The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-25
BUSINESS OUTLOOK
COUNTRY OVER
ny ASSOCIATED rgEsS.

W NSNNNi ~ fktSN.
New York. Dec. Especial tclegraphie
and cable adviccs to agents of the Inter
national Mercantile agency are summar-
izcd as follows; Continued cold weather
has favored dealers in Christmas goods
aud retailers generally. and the volume OF
holiday trade AT most large ccntcrs has
cquallcd or exceeded that OF year ago.
Travellers i'll many staple lines are tcm-
porarily oil the road, but report having
done heavy business i'll clothing. dry
goods sundrics and shoes. Wholesalers
~ the interior report the customary inter
regnum OF dullucss, but anticipates excel
lent orders when statesmen return 10 the
road
Pittsburg. Chicago and Birmingham au-
thotities agree that a stopping place has
been reached in the re action In the iron
and steel.
Delayed orders, many Of which were
held back to see how low prices would
20, will be placed after the holidays This,
many think, marks the virtual elimination
OF the industrial as well as the financial
depression. The year closes with a much
brighter outlook, and with better prospects.
Far western railroads bear out reports OF
commercial pospcity, with adviccs OF ton
mage 10 per cent more than year ago. East
OF the Mississippi the decline is not over
per cent. Eastern wool buyers have been
taking more freely aud prices tend upward.
Moderate offerings Of hides have been
readily absorbed and purchases of hcm-
lock leather for future delivery with higher
prices for lower Grades have been note
worthy.
Printmakcrs have been refusing offers
lpy "A
the belief that prices must advance. New
England cotton mills will probably con
tirue running for the next six months,
but some on short time. owing To the
scarcity OF cotton.
Chicago merchants say interior jobbers
are buying cautiously. st. Louis that an
increased volume of traffic will go To that
city next year and that snow and rain have
given needed relief i'll the wlutcr wheat
regions Philadelphia that fhc general
trade prospect for 1904 is bright despite
what the presidential year may bring
Baltimore. that the outlook is fair ; that ag-
rcutural interests III the South are pros.
porous and Pitisburg that industrial coke
users are buying freely again, which stimu-
latcs the feeling OF ENCOURAGEMENT follow
ing the reaiiirmation OF the steel prices by
the steel pools.
St. Paul and Minneapolis jobbcrs tell Of
steady increase OF wealth throughout the
Northwest, while volume of business FOR
the year fully equal TO that OF 1909.
On the Pacific coast notably at San
Francisco, wholesale trade has been the
best for years past at like periods.
Al Cleveland. the outlook Tor next year
is good in all leading lines
At Boston interest and dividend dis
hursements next week will run up 10
about $25,ooo,ooo.
In the Dominion Of Canada general
trade. both wholesale and retail. has becn
quite gratifying. Exports and holiday
traffic has been larger than last year and
will be record d-breakcr
Variable reports concerning the condi-
lion OF the iron and steel trade are pre-
scnted by the Iron Age in its review OF
the trade. 1t is stated to he too early 10
obtain an idea OF the effect OF the reaf-
hrmaiion Of prices for billeis, bars and
structural forms by The pool
A good demand for pig iron is reported,
with slightly frccr movement.
he Iron Age says from the leading dis
tribution ccntcrs Of pig iron encouraging
reports continue 10 come in, the only cx-
ception being that our Cincinnati CORE
spondent notes occasional sales Of South
ern iron at $o25 Tor No. foundry iron
at Birmingham, the bulk Of the business,
however being done at sos and some
Of II at $40.
Chicago notes that the lower grades,
like gray forge and moited. have moi yet
participated in the full advance from the
lowest level. Northern makers have been
doing fair business at the old prices
| Probably the largest transaction OF the
| week has been the purchase OF about 10000
tons Of pig iron, chiefly Of Virginia make,
| by pipe foundry.
In structural material business continues
light and there is noted the disparity in
| prices between the lighter sections which
belong to the bar group, and the heaviest
sections OF structural steel proper.
In the rail trade the only new develop
| mcnt is the movement to get together
| all the makers Of light rails with the oh
| ject Of bringing these sections into line
| with the standard sections The bar iron
! manufacturers east OF Pittsburg at recent
meeting decided 10 pursue further the pol
icy Of running the mills at maximum OF
four days per week They do not attempt
to fix prices bit trust 10 the restriction 10
| put the market into better shape.
In the sheet trade prices continue Ia
crumblc slightly and further concessions
have been made during the last week
Prices Of the principle wire products arc
generally lower.