The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-25
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
SITUATION SUMMARIZED by
BRADSTREET AND DUN.
Favorable Features Still Dominate
the Industrial World-Business
in Next Springs Accounts
Inclined to Expand.

New York, Oct. 23.-Bradstreets tomor-
row will say:
Favorable features still dominate the
trade and industrial situation. Some re-
duction In the demand for fall and winter
goods at wholesale is noted, but 1t is
known at the same time that the COM
pieted business in dry goods, clothing.
shoes. hats, millinery and most of other
lines Is In excess of 1901 and preceding
years Business in next springs ac-
counts tends rather to expand and SINH
lar tendency Is noted in retail business.
especially the east where the fear of a
coal famine has been removed by the
actual resumption of work. 1t is true
that in the northwest retail trade is not
meeting anticipations possibly because of
warmer weather. but partially because
the Farming element Is still busily en-
gagged In crop work. The money situa-
ton shows little that is unfavorable to
general business. Reports as to collec-
lions class them as being generally good
and In some cases better than year ago
raw cotton shows the least strength
OF the textiles. Good picking weather
tavors large out turn. Cotton goods
display considerable strength, the print
cloth market being strong, and prints and
Bingham jobbing we'll Wooden manu-
facturers are actively employed and they
are said not to have a large stock on
hand, thus Strengthening the raw mate
rial Improved retail trade at the East
gives tone to the entire dry goods mar
ket.
The situation in the iron trade is full
of interest While pig iron is firmer and
the coke shortage continues, necessitating
shut downs in the Pennsylvania valleys
and high premiums are paid for immedi-
ately delivery of what little iron is
available, steel billets have weakened
partly because of the effects of foreign
imports, but also because of less urgent
demand from some finishing mills. The
heavier forms of finished material retain
their former strength. Structural iron
and steel and plates for ship building pur-
poses ruling strong, but sheets are dull
and slow, while steel rods tend to weaken
and tin plate mill employees will accept
the cut In wages necessary II large con-
tracts now going abroad are to be secur-
ed. compromise on this point may be
announced at any time That high
prices have exercised a deterrent effect
on consumption Is easily demonstrated.
A cut in the prices of wire and nails has
already had the effect of encoura ging
consumption. Hardwares retains excep-
tional activity both for light and heavy
sorts and considerable sales of builders
hardware for next season are reported at
different markets.
The boot and shoe trade continue active
at the West. Better reports also come
from the eastern industry. shipments last
week being the largest for months past
and exceeding even those of the same
week a year ago, but they are still 10
per cent less for the season. Leather
is pretty steady. Hides have displayed
t-,,k -k4 H. 81
strength of both sole and upper leather.
The lumber business. while naturally
noting some quieting because of the adj
vapced stage of the season. IL s'ill OF good
volume where weather conli lions permit
of the carrying out of the work. De-
mand for building materials continue ac-
tive. In the lumber producing regions
strength is the main feature. The south
ern lumber trade reports unusual az IT,
witty. Something in the nature Of a
shortage in the worlds crop of cigar con
fronts the trade.
The yield of beet sugar appears likely
to be heavily reduced and small f:."ing
off in the yield of the cane crop is also
noted the net result being n decline of
about 10 per cent from year ago. which
has been reflected in fractional adNices of
the raw product.
Wheat, including flour. exports fr the
week ending October % aggregate 7cGf ,317,
the largest total for fourteen months past,
against 5,24O.5SS last week; 4,952,1Si in this
week last year and 4,932,97S in 1900. Wheat
exports since July l aggregate 81
busels. against 1O0.056051 last season and
co. 235. 143 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate
"a, 564 bushels, against 1S0.674 last week,
/. 1885, 1888 last year and 3,365,561 in 1901,
For the fiscal year exports are 1,642, $50
bushels against 16, 1873 131 las tseason and
SO. 400, 1872 in 1900.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending Thursday Otober
g. number 1874 as against 203 last week,
223 In this week last year. 161 in 1900; I'll
in 1899 and 219 in 1898.
In Canada for the week % against 10
last week.