Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
STRIKES CHECK INDUSTRY
Dun Declares Labor Unrest Most Discrim-
mating to Manufao urers.
COMMODITY PRICES SHOW A OtCLNE
Textile Business Improves Not mt All,
Some Mills Even Withdrawing
Travellers From the Road
when Sales Fall on.

NEW YORK, May S.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will
say:
Labor disputes have increased rather than
abated since May 4 when dlfnegIties I.s OF
gle of great magnitude is in progress, but
the frequency of small strikes is disturb
ing, and in the aggregate large force is
idle, while important industrial undertake
Good reports are received from footwear
factories, shipments from Boston for the
year thus far surprising all records, while
clothing makers receive Implications Of
spring orders in addition to getting out fall
| samples.
Commodity Prices Decline.
Prices of commodities declined slightly
during April Dun's index number Falling
from $50, 267 to $9S,56l. year ago the hlgh-
So, ssS lsS. 8Si"' Oh recent 'ea' was 'e
railway earnings in April were 3.4 per
cent larger than In last year and S.7 per
All quotations indicate a tendency to-
ward more normal conditions in pig iron.
J This is highly desirable and gives assur-
ances that present activity i'm iron and steel
may be maintained. Contracts for about
! $4,000 tons of structural material nave been
closed and other orders are only postponed
| by uncertainty regarding the labor situa-
| tion. Railway requirements appear to have
! consume large quantities of steel Biets
are one of the scarce articles at present,
even imports being arranged with dlhculty.
|
all records in their purchases OF merchant
| steel, machine shops are working at full
| capacity and there is a brisk demand for
plates, pipes and tubes. All leading ma
| chinery markets report satisfactory condi-
| tions. Trade in hardware is of good
| volume, orders assuring activity for some
time and new business still coming forward
| freely. and especially at the south.
Textile situation No Better.
Textile manufacturers in the east have
not improved their position during the
| week. Jobbers are buying only small guam
| titles, exercising a discrimination that in
! dicates dull markets elsewhere and sales
men are being withdrawn from the road.
| With large print mills closed, there Is no
activity I'm print cloths, neither is the move
ment OF brown sheetings and drills Of any
! account.
Abnormal prices for raw cotton might be
expected TO stimulate inquiry for goods,
| but the only effect is to prevent sellers
: from making concessions.
! Higher figures are expected next week at
the official opening of the season in carpets.
| More woolen mills have closed and the
! market is featureless, but new wool clip is
| firmly held. A steadier tone is noted in
| silks, owing to reports that production will
be curtailed.
Trade is rather quiet in leather. both as
! to sole and upper prices, and all heavy
packer hides are duh at recent advanced
prices. which were only latest sailing. For
eign dry hides are easier, buyers reducing
their bids slightly.
| Failures this week were IT'S In the United
! States, against 2ls last year, and twenty
two in Canada, compared with twenty-fOuI
a year ago.