The San Francisco call., 1903-12-19
TRADE SHOWS
LESS TENSION
Encouraging Features Are
Noted in Various Lines of
Business in the Country

NEW YORK, Dec. S.-Bradstreet'
tomorrow will say:
Holiday and retail business generally
is seasonably active, wholesale and job
bing trade correspondingly quiet, while
manufacturing industry slackens for
the above reasons, but also because of
low water in streams or efforts TO read
just operations to changed conditions
of demand and supply. Cold weather
is still an important stimulus to heavy
wearing apparel and footwear.
There are several continuously en-
couraging features noted. The car con-
gestion Of year ago is. conspicuously
absent this year, and the railways are
handling the current excellent business
offering with profitable results. Fail
ures do not display more than the nor
NAL tendency to increase in number
and there is evidently less tension than
exhibited a month ago.
The iron trade retains all the good
feeling that advances on prices Of pig
iron reported in preceding weeks and
makers of finished products, most no
tably steel plates and structural forms,
are apparently firm in their views.
Prices, all things considered, showed
marked steadiness, confirming reports
of closely held supplies. The metals are
all strong and some grades of foundry
pig iron, tin and lead are higher on
better volume of business. Seasonable
quiet does not appreciably affect build
ing material, which, judging from per-
mits issued at leading cities, is likely to
be active next spring. Petroleum is
at the highest price in years due to
increased demand for fuel and strait
ened condition of old fields of supply.
Wheat. including flour, exports for
the week ending December IL aggre-
gate 1858, ,035 bushels, against 4,599,5SO
last week and 3,256,037 this week last
year.
Business failures in the United states
for the week ending December IL num-
Der 239, against 211 last week ana zzo
in the like week in 1902.
In Canada failures for the week num-
Der %, against last week and IA IN
this week year ago.
r. G. Dun & CO.. s Weekly Review OF
Trade tomorrow will say:
Business is decidedly better than at
any recent date, and the improvement
is not confined to activity in holiday
goods. although the best reports con-
Germ those lines. Continued lower tenn
perature not only stimulates sales put
jobbers are receiving supplementary
orders and collections are most prompt.
Building permits issued during Novem-
ber exceeded the same month last year.
Railway tonnage is heavy and several
manufacturing branches are starting
idle machinery. On the other hand
there is no improved condition In the
cotton industry and future producers
are restricting output.
Confidence is increasing in the iron
and steel industry. Structural material
is gradually reviving. contracts for new
bridges and buildings coming forward,
and it IS known that much construc-
tion work is scheduled for early in the
spring.
A further advance in tin was secured
by manioulators at London. other
minor metals rule steady.
Another general advance in hides is
recorded.
Failures this week number S29 in the
United States. against 267 last year,
and in Canada 20, compared with l6
year ago.