Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-03-31
| New York. /

H., ~ Only one distinctly I'M
h6T LUX. favorable factor is reported
in the business situation.
aud It exists more in the fear of what
may happen than through anything that
has actually occurred Several strikes
are M progress, but none that seriously
HAMPERS industry. although manv con
trovefsies are threatened and may in
terrul't trade unless agreements are
reached Progress has been made in
relieving traffic blockades. and deliveries
are more prompt, yet railway facilities
need hach extension if they are to Keen
pace with the nations growth" The
foregoing is from the Weekly Trade Re
view Of II. g. Dun x Co. 1t continues:
Jobpng trade is very large and the
advancing season stimulates retail sales
in many lines. Reports from the West
| are especitlly satisfactory; agriculturists
making extensive improvements. notably
in the purchase of the most modern ma
chinery. Buying of spring and summer
merchandise is heavy for the interior.
and mills are resuming that have long
been IDLE because coke could not be Sc
cured
a careful canvass of building opera
tions st the leading cities makes Il fair
comparison with last year, outside OF
Chicago. where special conditions caused
exceptional activity in 1902; returns are
unanimous in disclosing a decrease com
pared with 1901. which. however, was
the banner year in this respect. High
cost Of material and wages of labor are
undoubtedly retarding Influences at the
present time. Railway earnings thus
far available for March show an IN
crease yof 14.6 per cent over last year.
and 70, per cent over 1901.
Prospects in the iron and steel indus
try are still conspicuously encouraging.
Only two drawbacks of serious impor-
lance IRE seen-railway congestion and
labor disputes The fermer has greatly
diminished with settled weather and coke
is moved freely to blast furnaces. while
pig iron aud other products reach their
destination with less interruption. Quo
tations' are fully held at Pittsburg. and
a large purchase of Bessemer iron for
delivery in the last half of the year is
still under consideration. Some wire pro-
ducts and east pipe are advanced in
price, and, as many mills are unable to
deliver billets for several months, for
eign steel is still purchased freely. Pig
iron is continually arriving from abroad
and finds a ready market
Textile markets are only fairly active.
the buying at first hands for home ac-
count Being on moderate scale and for
ward business Indifferent, except III the
case Of few speeialties. Unquestiona-
bly, the undertone of the cotton goods
market, is strong. Demand for heavy
weight woolens has decreased. most new
orders ,being for the cheaper grades.
More cancellations of early orders are re-
ported, Much better conditions prevail
in the dress goods market, both as TO sta
pies and fances.
New England shoe shops report in
creased sales, western jobbers placing
orders for August and September deliv-
cry Leather is more active and tan
ners arh not carrying surplus stocks. The
marked is in healthy condition. An
other general reduction is reported IN
domestic hides, but foreign Cry hides
average higher, despite larger receipts.
Failures this week numbered 30 in
the Uihted States, against 209 last year.
and %, in Canada. against 81 a year ago.
Brndstreet's Grain Figures.
Wheat, including -four, exports for the
week ending March 10 aggregate 100,
59S bushels, against 1906 roc last week,
4.32630i in this week n year ago. and
3.2566A4 in 1901 Wheat exports since
July Il aggregated 170,046,52S bushels,
against l.494. 597 last season and 49,
473063 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 3,40I ,06S bush
els, against 3,237 800 last week. 339,
S91 year ago aud 2.G05,0S0 in 1901 For
the fiscal year exports are 40,SSG25S
bushels. against 23094.701 last season.
and 141 .3SS. 100 in i90l