The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-06-17
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Big Demand for steei-Blast Furnaces
Forcing Output Beyond All Rec.
ords-coke Ovens Active.

| r. q. Dun e Co.'S weekly review of
trade says: Except In those branches
OF business that are always quiet at
| this season reports indicate a steady
demand and prices OF commodities are
lrmiy maintained. manufacturing re.
turns are Irregular. Idleness In textile
lines partially offsettlng the good ef-
fect OF activity elsewhere. Earnings
OF railroads reporting for the first
week OF June are only per cent larg-
er than last year and 7.S per cent
greater than In 1901. condition due
entirely to Western floods. That fur
mace stocks Of pig iron increased only
10000 tons last month. despite the un-
precedented output. testlfles to the
great consumption Of the steel indus
try. Quotations are without altera.
ton. although much business is de-
layed by labor troubles. In case of a
general settlement of these conflicts
there would be resumption of work
on many buildings, and. including the
requirements OF railroads. a heavy ton
mage would be sought. II Is an evi-
dence OF confidence in the future that
blast furnace operators are forcing
production beyond all previous max.
imum figures. While the demand for
structural steel has diminished there
Is notable Inquiry for rails and plates.
Machinery and hardware lines are do
Ing remarkably for the season, which
Is usually quiet in these departments.
Coke ovens are surprising all previous
records for activity and the output
of anthracite coal promises to estab-
lish n new high-water mark this year
above G0,000.000 tons. Cotton goods
again average slightly higher in price.
the rdvances being insisted upon by
producers on account of the raw ma.
terial and in no degree attributable
to Increased anxiety from a more lib.
eral demand for print cloth yarn fab.
rics for converting and printing pur-
poses there Is no evidence of activity,
On the other hand. supplies are not
accumulating at the mills owing to
curtallment of production, not only
voluntarily. but by strikes and storms.
Conservatism prevails among buyers
OF staple woolens and worsteds. while
little interest is shown in new Lines of
light weights for next spring. Insofar
as market conditions are concerned
carpets are the most satisfactory OF
the textile products. Footwear condi-
tions continue most prosperous Leath-
er and hides are strong and active.
Failures this week were 215 in the
United States against 162 last year and
IA In Canada compared with 20 a year
ago.
Bradstreets says: Weather. crop
and labor conditions all show improve
ment. Wholesale business generally
Is still seasonably quiet, but already
an Improvement in tone Is noticeable
as the result of the rather better out
look agriculturally. Wheat. including
flour, exports for the week ending
June IL aggregate 4,191.317 bushels,
against 4.70S.995 bushels last week,
3,400,314 bushels this week last year
and 4,791,107 bushels in 1901. Wheat
exports since July / aggregate 214,-
472.122 bushels. against 241.425.215
bushels last season and 205.292.746
bushels in 1900 Corn exports aggre.
gate S24,S15 bushels. against 1.013.S71
bushels last week. 1881 bushels a
year ago, and 2,569,254 bushels in 1901.
For the fiscal year exports are &c..
275.527 bushels, against 6S,S32.323
bushels last season and 170,193, ,463
bushels In 1901.