Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-25
WEATHER INFLUENCES TRADE
Dun Reports Notable Activity in ssasOnable
Lines of Wearing Apparel
BUYERS ARE STILL CONSERVATIVE
Business IL, However, More Active
Than Twelve Months Ago and
Railway Earnings Show In
crease for Month.
NEW YORK, April PAR. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review OF Trade will say:

NEW YORK, April PAR. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review Of Trade will say:
Trade responded promptly to better
weather in many sections of the country,
notable activity appearing in seasonabie
lines OF wearing apparel, yet wholesalers
report conservatism as compared with ear
lier months this year, although business is
more active than 1t was a year ago. Some
branches are still backward and there is
still more or less complaint regarding col
lections, while renewals are frequently
asked. outdoor work is vigorously prose-
cuted, agricultural communities endeavor-
ing to make up lost time, and structural
undertakings call for large quantities of
lumber and building materials. sustaining
solved with improved celebrity. Lake navie
cation has had the expected effect in re-
ducing rail freight congestion and ship
diminution in the splendid increase of gross
railway earnings, which thus far show a
1res for April and 25.s per cent over 1901.
Fuel Tends to Accumulate.
Three facts are especially noteworthy as
dustry. Scarcity of coke is no longer cause
for complaint. On the contrary, in some
accumulation. and predictions as to the
higher prices have ceased. Ample supplies
of fuel make IT possible for blast furnaces
to turn out pig Iron in abundance. as this
was the only drawback, and a new high
water mark of production may be expected
for April. Augmented stocks of coke and
pig iron, however, fail to result in sufficient
steel as yet, billets being in urgent request.
A rail mill has commenced work on billets
and other similar openings are contem-
plated, which indicates the pressure, as
steel rails are more readily marketed than
any other product. Settlement of structural
labor troubles has renewed activity on
bridges Billets will be brought from abroad
at the earliest possible date, but there is
difficulty in securing sales, as foreign pro
ducers are also holding large contracts.
Pig iron is still unsettled as to price.
While dry goods markets have enjoyed
better spot demand because of fine weather,
conditions at the leading textile mills have
not materially improved. Increased orders
are chiefly confined to specialties. Until
cotton can be purchased more cheaply there
is little prospect of generally lower quota
tons for goods, and on the other hand
purchasers exhibit no inclination to ad-
vance bids or even buy freely at present
rates.
Wool Improvement Barely Maintained
Last weeks slight improvement in heavy
woolens has been barely maintained.
Clothiers complain of tardy delivery of
samples, which may affect subsequent busi-
ness.
New England manufacturers of boots and
shoes report a seasonable lack OF new busi-
ness and further contracts from Jobbers
are not expected during the next fort
night Sole leather is more active at un-
changed quotations. Increased activity and
| strength has come in Chicago packer hides
| with the advancing season.
Fluctuations in quotations OF the great
staples have been extensive during the past
! week with a slightly higher level as the
| net result and only fair degree of ac-
| tivity.
| Canada. compared with eighteen year
1 ago,