The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-05
Jobbing Trade I'm seasonabie Goods Is
Expanding, and Retailers Are
Rapidly Depicting stocks.
WAGES ARE BEING READJUsTED
CAUSING MORE OR LESS FRICTION
IN THE INDUSTRIES.
Agricultural Staples stin in Strong
Positfon-Prices Generally Lower
Than Last Year.

NEW YORK Dec. 4-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: Better feeling, approach
ing optimism IN some lines. Is due TO i'm
provement in retail trade, stimulated by
cold weather. the advent OF the holiday sea-
son and the more normal tone Of public
sentiment Jobbing trade in seasonable
goods has also expanded a result of re-
orders TO fill depleted stocks. Back of
these but with an apparently close connec-
ton in its effect upon sentiment. is the
strong position of the agricultural staples.
Colder weather has also stimulated the coal
trade East and West. More confidence is
also shown In the market for the cruder
forms OF iron and prices are steadier.
Some industries, notably -four milling in
the Northwest and shoe manufacturing in
New England are in apparently good shape
with record breaking shipments noted for
the season, but the advance in raw cotton
is a matter OF concern to the trade, where,
indeed the possibility OF cUrtailment is be-
ing mooted. In the iron and steel trade
shutdowns more than Offset assumptions.
Low water IN the East limits mill opera
tons at many points. Readjustments of
wages to meet new conditions are partic-
ularly prominent in cotton manufacturing
and IN iron and steel. but are being accepted
with much less friction than earlier antici-
pated. Winter weather is causing a slow
Ing down in many lines OF building. and
lumber, other building material and hard
ware are rather less active for this rea-
son. Lake navigation is practically ended
with larger movement of grain and coal,
but a much smaller ore trade than in 1902.
Railway operations are still active, with an
increase of about per cent shown in gross
a n
dence accumulates that Southern iron has,
for the time at least, struck bottom and
this week a Slight rebound in asking prices
Is noted. Other markets are more cheer
ful In tone and buying at Chicago has been
the best in several months. Finished prod
ucts note little change. Among other
metals copper is duh and weak but in bet
ter export demand. while tin il stronger.
Crude petroleum Is again advancing at the
West, but refined Is unchanged at the East.
Wheat, including -four, exports for the
week ending Dec. 3 aggregated 4,201. 504 bu,
against S,S51.767 last week and 5,7O4,440 this
week last year. 4.604.S46 in 1901 and 3432, 159
In 1900 For twenty-five weeks of the cereal
year they aggregated q, g., 2S9 blu, against
1151H, Al I'm 1902, LIZ, SOS, $50 IL 1901 and ~
,5e4 In 1900 Corn exports for the week
aggregated 1.o9s,s51 bu against 1.520.941 last
week. ll5l,56S a year ago. 1862, SS4 in 1901 and
5.s71,sT In 1910. For twenty-five weeks Of
the present cereal year they aggregated
3,o62s45 bu against s,7s4.sl7 in 1902. IS or 7l3
A. 1901 and 7s,499,6 46 In 1900.
Business failures I'm the United States
against 167 last week. 1s5 in the like week of
1909. 237 In 1901, 224 In 1900 and 200 in 1894"
r. g. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade
tomorrow will say; Trade is exceptionally
quiet except In lines affected by weather and
those embracing holiday goods, which are
in good demand. Activity is especially con-
spicuous among footwear jobbers and re-
tailers- Commodities are generally low in
prices, although a few important articles
such as cotton, eggs and dairy products
have risen so sharply that Dun's index
number Dec. I S9S223 against &c.,
SIS a month previous. For the year there Is
decline of about per cent Manufacture
ing conditions are still irregular, the best
symptom OF the week being the steadness
OF iron and steel. Textile mills still find 1t
difficult to secure prices in ratio to the raw
material. the radical rise in cotton adding
to the embarrassment Of spinners, who have
only limited supplies on hand. Light stocks
Of hard wood maintain prices, but the de-
mand is moderate.
Railway earnings in three weeks of No.
vember were As per cent. larger than a
year previous