The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-31
DEFICIENT CAR SUPPLY
SERIOUS DRAWBACK IN THE IRON
AND STEEL INDUSTRY.
Retail Distribution of Goods Affected
IL Good-Week's Bank Clearings.
2 YORK. Jan. so.-Bradstreet's to-

NEW YORK. Jan. oO.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Trade developments In January confirm
the sanguine expectations and prediction
made at the outside OF the month. Whole
sale and jobbing trade in spring dry goods.
millinery, boots and shoes and hats is i'm
proving steadily, Januarys jobbing bust
ness at the leading cities East and West
being the best ever recorded in that month
Shipments on orders are larger and earlier
than in preceding years. Retail trade re-
ports are hardly so favorable. Unseason-
able weather duls retail distribution in
this line and the usual January clearing
sales are attracting less than ordinary at
tention.
Among the industries no sign Of tagging
activity is noted. Iron and steel produc-
ton is at its highest point, despite fuel and
car shortages and prices are higher. Ac-
tivity in lumber is also noted the country
over. The general price situation remains
strong. corn, among the cereals. and cotton,
among the textiles, leading.
The car shortage trouble Increases rather
than grows better. Smaller than expected
movements of grain and lumber to market.
of fuel from producing centers to con-
sumers and Of general merchandise from
wholesalers and jobbers to retailers are
reported the country over. Preference Is
some railroads are reported refusing all
dead freight outside of fuel
The shoe trade is more or less quiet and
leather is likewise, East and West. The
strength in cotton goods in reality Is the
main reason shown for the advance this
week in the raw cotton market. though
smaller than expected receipts, better
cables and the strength. Of spot cotton at
the South are all assigned in support
thereof. Wooden goods for next fall are
being ordered in fair quantities, while mills
are being pushed for spring deliveries Raw
wool continues strong and prices are at
flood tide.
Wheat including flour. exports for the
week aggregate 4,42o.065 bu against 1886, Isl
last week, 3,702, 1868 in this week a year ago
and 376,OO0 in 1901. Wheat exports since
July l aggregate 14S, ,622 bu against 1885,
SAG, 1S6 last season and lis, $40 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 2,045,999 bu against
2,376, $50 last week, 427.01S a year ago and q
4S7.O7 in 1901. For the fiscal year exports
are 20, 100000 bu against q, S60,S70 last sea-
son and lis, 1896 1854 in 1901.
Business failures in the United States
number 2SO against 253 last week, 3O3 In
R. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review says
of the iron and steel situation: Miles of
loaded cars and thousands of tons of coke
piled in the yard at Connellsville tell of the
condition in the steel industry. Furnaces
are closing by fuel shortage. BY giving
coal, live stock and perishable goods
precedence over all other freight the rail-
roads helped consumers everywhere but
at the expense of the leading manufacture
ing industry. Many plants are closed or
running only part time. and few orders for
distant delivery are either sought or of
fered owing to the uncertainty as to when
normal conditions will prevail. 1t is
stated that deliveries of pig iron to the
leading consumer are several months be-
hind and the spot brssemer has risen
sharply, yet there is much irregularity, as
evidenced by the decline in cast pipe. Lo-
comotives are being turned out of the
shops with record-breaking rapidity, and
other railway equipment ia in equally good
demand, while structural material is still
feature. Many additional contracts for
bridge building recorded"