The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-31
CONGESTION OF FREIGHT 4
THIS THE BAD FEATURE-JoBB1NG TRADE
is VERY ACTIVE.

New York, jan 3l.--Bradstreet's to-day says
Trade developments i'll January confirm the
the ontset of the month. Wholesale and job
binc trade in spring dry goods. millinery, boots
and shoes and hats Ia Improving steaoliS, 1ahu
ary's jobbing business at the leading citles east
and west being the best ever recorded IN that
month. Shipments orders are larger anu
earlier than in preceding years. Retail trade re
ports are hardly favorable. Unreasonable
weather dulls retail distribution III this llne'
and the usual January clearing sales are at
tracing less than ordinary attention
Among the industries no sign of dagsing ac
tivity Is noted. Iron and steel production IS a!
its highest point, despite the car shortages, ana
prices are higher Activity in lumber Is also
noted the country over. The general price situa-
ton remains strong, corn, among tne cefeais' anu
cotton among the textiles, lending
The car shortage trouble increases rather than
grows better Unexpectedly small movements
OF grain and lumber to market, OF fuel from pro.
Jucng centers to consumers, and OF general
tailers are reported the country over. Preference
is still being given to coal shipments ana
some railroads are reported refusing all dead
freight outside of fuel.
The shoe trade Is more or less quiet ana
leather Is likewise east and west. The strength
in cotton goods in reality Is the main reason
shown for the advance this week in 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 pusnel
for spring deliveries. Raw wool continues
ra Their quiet. and conservatism Is being, freely
practiced. Buyers no doubt backward be-
cause much of the business Of last year was done
at old low quotations.
A significant feature is that pig iron prices
have been marked up 81 per ton at all leadine
markets and the lower prices so freely predicted
are yet to materialize, Notwithstanding the fact
that production at present is In excess OF the
largest ever before reported The next few
weeks should contain developments important
| both to producers aud consumers. Copper IL
strong and shows a steadily advancing tendency
Pittsburs sales of structural merchant bars
and plates have been large. Bar iron. has ad
vanced 81 per ton. .,-.. -:
Wheat, including -four exports for the weel
ending Jan. %, aggregate 4,42O.o65 bushels
against 3,53S,7 5S last week, 3,O72.36S In THU
week a year ago and 3.T76,000 in l901.ti Whea
exports sicne July aggregate las, 500, 622 bush
els, against $165,346.1s last season and i15.
| $50, 646 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate 2,045,
$40 bushels against 2,376, 6s3 last week, 427 ,01
| year ago and 2,4S7, TOT In 1900. For the fsca
year exports are 20,400, 100 bushels agalns
Il, S61 1885 last and 115.395,354 in 1901.
! Business failures in the United States for thu
| week ending with Jan. % number $50, agains
| 253 last week, 1903 in 1902, 23s IN 1901. III Il
1000, and POT in 1899 In Canada for the weel
| 80, against % last week.