve
 rains in some sections, notably the Soutn-
 west facilitated distribution or neaVy
 footwear, dvershoes and kindred lines,
 while seasonably low temperature at oin-
 CT points increased the movement or Win
 ter wearing apparel. These influences, to-
 gether with a large Thanksgiving trace
 in fresh products. stimulated retail deal-
 ings very materially.
 Jobbing and wholesale trade Is fully
 maintained and manufacturing plants
 have orders far ahead out in many cases
 the coke shortage retards opeations. Railway officials are making every enort to relieve the freight congestion, espe-
 cially in the vicinity of Pittsburg. put
 provement. Gross earnings are fully maintained for November thus far ex- ceeding last year by 6.S per cent, and
 those of 1900 by l6-! per cent; wnie n is anticipated that higher freight rates will offset the advances in wages, sus- taining net earnings.
 Inquiries for pig iron become more ur-
 gent as the scarcity grows more acute. Furnaces are added to the idle list when there is full occupation for every plant in the country, but the fuel shortage Is not perceptfbly removed. Coke commands high premiums according to the needs Of consumers. and iron Is similarly held at an abnoral position by the insufficient
 supply. Even foreign pig iron has not
 arrived at specified dates while new or
 ders have been placed abroad covering
 distant deliveries. It is fully apparent
 that domestic needs will continue to ex- ceed available supplies for many months to come. The pressure is less severe In the various finished lines, aside from structural steel and railway equipment. Numerous projected additions to mileage.
 improved terminals and increased roll ing stock insure activity at theBshops for months to come. Machinery houses, boiler works and makers of heavy hard
 ware are all far behind with orders and
 practically every section of the iron and steel industry Is entirely In control of
 sellers. prospective purchasers having to
 make all the concessions. Minor metals on the other hand are generally weaker,
 tin being especially depressed: Silver bull
 lion has fallen to much the lowest price on record, the intrinsic value of silver
 dollar now being about 39 cents. A dis tinctly frmer tone pervades the market for footwear, orders coming forward freely for spring goods. The leading shoe
 leather especially henlock sole, giving firmer tone to the market and reducing
 the stocks. Foreign dry hides are in limited supply and we'll held. There is for distant delivery of cotton goods, but
 a steady demand absorbs the limited stocks and buyers are often compelled to
 hunt for desired lines of staple cloths. Printed and woven patterned goods for sping are selling freely on forward busi- ness. The better tone that appeared some weeks ago in woolens has finally caused l a moderate advance in staple lines for spring.
 Failures for the week number 21s in the United States against 1s2 last year and | l60 in Canada compared with 25 year | ago.