Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-02-24
STORM INJURIES TRADE
n".gsiness Temporarily Checked by Re-
cert Unpleasant Weather.
DEMAND STILL ENORMOUS.
Prices Of Perishable Goods Advance
Sharply, and There IL . strong
Upward Tendency In All
Staple Commodities.

New York, Feb. pr. G. Dun q
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
Along the Atlantic coast business
was temporarily checked by the storm.
and some interior points also suffered
from unfavorable weather but con-
sumptive demands give no evidence Of
abatement; hence each interruption fs
followed by an accelerated distribution
that is often only limited by transport
ing facilities. Prices Of perishable
goods advanced sharply. and the whole
range Of staple commodities tended
upward. Jobbing trade in spring lines
Of wearing apparel is Of ample proper
lions, and all heavy hardware and
products of iron feel the pressure in
that industry. Prospects are most en-
uraging as to the labor situation, ex-
ira help being secured without difficult
ty, while conflicts between employers
and wage earners should reach prompt
conclusion now that the committee Of
Cancellation has been organized in per-
manent form.
While by no means inflated beyond
the point fully warranted by urgent
purchasers. prices Of pig iron have
made decided advances despite the op-
position Of leading interests. Enor.
nous transactions are recorded, most
new contracts being for delivery late
in the year. On large orders for dis
tant shipment bessemer commands
$1o.75 at Pittsburg, but for small guam
titles or earlier delivery 80 cents more
is readily paid. Southern foundry iron
has been more steadily maintained, but
In this also the tendency is upward
More imports are reported, but foreign
markets are also advancing now that
there is less prospect Of American
competition because Of the unprece-
denied home demand.
Railway supplies and structural ma
terial are still the most eagerly sought
Of finished steel products. Scarcity Of
rails for prompt delivery IL such as to
put secondhand rails higher than the
Official list price for standard goods.
Record breaking building permits indi-
cate the business that will be done by
structural mills, and 1t is reported that
two large producers have refused to
accept any more orders. Buyers no
longer insist on a specific date, but
place contracts at the convenience of
makers. Lack Of billets Is closing
plants, and iron furnaces are handi-
capped by the slow movement Of coke.
The Footwear situation.
The presence Of numerous buyers In
the Boston footwear market has not
vet produced the desired volume Of
business. There seems to be almost
deadlock owing to the indisposition Of
manufacturers to make desired conces-
sions and the unwillingness of pur-
chasers to offer full list prices. In one
case only has there been agreement,
and this was victory for the jobbers,
sales being made at the figures prevail
ing before the recent advance. Evil
dence Of weakness in some grades of
leather is in favor Of buyers, although
this has been by no means general.
Farm staples are remarkably we'll
maintained at the recent advance in
quotations. This is especially notable
In wheat, because speculation contin-
ues inactive and the cash demand is
somewhat Irregular although Mime
apolis mills are grinding more -four
than at this time last year. Atlantic
exports of the finished product fell to
1885 barrels for the week against
249,874 last year, but exports Of wheat
and -four from all ports Of the United
States made better comparison,
amounting to 3,257 1888 bushels against
4,244,924 in 1901. In so far as any
thing developed concerning the next
crop, it was Of an encouraging nature.
The situation as to corn Is unchanged.
Stocks are too light and the new crop
too far distant to permit any agrees
sive speculation on the short side,
while the present price level is so higl,
that further efforts for an advance
would be dangerous. Interior arrivals
of corn were but 1,734,11 bushels com
pared with 4, 730,221 year ago, while
shipments from the Atlantic coast ag
gregated 200, 332 bushels against 3, 4O9,-
O73 last year. Cotton added a small
fraction to its price and ruled quiet
during the week at the highest posi-
ton Of the crop year. AS might be ex
pected, the recent frmer quotations
have attracted larger receipts to the
ports.
Failures for the week numbered 25C
in the United States against 253 last
year and 81 in Canada against 80 last
year.
Gas ExplosiOn Wrecks q Building.
Rochester, N. Y, Feb. pa gas ex
plosion occurred in one of several brick
buildings at the Rochester Gas and
Electric company's workings on the
river flats near Vincent street, which
completely destroyed the building
causing a loss estimated at $4,000.