The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-03
R ~ -
AN OPTIMISTIC FEELING
THE YEAR OPENS WITH HoPEFULNEss IN
TRADE CIRCLES.
Now York. Ian. 3.-Bradstreets this week

THE YEAR OPENS WITH HoPEFULNEss IN
TRADE CIRCLES.
New York, Jan. 3.-Bradstreets this week
says:
Holiday observances and stock, taking limit
new business but do not decrease satisfaction
and confidence. Wholesale distribution has been
down to minimum, while retail buying, al
though satisfactory, feels the reaction from pre-
yious activity Additional returns as to 1902 trade
confirm earlier estimates Of Increase IN nearly
all lines of distribution and industry. Aside from
this, developments are scarce. Perhaps the mose
notable features are the strength of prices of
staples as the year opens and the hopefulness
as to tile outlook for next spring and summers
trade. One rnfavorable feature Is the continued
shortage of anthracite coal in the east.
Reports of increased trade In 19O2 over l9Ol
continue to come from nearly all northern, wes-
tern southwestern, and Pacific coast points. Ex-
amplcs Of this given in the case OF Kansas
City, which. despite the corn crop shortage OF
last year, and the viii ter wheat crop shortage
of this year, shows a net gain in all trade over
1901. The same report comes from st. Louis.
Chicago reports jobbers having more orders on
their boks than IN previous years; that S,OOO,OOO
tons of pig iron was made or handled In that
district during the year, and that Chicago banks
hold 8 per cent more Of deposits while loans
are 14.5 per cent more than at the beginning
of 1902. The outlook for 1908 on the Pacific
coast Is almost unanimously favorable. The
largest business ever done was transacted at
Portland Oregon last year, and San francisco
reports the condition of growing crops exce1-
lent. -..-
At New Orleans the outlook is classed as fairly
good but Montgomery reports 1902 not as salts
factory 1901, owing to the snort COTTON yleIu
in Alabama Atlanta reports that manufac-
turers are doing we'll on an increased output, ana
banks are making good profits. At eastern points
it is noted by Philadelphia that he textile trades
are generally prosperous and the outlook IN dry
goods trade is bright ..,. g...> .e. 49, -, 90
There is little new in, the iron trade. Mer-
chant furnaces are sold ahead from six to eight
months, but independent Iron men say that hlgh
raw materials andu low priced finished products
leaves little margin for profit.
Nearly all lines Of trade show gains Tor 1907
over 1901, at New York, the majority ranging
from to 10 per cent. .. u.
The most important feature in the eastern dry
goods markets this week is the increased buying
for export to China of brown motions, by which
all floating supplies of this commodity have been
cleaned up, and the mills have been cleaned up,
and the mis1 have secured orders ahead. sThe
rest Of the market ts steady, with, on the whole
cautious buying. Wooden goods retain their
tcras have closed the year at the highest prices,
with machinery we'll employed. -...,. .r'
Eastern shoe manufacturers have still some
thing to do to fill. winter orders, and alreauS
some are being importuned for prompt delivery
OF spring goods. The leather trades are quiet
with some selling ut cut prices OF old or unoe-
sirabIe grades reported from Boston. Aside from
this, prices firmly held and there Is even some
talk of further advances in sole, leather.
Wheat, including -four, exports for the week
ending Jan. l., aggregate 3,336, 2O6 .bu, against
| g $50, 4SO 5u last, week, 4,S18.471 bu IN 1901.
Whcat exports since July aggregate 100 1850, 22t
bu against 149. TAG, 22T blu last season and ",
| 013 $40 BIZ in 1000.
Corn exports aggregate 1851 542 BIZ against
| / ,5O2 sol blu last week, 1926 bu year ago
| and 4,47O,521 bu in 1901. For the fiscal yeal
exports are 10. 726.42O bu against 20,S2O,4S1 bu
| last season and 9S. S5S. 600 in 1901.