Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-20
Bradstreet says close Of Year f. Con-
templated With Satisfaction.

Bradstreet says close Of Year f. Con-
tempIated with Satisfaction.
NEW YORK, Dec. 1s.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
The wholesale trade Is quleting down. as
the stock-taking period approaches. and
what activity r. noted by tobbers Is In for
warding supplies Of goods needed to REIN
force stocks OF retailers, depleted by what
is conceded 70 be the most active holiday
west has helped sales of furs, heavy cloth
Ing and sleighs, and further stimulated
general retail buying. Holiday buying. Il Is
noted. IL for a rather more expensive grade
OF goods than ordinarily. of course there
are some drawbacks, such as unsettled
weather or bad roads In the south. The
coal shortage in the east and the continu-
ance OF the railway congestion In the west
AFFECTS the movement Of coke, bituminous
coal. and general freight, but taken as a
whole the mercantile community contem-
plates the approach Of the end Of the year
KNOWING as IL does that most Of the
lines OF trade will show gains over 1901 ana,
therefore, over any preceding year, the
one, while the fine wheat crop outlook and
the volume Of orders already booked for
eeeenndd,tyonSss. Even Even tbo Rnev II rSt tbst s sT1s
manufacturing plants are, like domestic
consumers, short OF coal and are contem-
plating a rather earlier than usual holiday
shutdown, fails to arouse the pessimistic
feeling noted earlier In the year, when the
fuel shortage wac more talked about.
I'D. @1ALN4 EAIE aNNEI bAA
is advanced l cent per pound by the trad
ing producer. Shoe shipments are better
this week, but will still fall 9 per cent be-
hind for the season.
Seasonabie Influences AFFECT the great in
dustries. Building Is less active, but the
diminished strength. The iron trade pre-
sents surface quietness, but some impor-
tant matters are taking place. The passing
Of the leading interest unquestionably
makes for stability in the departments OF
ore importers are inclined to do business
tions.
Heavy buying of cars and other rolling
stock is indicated for the new year and
liberal orders for plates, wide and fstruc-
tural materials for 1903 delivery are also
noted. Pig iron and steel billets are quiet.
Irregular coke supplies harass furnaces
and interfere with operations of the finan-
cling Of the mills. High prices of coke
and raw materials and higher freight rates
form a combination fraught with difficulty
to independent mills.
country for next year is already sold. I'M
mense quantities of steel will be needed for
new car building. Hardware buying is
active for this season of the year
The glass production OF the country this
year is heavier than last by fully 10 per
cent The recent advance in pig tin is
attributed to speculation.
Raw wool is firm. Wooden machinery is
well employed. and next years heavy
weight goods are bought quite literally.
Some reduction in bieached cottOns Is re-
ported, resulting in a good business.
Eastern jewelry manufacturers report a
quieting down in business. but this is usual
at this period, and a fair trade has been
done.
Rubber goods and Ootwe are active.
Wheat. including -four, exports for the
week ending December Is aggregate 3,256,037
bu., against 3,761,Q7 last week, 4,432, $50 in
this week last year and A,123,3 $50 in 1900.
Wheat exports since July aggregate 123.-
763, 533 bu.. against 140, 636, 213 last season and
90,131 1853 in 1900.
Corn eWnorts agpraOata I sos1 IA ~, ne
against 1901, 2S6 last week. S,330.SS1 last year
and 5,465.57S in 1900. For the fiscal year
exports are 6,6S6.3IS bu.. against 30,125, 800
last season and 9O,371 ,974 in 1900.
Business failures in the United States for
the week ending Thursday, December IS,
number 225, as against 26 last week. 269 in
this week last year. Canadian failures
numbered fourteen. against seventeen last
week and eighteen in this week a year ago.