Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-01-04
TRADE SHOWS PROSPERITY.
DUN's WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
Expenditures for Gifts Are Annie
Proof of PrOsperity-Trade in
Some Instances Is Over 100 Per
Cent Bettcr-Tbe South shows Less
Gnins-TrOm Bradstreets Report.


Gnins-TrOm Bradstreets Report
New York, Dec. 30.-R, G. Dim g.
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade saws.
If any evidence was needed of the
prosperity with which
this nation has been blessed during
the past year the expenditure for
Christmas gifts and decorations should
be ample. Distribution of Christmas
goods among the employees of largo
firms and corporations was on a large
scale, often the increase over last
year amounting to 100 per cent. while
the profit sharing at the end of the
year will reach an unprecedented fig
ure. 1t is now noticed that the south.
ern trade shows less satisfactory gains
over last year than at other sections
which is not surprising, as the prin.
cipal product of the south has av.
eraged from IS to SO a bale less than
year ago while the quantity thus far
marketed shows no commensurate in.
crease.
Following closely upon the inter
ruptiOn by floods and storms last week
the transporting and manufacturing
facilities were further handicapped bv
numerous accidents. Iron furnaces
and steel mills were tied up and the
movement of coke was hampereG.
This resulted in much insufficient sup
plies of fuel that many stacks were
banked at time when full activity
was especially desired. The situation
any previous time this season. The
output in the Connellsville region has
been at a record-breaking pace for
month or more, but stocks accumulate
at the ovens because motive power and
cars cannot be secured. Pig iron pro-
ductiOn is no longer at the high mark
recorded when December opened and
with fancy prices for fuel it is natural
that Bessemer sheets advance.
Business in wholesale drygoods has
been interrupted by holiday influence
and stock taking among jobbers. Cot
ton goods ruled quiet, apart from the
demand for converters, which was on
liberal scale. Cotton mills are sold
ahead for several months as a rule
and there is no urgency to make new
contracts especially in view of the
uncertain raw material.
Wool is strong and tending upward,
with a good demand not only from
mills and dealers. but on speculative
accounts. Stocks are closing the year
in much better condition than at the
start, exceptional consumption having
made large inroads. Footwear shops
are actively engaged and are shipping
much more heavily than a year ago.
Leather and hides are strong but COM
paratively quiet.
A decidedly high price level has been
maintained in the leading cereal
staples, with option trading of good
dimentions, despite the double holi-
day at the produce exchange. Wheat
recovered most of the recent moder-
ate decline, supported by fairly
steady demand. Notwithstanding the
high level of quotations as compared
with earlier years, exports for the
week, from all ports of the United
States, including -four, amounted to
3540,972 bushels, compared with q
765014 bushels a year ago, and q
417,01S bushels two years ago. In
terror receipts were light and flour
mills have been handicapped by the
corn shortage which made it difficult
to bring in raw material, or take out
the finished product.
Failures for the week number $50
in the United States against 237 last
year, and % in Canada against Is
last year.
New York, Dec. 30.-Bradstreet's re-
port says: Reports of a record break
ing holiday trade, of reasonable quiet
in leading wholesale lines, of eXcep-
tional activity at the top prices in iron
and steel; of sustained activity in
other industries, continued complaint
of car and motive power shortage and
general hardening of speculative
markets for food products are the
features of trade advices to Brad
streets. The year closed with the
greatest activity in iron and steel.
Wheat apparently cut loose from
corn this week and displayed ex-
ceptional strength and activity for a
holiday week. The winter wheat mar
kets took the lead in this respect,
buying being especially good at st.
Louis.
Helena, Mont, Jan. 1.-The confer
ference of governors and attorneys general
of the northwestern states called to take
L D., -