The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-03
puN,s WEEKnY REvIEw.
Trade During Past Week Far from
 Being Dull.


 New York. Jan. AR. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review Of trade tomorrow will say: Despite the interruption of holidays, taking inventories and other disturbing ei- ements and the closing of the old year, the past week has been far from dull Consuners were not perceptibiy lessening purchasers, while the approach of higher freight rates accelerated shipment Of goods. Transporting facilities continue ut terly inadequate. the pressing need for classes of freight New wage ,~les have become effective, largely enhancing the purchasing power of the people. The new year opens with every prospect of ex- cepnonai activity in all branches or n pusl. ss,. for December show a gain of 7.J per cent. over 1901 and 10.e per cent over 1900, while for the full year there are increases of Il and 16.5 respectively, notwithstand- declines in ciearinss for. the last week are not actually as unsatisfactory as the percentages would suggest, owing to the fact that last years figures include one day of January and those of two years ago embrace two days in January, when payments are abnormally heavy.
 The question of higher freight rates compiicates the situation regarding iron and steel, but new orders are constantly coming forward and the activity of plants would equal capacity were it notfor the
 ouotations for all products in this in dustry are fully maintained with ten dency toward still higher prices because of freights and fuel. The first advance is expected to occur in wire nails although this Is not officially announced.
 No new features have developed Tn the footwear situation, prices remaining firm and order books full. The leather market generally is strong. Domestic hides are dull, prices again declining. Textile mills are busy, with only e hand to mouth homo demand for cotton goods, but export buy ing for China continues large. Farm pro- creased and reports from the West indi- cate that much more grain is offered foi shipment than the railroads will accept Exports of corn are steadily gaining, for the week at Atlantic ports ,sss. .4o3 bushels were sent out, compared with only sfl, ,fs; bushels in the corresponding week a year ago. Atlantic exports of wheat. including flour, amounted to only 1.4s5,0d bushels against 2,706, 6,0A a year ago and arrivals at internor cities were S.77s.266 bushels compared with s,7s6,s6s bushels last year.
 Bradstreet's Statement 2
 New York, Jan. 2-Bradstreets tomor. row will say:
 Holiday observances and stock-takins limit new business, but do not decrease distribution has been down to a minimum while retail buying. although satisfac- tory, feels reaction from previous activ. ity. Additional, returns as to lS1 trade confirm earlier estimates of increase iy nearly all lines of distribution and hs dustry. Aside from this. developments are scarce. Perhaps the most notable features are the strength of prices oi staples as the year opens and the hope. tulness as to the outlook for spring and is the continued shortage of anthracite coal in the East.
 Reports of Increased trade in 1909 ovel 1901 continue to come from nearly al Northern, Western. Southwestern and Pacific coast points. Examples of this are given in the cases of St. Louis and Kansas City, which show @ net gain 1T all trade over 1901. Chicago reports job. bers having more orders on their books than in previous years; that three mil. Hon tons of pig iron was made or handled in that district during the year, and that Chicago banks hold 8 per cont more oi deposits, while loans are 14.5 per cent more than at the beginning of 1904
 At New Orleans the outlook is chased as fairly good but Montgomery reports 1909 not as satisfactory as 1901, owing tc the short cotton yield in Alabama At. lanta reports that manufacturers are do. ing weif on an increased output and banks are making good profits. At East ern points it is noted by Philadelphia that the textile trades were generally prosperous and the. outlook in the dry
 
 There is little new in the iron trade Merchant furnaces are sold ahead for six to eight months, but Independent iron men say that high raw materials and low priced finished products leave little or nc n Rrgin for profits.
 Nearly all lines of trade show gains foI ie02 over 1901 at New York; the majority ranging. from to 10 per cent.
 The most important feature in ths East err dry goods markets this week ia the Increased buying for export to China of brown cottons by which all floating sup plies of this commodity have been clean. ed up and the mills have secured orders ahead. Woolen goods retain their good conditions and raw and manufactured ma terialg have closed the year at the high. est prices with machinery we'll employed Wool tends upward. shipments to mills continuing heavy and inquiries numerous
 Eastern shoe manufacturers have still already some are being importuned for prompter delivery of spring goods. The leather trades are quiet, but there is some talk of further advances in sole leather.
 Wheat qncIuding four) exports for the week ending January 1, aggregate 8,236,- 20e bushels against s.5eO 4SO last week. 4,- a8, 4n in this week year ago, and 3,914, S01 In 1901.
 Wheat exports since July 1 aggregate l3O, ,660,225 bushels, against 149, ,756, ,227 last season and H.913.S19 In 1900.
 Corn exports aggregate 2.5ST,542 bushels, against 1,b02, 551 last week, 270,2S6 a year ago, and 4.470.5H in 190is
 For the fiscal year exports are 10,726, 420 bushels, against 2,S20, 4S1 last season and S6 S5S, 600 in 1901.
 
 Beginning with June next Cornell Univer- sity is to relieRe all its professors who reach Inc of aptt