Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-21
SNOW HALTS DELIVERIES
Worst Storm Of Season Sets Spring Trade
Seriously Back.
FUEL SHORTAGE AGAIN GROWS ALARMING
Dun Has, However, Good Report tC
OEer on COuntry's Business,
which Promises Better
Than Ever Before.

NEW YORK, Feb. 2O.-R. G. Dun & Co. s
Weekly Review Of Trade tomorrow will
say:
Just as the railway congestion began
to give way before the vigorous efforts OF
tramc managers the situation became fur
tner complicated 10y the worst snowstorm
OF the season ana the movement OF mer-
chandise was again interrupted. 49,,
Latest figures OF gross earnings show the
usual gains OF February, thus lar surpass-
ing l1U per cent last year, when unusual
1871 py l.6 per cent. Increased cost Of OPP
erations, however, necessttated further All
Vanses in rates.
1raue was interrupted to a considerable
extent by the inclement weather, except in
certain scasonable lines, notably heavy
wearing apparel Wholesale houses dealing
In stapIes nave received liberal orders and
much forward business has been procured.
Jobbers urge QUICKER shipments on old or
ders, while traveiers senu in many new con-
tracts.
Manufacturers of paper, straw goods and
clothing report conditions fully as salts
factory as year ago, aside from some In
terruption ny labor controversies.
SILK Trade Booming.
Conditions In the silk industry are shown
by imports OF raw material, and one large
tnrowster has recently rejected orders si l.
ncient to occupy his plant for two years
Bios are invited for extensive building
operations, giving strength and activity II
materials and supplies.
Although many new blast furnaces are
IeaTlHB COn1pleNlOn ana others Will De nm
ished within six months, the actual out
put OF pig iron decreases because fue
cannot be secured. Last week 8 moderate
Improvement has been succeeded by ue.
Ciued setback, many more furnaces being
compelled to bank through lack OF fuel.
Reports OF agreements to supply guam
titles OF coke to favored plants are denied
There is little disposition to anticipate pil
iron requirements far into the future, how
ever, as there is always the hope of a res
toration of approximately normal Condi
tions. steel billets are arriving from abroad
and find a market at interior mills, but OF
domestic business for future delivery there
is some discrepancy between bid and ask
ing prices.
AS the season advances there are NOR,
contracts available for the erection OF
| buildings, bridges and railway extension
strengthening the market Tor stTuCtura
material, which is one of the firmest tea
lures. A heavy tonnage of plates shee
and pipe has been sold at tull figures
while more Canadian rail contracts hav,
| gone to European mills.
Quieter conditions prevail in the market
! for dry goods, although mills are bus.
| and prices well maintained. Numerous
| lines OF Cottors have again advanced ii
response to the upward tendency of tn
| raw material, and the first result has beel
disposition to delay purchases by leading
| buyers.
Western jobbers are placing liberal cas-
| orders for fall styles with New Englan,
| producers of boots and shoes, but whole
| sale trade in the east is between seasons
! Failures this week numbered 247 in tn
! United States, against $50 year ago, an
26 In Canada, as compared with 81 last year