Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-01-18
ThE STATE OF TRADE.
Comment by Dun's Review on the
Business of the Week.
PIG IRON IN GREAT DEMAND
Footwear Producers Make General
Adyance-Decline In Grain and
COnee-The Textile Markets.
Failures Of the Week.

| new 1Ofk, Jan. IS.-R. u. l)un N
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
Nothing has TRANSFERRED to disturb
the bright outlook in the iron and steel
industry. Deliveries of fuel are less
delayed, and furnaces operate more
fully, while mills receive material with
fair degree of promptness. Quota
tons are maintained firmly, especially
for pig irOn which is in great demand.
Large contracts have been placed for
bessemer at $3.50 on Pittsburg deliv-
cries in June. Spot sales il small guam
| titles are much higher. Structural ma
terial is taken almost eagerly, and
more foreign bridge contracts are re-
ported. Billets cannot be had in sutfi-
cient bulk from domestic producers, SO
that imports from Germany are sold
at Youngstown for $2150.
Production Of pig iron on Jan. 1, ac-
cording to The Iron Age, was DOS. 100
tons against 324.761 ut the high point
on Dec. 1. During the last two weeks
| conditions have improved so rapidly
that the present rate Of output is prob
ably at about the top point. Stocks at
the furnaces showed further decrease
! to 316, 1877 tons on Jan. /. Sales Of cop
per are made at II cents, which makes
| q somewhat striking comparison with
the so per cent higher figure of Il few
| weeks ago.
Footwear producers have at last
made general advance of from 2la to
cents. Annual inventories made such
| unsatisfactory exhibits that makers
found no difficulty in agreeing on high
err prices. Materials have long been
out of line with the finished product,
even making full allowance for i'm
proved machinery and other economies
at factories. Jobbers have not made as
sweeping increases in quotations. and
where makers are asking only 2N cents
more WHOLESALERS have not altered lists.
Hides are weaker, which ia natural at
this season when the quality deterior-
ates.
COttOns and WOOlens.
Stocks of cotton goods are not bur-
densome. and demands generally ex-
pand with the advancing season. espe-
cially for fine grades. Heavy brown
goods move slowly, both on home and
domestic orders. Wooden goods opened
lower than expected and purchases
were retarded rather than stimulated
by the declines. Changes were few
and small. yet there had been such con-
fidence in a higher level that the trade
hesitated. Wooden and worsted yarns
tend upward.
Grain reacted sharply from the high
point. and large western operator was
caught with more than he could carry.
Forced liquidation of this long account
facilitated the work of manipulatUrs
for decline. Another unsatisfactory
feature was the recent falling off In
foreign demand. official figures for De-
cember showing smaller exports OF
wheat than for any month Of the cal
the crop year there still appears gain
of about 50,OOO.OOO bushels over the
corresponding months Of 1900 or 1899.
This week exports We're 4,34S, 431 bush
els against 3, 4OS, 725 year ago.
Corn declined sharply, but still re-
mains about 20 cents a bushel above
the price last year. Exportsin Decem-
Der were only about u per cent OF the
outgo in the same month of 1900, while
for the week Atlantic ports sent out
1864 bushels against 4,695, $50 bush
els year ago. Provisions weakened
slightly in sympathy with grain, yet
the il. cher level of prices in December
established new monthly record in
value of exports. Great activity occur
red at the Coffee Exchange, where
spectators for decline were success
full, aided by enormous receipts at Bra
iii Eoris and American stocks $50 per
cent larger than were held year ago.
Failures for the week numbered 334
In the United States against 325 last
year and ~ in Canada against 43 last
year.
Boycott Helps American Goods.
l~1.