Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-01
Trade Awaits Politics But
There is No Apprehension
Because of Election
MILES OF CARS ARE STALLED
Hradstreet Reports Confidence in the
Outlook for Next Years Business
Heavy Orders Booked for Spring De-
Iivery-structural Iron Wanted Ev-
erywhere-Trade Good.

New York, Nov. 1.-R. G. Dun's
Weekly Review today says: Speculation
waits upon politics, but legitimate bus
mess is not disturbed by the approach
ing election. New labor controversies
have been promptly settled, by advanc-
ing wages, and the gradual improve
nlent in supply of coal has reduced
prices and restored activity in manu-
featuring. Complaints are increasing
as to the tardy movement of freight,
miles of cars being stalled by the lack
OF motive power, and many roads are
refusing to accept some classes of
freight until the blockade is relieved.
Lower temperatures has stimulated the
sale of seasonable merchandise, but
frost comes too late to seriously injure
agricultural products. The liberal con-
sumption sustains quotations in most
lines, domestic demands being supple
mented by large exports. Operating
expenses of the railways have increased
in many cases to such degree that
net earnings for October thus far ex-
coed last years by AT per cent and
those of 1900 by 1876 per cent.
Undue significance is attached to the
announcement that the Frick company
will not advance next years price for
coke above SO. Altho this is in line
with other conservative efforts of lead
ing interests to prevent high prices,
the probable influence on the outside
market will not be great, as the bulk
of the output will go to the various
plants of the United States Steel cor
poration. Meanwhile sales are being
made at Sic in extreme cases, and the
scarcity has closed more blast furnaces.
The future course of the iron and steel
industry will be largely Influenced by
this fuel shortage, much business be-
ing permanently lost to home produc-
ers and prices in some departments
which show the effect of disorganized
conditions. Railway needs have not
diminished, numerous large orders con-
stantly appearing, while the pressure
for locomotives is causing large pre-
miums to be offered. Structural shapes
for bridges and shipbuilding are next
in point of urgent demand. Agreement
on the tin plate wage scale may secure
u lot Of business that now goes out
of the country, and some reduction in
prices is expected. Wire nails are
also cheaper, but as a rule quotations
are we'll maintained.
New England shoe manufacturers are
receiving additional orders at fully sus-
tanned quotations., and many shops are
assured of full occupation well into
January. Supplementary orders for
winter goods have decreased, indicating
that the wants will be supplied when
shipments are made and producers are
pushing deliveries in order to take in
ventories. Leather is in better demand
with prices firnler. More interest has
been shown in Chicago hides at recent
ly reduced prices, but the average of all
grades is again lower. Conditions at
the cotton mills are healthy, scarcity
of goods being general, while there is
no disposition to force transactions. 1t
is early for supplementary buying of
spring goods, and fall trade is finished, |
SO that these divisions of the market
are naturally quiet. Raw wool is very
firm at the leading markets, which are
Shipping freely to the mills.
Bradstreet's today says:
Confidence in the outlook for next
years business is a notable feature in
the trade situation. The volume of or
ders booked for next springs delivery |
is large for this season of the year, and |
is explained partly by the exceptionally |
good business done on fall and winter
account and the large crop yields of the
year, and also by the good position OF
the winter wheat crop as cold weather
approaches.
One industry in which confidence in
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